L'Orient. Raleigh October 20th. 1777.
Gentn.
I have the Honour to have now before me your Letters of the 13th. & 15th. Instant1—in the first you desire I would write our situation; mine of the 10th. 2 will satisfy you in that particular, therefore shall not say anything more on that head; in your first you advise us to Gurlard and Company—& to send our Letters under Gurlard's Cover—in your last you say “wish you to take the Advice of Mr Gurlard in your affair, who is our Friend,” we wish you to be particular on that head & to know if you give a preference to Mr. Gurlard, as we look upon the whole House now concerned—with whom jointly we at present do our business.
We have no apparent reason to find any fault with either—but must say Mr. Gurlard seems to be the Man of Candor & Honour.—I have had an Application from Mr. Morris rather singular.—he deputizes a Mr. Pinet & recommends him to us—Mr. Pinet picks up a third person & dispatches him express to us to do the Business—they all urge Secrecy & dispatch, & solicit the selling the prizes themselves; altho'neither Pinet nor Mr. Morris are nearer than Nants, they offer to come & give dispatch if wanted—I wrote Mr. Morris for answer—I had found persons properly authorized by the Commissioners & as he said the Business required Secrecy & dispatch I had repos'd an intire Confidence in them and they had dispos'd of our Effects—I thank'd him for his Offer of Service, & promis'd to apply to him if I wanted any Assistance from the Continental Agents
I am sorry to inform you we have but this Day been able to get to the place destin'd to heave down; their Customs here are clog'd with so many Applications & so much Ceremony, 'tis impossible to make dispatch—we propos'd being at Sea in three Weeks after we first arriv’d—I shall keep you Inform’d of our proceedings whenever our positions alter materialy.—I am [&c.]
Thos. Thompson
PS I wish with you the Prizes had sold for more I know not the worth here except by Hudebrass & Neels in England the two with Cargos, would have been 21000£
L, PPAMP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 7, 78. Addressed: “The Honorable/Doctr. Benjamin Franklin, Silas Deane/& Arthur Lee Esqrs./American Commissioners/At/Paris.” Docketed: “T. Thompson/L'Orient Oct. 30. 77."
1. For that of the 13th, see above; that of the 15th has not been found.
2. Above.