Confidential

My Lord

I think it my Duty, to dispatch this Extra^ry Messenger to y^r Lordship to convey an important Piece of Intelligence I have just rec^d. A servant of Monsieur Re chaumont sets out this afternoon for Havre de Grace charged with a large packet of very material dispatches from the Rebel agents to the Congress which Dispatches are to be sent to North America on board one of those French Packet boats at Havre of which M. de chaumont has engaged to furnish one Every Month for the Purpose of carrying Dispatches. These are very material, they contain Duplicates of all those sent by the Lexington and several Papers which Franklin and Deane sent to M de Vergennes for his Consideration before they would transmit them to America and which were returned them Yesterday I can say nothing positive as to the Contents of these Papers but am inclined to think that they relate to a Treaty which is in Negotiation between France and the Rebels. Franklin and Deane had long Conferences with chaumont and sat up writing all last night. The seizure of these Dispatches which would probably lead to most material Discoveries might I think be easily made in the following Manner.

Two Unarmed vessels protected by a small frigate or large Cutter might be orderd instantly to Havre de Grace The Ship of War might be directed to keep at sea and one of the Unarmed Vessels go into the Harbour of Havre under some Pretence with an intelligent Person on board who should inspect the Harbour and take proper Measures to discover the french Packet. It will be easy to do this as Your Lordship knows that the ships lie within the Bason till ready for Sea and then take the Harbour which is small, only for the Tide. This french Packet is a new built vessel mounting 10 or 12 Guns, will be found very clean and will have french Master Crew and Papers of Expedition for St Pierre in the Island of Miquelon. The other unarmed Vessel may be directed to wait at a convenient Distance off the Port to receive by Private Signal the Discovery made and communicate it in the like manner to the armed Vessel The Precaution of having two unarmed Vessels is the more necessary to prevent a failure which might be occasioned by shoal water or other accidents hindering the going out of the Harbour in which case however the Master of the vessel so detained by going upon the Pier w^ch projects a great way into the Sea might from thence make such signals as would easily be discoverd by the second unarmed vessel.

The Risk of not coming at the Papers after the Discovery of the Packet, is not so discouraging as at first sight it may appear. I know for certain that the General Instructions given to the Masters of those Packets are not to throw their Dispatches over board whilst they are in these seas, but trust to their being French vessels shew their Passes to any English cruizer they meet, and endeavour to prevent any further search if attempted. If there should be an objection to the using Force, a few hundred Guineas properly employed would probably tempt the french Captⁿ to throw his Dispatches overboard in such a manner as to let em fall into our Hands. M. chaumonts servt will not travel very fast and ships are often wind bound at Havre for many Days. My Zeal for the service has led me into tedious Details I am [&c.]