Your Majesty has already repeated several times His Orders to His Ports, to the effect that Privateers, of any nation whatever, are admitted there only for the time which is absolutely necessary for them to obtain Provisions which they have need of, and that, under no pretext whatever, can Prizes be sold there. Orders have been reiterated to the Admiralty Courts and the Officers of the Registry of Seamen so that they will see to the execution of Your Majesty's orders and the observance of treaties; but no matter what might be their zeal and attention in this regard, it is impossible that their vigilance extends along the entire course of Rivers, such as those which form the Ports of Bordeaux, Nantes and Le Havre: it would appear necessary, therefore, to establish an Inspection Station in the Roads themselves or even at the Mouths of the Rivers; this could only take effect by establishing a Frigate or Corvette there on Station, to observe and inspect every Ship which comes in or goes out.

However, after the departure of the three Frigates that are convoying the troops to America, only 4 Frigates and 2 Corvettes will remain attached to the squadron of Comte Duchaffault, and that this number would be insufficient to furnish at the same time Service to the Squadron, to the Cruisers at sea and to the Stations in the Rivers; I have the honor to propose to Your Majesty, to order the fitting out of two new Frigates, one of which would be fitted out at L'Orient, and the other at Brest, and to establish 4 Ships, Frigates or Corvettes, on Station at the entrance to the Ports, Namely: 1 at Bordeaux, 1 at Nantes, 1 at Le Havre, 1 at L'Orient.

Approved by the King's hand. Good