Sir

I have taken the liberty to apply to you several times lately to assist us in procuring the means of defence against the Enemies of America¹ It gives me pain to be under the Necessity of making further Application to you, but we find it will be Impossible to Import Cloathing for our Soldiers for the Next Winter and other Necessaries unless we Can Obtain an Extensive Credit, our Bay is so Blocked up by the British Cruisers that very few Vessels of Burthen Escape however if this was not the Case, we have not Vessels Sufficient to transport Tobacco Enough to purchase the Articles we want I flatter myself Our trade is an object of Such importance to the French that on proper Application the Court will Indulge us with a Loan Necessary to procure the Goods. The Sum we wish to Borrow, is Two Millions of Livres which will not be more than we Shall have Occation to lay out in the course of Twelve Months, in order to Discharge the Loan and the Interest arising there on, we will Ship Tobacco in such Good Vessels as may be sent here for that purpose, and Allow what you think a proper freight, the Tobacco to be sold on Acco^t. of the State I must in behalf of the Common Wealth Intreat you Sir to use your best endeavours to Borrow the Sum Mentioned, either out of the Kings Treasury or of Individuals. I am told very few of the Merch^ts of France have Large Capitals, & therefore it is improbable that you will Succeed with them—Whether the Gentlemen not Concerned in Trade will think it a Matter worthy Attention I do not know, but I am persuaded the King is Disposed to aid us & Tobacco is so Essential an Article of Commerce, I must suppose he will lend a favourable Ear to a Petition in our behalf If you can by any means procure the Money or Credit for us, you will be pleased to have the Goods Shiped as soon as possible agreeable to the Inclosed Invoice if there is War Between France & Britain, let them be sent directly to Virginia in fast Sailing Armed Vessels with orders to fall in with the Coast rather to the Northward of Cape Charles and to go into some of the Harbours on the Sea Side of the Eastern Shore or into Chesapeake Bay as may be found most safe we shall endeavour to keep Boats at Cape Charles and on the SeaSide to look out & to Pilot all Vessels into Safe Harbours,² If there is no War between France & Britain, let the Goods be sent in French Vessels to Cape Francois, and there Delivered to our agent Rawleigh Colston Esq^r from thence we Can Import them Cannon excepted, in Small fast Sailing Vessels we have provided, and Are Providing for that Purpose, and Whether sent directly to Virginia or to Cape Francois let the Goods be Insured it will be proper to send them in Different Vessels that we may not be altogether disapointed It is Supposed many of the British Vessels will Cruise this Summer off Occracooks³ and the other Inlets of N^o Carolina to intercept our Trade, we therefore think it will be best to order the Vessels that bring the Articles wrote for by Cap LeMair,⁴ & the heavey Cannon now ordered, into the Harbours on the Ea. Shore of Virginia or perhaps the Pilot may bring them into the North Chanel of our Bays which we shall endeavour to guard with our largest Gallies. 

I send here with Copies of the letter & Invoice by Cap^t LeMair We mean to have the Tobacco Insured which we Ship in the Vessels you are to send, & the Mode we intend to adopt is imediately upon the Arrival of any such Vessel here to advise you of the time She will probably sail from this and of the Quantity of Tobacco to be put on Board, we Mention this matter Now that it may by no means be ever Neglected, in Case the letters of advice from the State agent Should at any time Miscarry I am [&c.]

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