Sir,
You will receive herewith Letters for Mr Eyries &c at Havre du Grace which on your arrival deliver; if the Anonyme, is gone, you will loose no Time, in following her to Nantes, and on your going on board take a Careful Inventory of her Stores, inquire her Age, & Ascertain her just Value which You are immediately to send Me an Account of, leaving the Copy, of the Letter You may write, with Mr Williams of Nantes that he may forward a duplicate of it to Me, in case the original fail — Mr Williams will procure a Cargo for the Anonyme in which you will embark, as a passenger for the West Indies to which she must appear to be destin'd, but before you sail the Captn must sign Orders to be directed by You in every thing You will stand as far North as to fall in with Portsmouth in New Hampshire if possible, & make the first safe port to the East of Rhode Island unless by speaking with any American or others you receive advice to the Contrary. You are to be very cautious, who you speak to at Sea, & avoid speaking with them if possible — should you be drove off the New England Coast either by Contrary Winds or the Enemy, advise you, to endeavor for North or South Carolina, & on your Arrival, deliver the Letters given you to the persons to whom they are directed and attend their Orders Wishing you all possible Success I am Sir [&c.]
Silas Deane
Paris 1st June I777
P.S. You are to be particularly careful that no Lettr or paper, fall into the hands of the Enemy, to prevent which keep the whole always ready for sink ing in Case of Accident, Your Journey being altered for Nantes, you will attend the above Instructions excepting what relates immediately to Havre —2
1. B. F. Stevens, ed., Facsimiles of Manuscripts in European Archives Relating to America 1773-1783 (London, 1889-1895), No. 167. Hereafter cited as Stevens, ed., Facsimiles.
2. Hynson immediately passed this information to his British contact. See Hynson to Lieutenant Colonel Edward Smith, June 3.