Dear Sir

I have convers'd with D^r Franklin on the Subject of yours of the 3^d, who is of Opinion that the giving Protection or Encouragem^t. to the Importation of British Manufactures into America will be in direct Opposition to the Resolution of Congress & at a time when the Advantages of the American Commerce are held out as one principal Enducement to other Nations to afford us Aid would be to the last Degree impolitic as well as inconsistent & Dangerous. on Reflection I doubt not you'l subscribe to the Justice of this Opinion in which I am fully with the Doctor—Yours of the 10^th. I rec^d last Evening¹ & am very sensible of the Importance of your Observations on the present Situation of our Affairs, & assure you that neither the Honor or Dignity of our Country shall suffer in the least by any Engagem^ts of ours. I wrote M^r Hodge & am very uneasy about his Health, but alarge Share of Exercise may do him good, he loves Action & hates thinking that is in a studious contemplative way. his Confinem^t in the Bastile affected him in his Health & the Distress w^ch. he must be in for the Fate of his Family affects him & Action may divert him. Cunningham had on the 20^th Dec^r. carried in two prizes to Carogne, one of which sold for 6000 p^s 8 the other for 4500. & was gone out on a second Cruize. Cap^t Nicholson writes that he fears your Vessels will not be ready to go out with him, which I hope will not be the Case as I wish he may not be detain'd after being ready for Sea. I am very sorry that Cap^t Jones is disappointed in the Frigate he expected,² I have the same Opinion of him as you have & wish we could get him a stronger Force than meerly the Ranger, he will set out for Nantes in a few days & I shall improve the oppor^o: writing to you again by him By the last Acco^ts from London Stocks have fell prodigiously the News of taking Mud Island raised them a little, but actual Hostilities between the two Kingdoms would sink them to nothing I am [&c.]