[Extract]
Monsieur

J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer cy joint un memoire, que des capitaines americains m’ont remis;¹ je vous serai bien obligé de faire scavoir a M^r. vottre parent Williams,² resident a nantes, s’il y a moyen d’obtenir du ministre de la marine ce que demendent ces Capitaines par le dit memoire. il seroit à desirer que cela put avoir lieu, nos batimens partiroients avec plus de sureté, attendu que les côtes de Bretagne sonts remplies de Batimens anglais et Corsaires de jerse et guernese, qui interceptent tant les navires qui arrivent D’amerique, que ceux que nous y envoyons. j’ai actuellement a nantes deux navires apelés le nante, et le penet lesquels je compte expedier incessament pour compte de L’office de la guerre³ Si j’etois certain que ces navires fussent escortée je metrois a Bord des canons de Bronse que j’ai actuellement en magasin. . . .

Paris le 14. avril. 1778.

[Translation]
Sir

I have the honor to send you, enclosed, a memorial, which some American captains have sent me;¹ I would be much obliged to you to inform your relative Williams,² residing in nantes, if there is a way to obtain from the minister of marine what these Captains request by the said memorial. It would be desirable that that may take place, our ships would sail with more security, expecting that the coasts of Brittany are filled with English Ships and Privateers from Jersey and Guernsey, who intercept so many of the ships that arrive from america, as well as those that we send there. I have currently at nantes two ships called the nantes and the penet which I plan to dispatch soon on the account of the board of war.³ If I were certain that these ships were escorted I would put on board some bronze cannon that I currently have in a warehouse. . . .

P. Penet

Paris, 14 April 1778