Dear Sir

I received yours of the 25^th ultimo and should have replied two or three Days since, but Mr. Moyland setting out I chose to refer you to him who will better explain personally than can be done by Letter his plan.

I am happy to find there will not be any misunderstanding between M^r Williams & him—Respecting the Dolphin I find by M^r Williams that she cannot be dismissed until the Lyon sails, without great Prejudice; M^r. Hodge proposes to be at Nantes in a few Days who will consult you on the Spot & to him I refer as I shall leave it with him to make use of the Dolphin or not as you shall Judge Prudent. Cunningham has lately carried another Prize into Spain, loaded with Fish, and Suffer'd himself in a Gale of Wind on acco^t. of his Mast being too large, he was altering it & getting ready for another Cruize—The Letter from thence was dated the 12 Nov^r.—I shall be glad to hear of Greens¹ being ready to sail & to know the arrangements you make as to freight, Consignments &c What Concern I have expect to share like others & have full Confidence in your Direction of it—I will only hint what occurs to me at present—That the Primary object is to obtain a Cargo of Tobacco for the Ship back. To do which if the Salt & freight are not sufficient you must write Mess^r. Willing & Morris to whom you will probably Consign her, to draw on my Brother, Barn^a. Deane Esq^r. to make up my proportion of the Cargo back, in the next Plan if the Ship can not be loaded back and it should be found best to sell her to the Publick, my Interest in her as well as in her Cargo I desire may be paid to my Brother Simeon Deane at Petersburg Virginia should he be arrived there, if not to my Brother Barnabas Deane Esq^r. in Connecticut—I propose this should the Vessel be sold, as its possible she may be Changed with the Publick for another In that Case I should incline to continue my Interest, as a return of the Effects here is my Principal object—Please to let me know how soon the Ship will be ready & I will write you again on the Subject-—Refer you to M^r. Moylan for on which I know not what Judgment to form except that Burgoyne is undoubtedly ruined, but affairs to the Southward do not look so favorable, tho I do not think them really bad. I am &c.