Nantes October 9th. 1777
Gentlemen
Agreeable to my promise I beg leave to inform you that I shall leave this place in about Nine Days, & will with pleasure take charge of any Letters &c. that you may send to America, I have met with no person inclinable to advance their Credit in behalf of the State of Virginia,1 except Messrs J. Gruel & Co., who have undertakeing for £6000 Sterling & the Goods are now getting ready to be Ship'd immediately for Ocarocoak in No. Carolina, It was necessity that obliged me to engage with those Gentlemen, I shall take care to have proper articles signed before I leave here—please forward me the latest Paper's to take with me, on the other side is the Signal to be observed at Cape Henry for the Bennefit of those that may go to Virginia & Maryland I remain [&c.]
Signal to be observed at Cape Henry
If it's very dangerouse to get in, that is to say if the Men of War command the Capes—
Four Distinc't Fire's will be seen—
If they are within the Cape's & ly in Hampton Road, or pretty high up Chesepeak, three distinct will be seen—
If no Danger their Two distinct Fires will appear,
A Guard of 50 Men stationed their for the Protection of Vessells that may go on shore to get clear of the Enemy—2
J. King