My Lord

My Lords Commissrs of the Admiralty having receiv'd Intelligence that two French Ships were fitting out on the 21st of last Month either at Marseilles or Toulon, (believed to be at the former) that they were to be purchas'd or at least freighted by Mr Deane, to be laden with different sorts of Goods for the use of the Rebels; were to mount Vizt one 18 Guns, the other only 12 or 14 though she will be pierc'd for 20, that the largest is about 400 Tons, the other about 340, that they will be ma'nn'd with French Sailors, carry French Colours, and clear out for some of the West India Islands, but that their real destination was new England, with a liberty however, to make any safe Port in No America; that they will carry double Commissions, an ostensible and a secret one, that there will be on board each Ship a Frerich Captain and one with a Commission from the Congress, that one [Joseph] Hynson is to have the direction of the expedition, that the other it is believ'd will be a Frenchman by birth, but in the Service of the Congress & bearing their Commission;² that there will be 12 brass Mortars put on board Hynson's Vessel which is the largest of the two; that Hynson was to receive his Instructions from Mr Deane on the 22d ulto and to set out imme­ diately from Paris to Marseilles, but that as the Ships had not then taken in their lading, it would be some Weeks before they could put to Sea; I am commanded by my Lords to communicate the above Intelligence to your Lordship, in order that you may order your Cruizers to keep a good look out for the said Ships and to seize them in case they should appear upon the Coast of No America; and I am at the same time to acquaint your Lordship that Hynson the Person above mention'd is (as appears by a Descrip­ tion their Lordships have had of him upon another occasion) a lusty black looking Man, and that, tho' perhaps he may endeavor to disguise himself, he must be easily discover'd, having strong marks of an English Seaman, and that there is reason to believe that the discovery once made will lead to every other & unravel the whole iniquitous Project, as he, if once taken, may be easily induced or compelled to tell all he knows. I am &c.

The Rt Honble Ld Visct Howe
By the Experiment