Paris, Dec. 18. 1777
[Extract] Gentlemen,
...Our Vessels laden with Supplies have by various Means been delay'd, particularly by Fear of falling into the Hands of the English Cruizing Ships, who swarm in the Bay and Channel. At length it is Resolv'd they shall sail together, as they are all provided for Defence, and we have obtain'd a King's Ship to convoy them out of the Channel, and we hope quite to America. They will carry we think to the Amount of 70,000 £ Sterling and sail in a few Days....
B Franklin Silas Deane Arthur Lee
L, DNA, PCC (M332, roll 3, fols. 164–70). For the entire dispatch, which gave news of the agreement in principle between the commissioners and the French government to enter into a treaty, see Papers of Benjamin Franklin 25: 305-9.
