Copy.
Sir

Being at that Time absent from New York, I did not receive the Honor of your Excellency's Letter dated the 12^th. of August¹ and brought by the Chevalier de Fagan,² until several Days after he left the King's American Dominions.

As I should be happy in having an Opportunity to assure your Excellency of my Re­spect, I cannot but approve of the early Attention the Commodore Hotham testified to your Wishes,³ by the immediate Dismission of the French Seamen navigating the Ves­sels engaged in an illicit Commerce with the King's rebellious Subjects in these Provinces.

It is with Concern I collect from the Tenor of your Excellency's Letter, that some of them have been endeavouring to impose upon your Humanity by Falsehoods or studied misrepresentations such as they had before not scrupled to allege for colour­ing their purpose of assisting a people in Arms against their Prince: In a manner that must be deemed highly criminal by a Nation attached to it's Sovereigns, and there­ fore leaves no Doubt of the Sense that will be entertained of their Conduct at the Court of France. I have the Honor to be [&c.]