[Extract]

I have lately received two thousand Barrels or One Hundred Tons of Powder, from Monsr Diant, which was shipped from Nantz to his Address; — but he had no particular Orders to deliver it to me — The Freight upon this Article is very extravagant, being more than double . the Proportion of. what I lately paid, for a considerable Quantity that came from Bordeaux; — It amounted to no less than Livres 37500 — The Addressing it to the Care of a Merchant in this Place, Saddled it with a Commissiop. of 2½ P%, merely for the Receiving & delivering the.Bills of Lading; — I have shipped the greatest part of it already for the different States, as I was convinced it would run but a Small Risk at present, in Comparison to what it would, at a more advanced Season of the Year

As every thing that regards the Situation & Interest of America naturally claims your particular Attention, & especially what concerns a commercial Connexion with France, I must beg leave to address to you a few thoughts on that interesting Subject — It would certainly be to the mutual Interest of both Countries to encourage a Reciprocal Intercourse & Exchange of Commodities in the Mercantile Line; — To enjoy the good Effects of this desireable Scheme, we should have the Ports of France open to our Vessels, & a free Admission & Sale of all our Produce; — this has not been the Case here; —Flour, a principal Branch of our Exports, has been exempted for Some Months past from a free & open Sale, & we have not been permitted to land it; — & the only Reason is, that it will injure & interfere with the French Merchants in the sale of this Article — I could not imagine that so narrow a Consideration could enter into the Minds of Men in Government, when Matters of so liberal, so extensive, & So important a Nature Should have claimed their Attention — This Prohibition has greatly damped the Spirit of American Speculation — I find that the Government have no Orders in regard to their extending any Indulgence to the American Commerce; — whereas, I am confident from the Disposition of the French Court, that this could easily be obtained; — The local Situation of this Island points it out to the Americans as an Asylum from Danger, & as a Market for their Produce; — If we could have liberty to bring in our Prizes here, & dispose of perishable Commodities, or those that would not suit the American Market, it would be a Matter of very Serious & beneficial Consequence to the Americans —

If France will but profit by the present situation of Affairs, She may become the most powerfull Kingdom on the Globe, & the encouraging, protecting, & favoring the American Commerce, is the first Step towards it — We shall then no longer See that haughty domineering Power, Britain, circumscribed within the narrow Limits of a small Island, with hardly Six Millions of Inhabitants, attempt to assume that first Place amongst the Powers of Europe, & impose Slavery & Dominion upon three Millions of People in America; — Her Pretensions to this Degree of Grandeur & Dignity arose from her Trade & Manufactures; — When the Cause ceases, the Effect must of course — Cut off those valuable Resources, & She sinks into Insignificance; whilst France to whom they are transfer'd, will arise proportionably in Importance.

The English Vessels that I mentioned to you in my Last, were Seized by Order of Government, have been Since released, upon the Admiral's issuing a Proclamation, forbidding the Arming of Privateers without Commissions. . . .