Extract of y^e Letter of Arthur Lee Esq^r. and Minister Plenipotentiary of y^e United States of America of y^e April 1778. to M^r Schweighauser at Nantes

The Powers given to M^r. J^n. Williams by M^r Deane relate expressly & only to y^e Prises made by Capⁿ Wickes’s Squadron & y^e ships that Composed it. Those Powers are now ended with, y^e existence of ye Objects of them.

M^r. Morris’s Letter under which he claims y^e Commercial Agency speaks only of such matters as may be committed to his management, that Power too, is now at an End with y^e dismission of M^r. Morris,¹ and y^e Sole appointment of your Principal by y^e Commercial Committee of Congress on y^e 17 Xber 1777 in these words
“Should any Cargoes arrive hierafter consign’d by Bills of loading to y^e Joint order of Messr Tomas Morris & William Lee—M^r. Morris is not to have any share in y^e direction or managem^t that being Comitted to M^r Lee² alone, untill another appointment or further orders may take place (Sign’d) Rob^t. Morris, W^m Smith Fr^a Lewis, W^m. Ellery, Corn^s. Harnett.

You See therefore, Sir, that y^e Powers given to M^r. Williams are totally distinct from those deputed to you, & that he is mistaken in thinking he had or has any right to interfere with you in y^e management of ships consign’d to the Commercial Agent or Agents, or ships of War or their prises, which are under y^e Direction of the Commercial Agent, as to Supplying y^e one and selling y^e other unless when y^e Commissioners shall think themselves call’d upon to interpose specially.

In y^e execution of this duty you may depend upon being fully supported—this letter you will shew to M^r. Williams, who I doubt not will desist from giving you any further trouble.