Rue de Battaile at Challiot pres pans
Sir
Messrs Gardoques have informed Me of your putting in at Bilboa and that he is giving you the necessary Assistances for the Repairs of your Vessell, As the public is Concerned only in half your Ship1 you should pay Messrs. Gardoques half of the expence of her Repairs, And for the Rest he will draw on the Commissioners here—A proposal has been made to Me for my Consent to making over the public share to a private person, upon Condition of his Reimbursing the public Expence—You are best able to judge how far that proposal is eligible by the prospects you have of making prizes—I therefore desire your Opinion upon the subject—1
It is proper to inform you that in what Concerns the public business in France, you should Addressed your Letters to Doctor Franklin Mr Deane and Myself, who are joint Commissioners for France, unless you had particular Orders to the Contrary, And in what Concerns the public in Spain you are to apply to Me as sole Commissioner for that Country—It is a disputed point whether the Enemy Goods in a Neutral Vessell Can be made a prize of, unless they are Contraband, The Attempting therefore to make Captures of their ships gives great Offence to our friends, and should be desisted from in future—3
Messrs. Gardoquies will shew you my Address to the American Captains, And the Same has been sent by Us all to the ports of France, for the future therefore you will endeavour to shew particular Respect to all French and Spanish ships to Remove the Offence that has been given—I am [&c.]
Paris Jany. 16th 1778—