Sir

Your Letter of the 18th We received, as We gave Our Orders generally to Com: Wickes, we omitted writing in particular to You. We are sensible of Your Spirit, & gallant Behavior as an Officer, & of Your Attachment to your Country as an Americain, & shall with pleasure do justice to Your Character, in Our Letters to the Congress, who we doubt not, will pay due Attention to your Merits. The Situation, in which the present posture of political Affairs in France, necessarily places You require Your utmost patience, & circumspection, and We cannot too strongly recommend to You, to be very cautious how you express your Sentiments, on the present proceedings, as We can assure You, that they are not designed Ultimately to injure Us, but the Contrary. We are glad You are in such readiness with Your Vessel, & with respect to the Prize Money for Your People, must refer You to Capt Wickes to whom we write this Post on the Subject, we are far from wishing to detain any part of it for the Use of the Congress, & will do all in Our power to have the People paid their proportions, as soon as the Prizes can be disposed of; We are sensible of Your generous Offer with respect to Your share, but cannot think of Accepting it, your Share may be of consequence to You, as an individual, & we heartily wish it were Ten Times larger — As to any French Seamen who may have entered with You they being Subjects of France, must Submit to the Laws, and Regulations of their Country, we shall be Sorry to learn they have offended, against either, & hope, if they have inadvertently, they will not be treated rigorously. it is not probable that You will be detained, longer than three, or four Weeks & in the meantime recommend to You, the providing for Your People, & keeping them together, & Contented, in the best manner, & with the greatest Oeconomy, in Your Power & to have your Vessel in Order, for sailing as soon as You shall receive Our directions — We shall be glad to hear from You by every Opportunity & are wishing You success, & advancement, in the American Navy — Sir [&c.]

[P.S.] Accts are favorable from America, the last indeed want Confirmation but I doubt not of our having obtained very Considerable Advantages — Capt Wickes in his Letter to Us, has spoken of You, much to Your honor, & We are happy that a good understanding has subsisted between You