Sir

I did not lose a Moment in Communicating to Your Excellency some important Information which I have just received from an English Gentleman who is arrived from Nantes. Two Ships of the Ja­maica fleet, which have been taken by American Privateers, have been carried into the said Port; But in order to elude the Orders given by this Court on the last such occasion they were allowed to come in fraudulently, that is to say under assumed Names. They are entered in the Customs Registers as two American Ships, bound from St. Eusta­tius, and bearing the Names Hancock and Boston.

I do not know yet the real Names of these two Ships but do know that they belong to English subjects and as such I reclaim them and de­mand, as it is my Duty to demand, that they might be sequestered un­til the Owners or Their Agents are able to produce their Titles.

I have received at the same time other Information on the Sub­ject of the Ship about which I have already ha the honor to, speak to Your Excellency. This Vessel (which is very formidable), which was built, armed and fitted out in the Port of Nantes for the use of the Rebels, is at this very moment in the River where she dropped down in public, and is preparing to set Sail. No one at Nantes can be un­aware of the Destination of this Ship, which mounts Twenty or so Guns and is laden with Arms, Rigging, Munitions of War and many other goods for the use of the Rebels.

I did not wait an instant in giving this Information to Your Ex­cellency, being well persuaded that this Court will immediately dis­patch the Necessary Orders to detain permanently this Vessel which, as you can see Sir, is a Ship built, armed and fitted out in peacetime in one of your Ports in order to carry the most Effectual Aid to the Rebellious Subjects of a Nation linked to France by Friendship and the most Solemn Treaties.

It would impose on your Time, M. le Comte, to produce the Proofs in support of this request. A Minister as enlightened as your Excellency will at once realise how just it is, it will suffice thus to add that the Facts could no longer be regarded as in doubt. I speak at this moment with complete Knowledge and after taking the Depositions of an Eyewitness. I have the honor to be with the most perfect Attach­ment Sir [&c.]