. . . about 50 Sail for Trade.

... The House of La Veuve Lalanne et fils of Bayonne—three Cargoes.—Six or Eight Cargoes are going from Havre de Grace; & others from other Ports.—

George Grand, Chev^r. of the order of Vasa, is the consealed partner of this House. He reced the Knighthood at the request of C^t. Vergennes, whose principal agent he was in Sweden, in the Part france acted in the late Revolution. He also attended on the part of the C^t. Vergennes As umpire, between the Farmers General, & the American Comm^rs. during the late Tobacco Contract. He is also the Contractor for the Dutch Tobacco—with the Fanners General, M. Prevôt of the Royal Americans at Augustine, married his Daughter; has sent His Children to Ams^t. who are in Grands house—and they Correspond—but I do not mean to suggest that M. Prevôt is unfaithfull to his Majesty. M. Grand—Bqr. at Paris, has the trust of the American Com^mrs. Mony reced from M. Micault d'Harvebey, Court Bq'r for foreign affairs-under the direction of M. Vergennes.

M. Chenicke—Spanish Agent in Amsterdam, & Mess. Hornica Fiseaux & Comp^y.—are building in the same Ship Yard of M. Staats—the first a 74 Gun Ship—the last two ships of a New Construction planned by the Chev^r. Boux one to Carry above 1200 Tons Merchandize besides 36—24 Pounders on one Deck &Able, he says, to fight a 74 Gun Ship: the other launched above Six Weeks to carry 24—18 Pounders.
M. Boux Brother or Relation to the Chevalier inspects them, but the Chavalier was in Amsterdam in the months of May & June, when these
three Ships were Contracted for & put on the Stocks for French & Spanish Account—they were to be ready for Sea by the 1 Nov., but ⅌haps the two
largest will not be so soon finished. The other, probably will take on board M. Ph: Merckle's Cargoe of Small arms &c—besides Cloathing from
Germany & Cordage Sail Duck &c &c for two Ships of the Line building at Portsmouth & Newberry in N. England—It will be remembered that the Estimate, proves that M. Grand of Paris Brother to the Chevalier at Amsterdam remits the mony to Amsterdam to H, F & C^o. there for this Ship, & that the Same House has been lately ordered to draw on him, for
the amount of Merckle's engagements &c &c.

Besides the great Quantity of Warlike Stores Collected & Collecting at Nantes by M. Monthieu according
to the Contract with the American Comm^{rs. 2} which I Copyed from the Original—there are in the Kings Warehouses at Marseilles under Beaumarchais, for the use of the Congress—the remainder of the following Articles—

13000 Bombs

27 Brass Mortars with their Beds &c

68 D^o. field Cannon, with their Carriages &c

50000 Sulpher

36000 Gun Powder

25000 Tools for Artillery, Engineers, Miners, &c &c

6 large Hogsheads Soldiers Knives

a large Quantity of Cannon Balls. Of which were Shipped onboard the Heureux (often mentioned) besides the Articles mentioned p^r. 3^d.—

44 Brass field Cannon—
Carriages &c—

20 Brass Mortars &c

5000 Cannon Balls

2000 Bombs.

6 Hhds soldiers Knives.

There are several ships building in Private Yards in France, & in foreign Ports— pretendedly for India Ships, but are all Pierced for 54 & 64 Guns, & more probably intended for Ships of War.