[Extract]
No 4./
My Lord, When I communicated to M. de Vergennes Yesterday, the Contents of Your Lordship's Letter No 2. and gave him an Account of the American Ship carried into Bristol, observing, that several other Vessels from the Congress. were sailed from that Continent to different Ports in France to take in Military Stores, he appeared a little disconcerted, But said that Strict Orders had already been given to prevent the embarkation of Powder. & arms for America ー that they should be immediately renewed & that he would lose no time in speaking to M. de Sartine about it: He took Notice that in the Information of the Captain of the Dickinson it was not said to whom the Cargo was consigned at Nantz, & when I mentioned that a French Agent from Philadelphia was embarked for France to procure Arms & Ammunition for 8 Ships, he said, Nous verrons venir ce Monsieur. je ser[ai] bien aise de voir leur Ambassadeur, and requested me to endeavour to find out his name, adding that he would be bien [mene] when he arrived in France. He then observed, that they had a great many Idle Adventurers in all parts of the world, & that this was certainly one of them. You know he said the nature of Commercan[t]s & that it is impossible in a great Country to prevent things of this kind happening when money is to be got, But added that he would certainly do every thing in his power, & that Strict orders should again be sent to all the Intendants of the Sea Ports.
I proposed a total Prohibition of Powder & Arms, without a permit from Government, which I represented only as an inconvenience to Commerce for a short time, but he said that that was impossible & that no body would take the Government Contracts unless they had leave to export their Surplus, But he assured me that he would take every Step to prevent any being sent to America.
I shall make it my Business to find out, to what particular Ports the American Vessels arrive, & shall not fail to give Your Lordship every Intelligence I can obtain in regard to them & to every other essential Object.
[Endorsed] Paris 17 April 1776 Mr StPaul (No4) R 21st by an Express from Dover
