Sir

Your letter of the 12^th. Ult^o:1 duely appeared—but as the purport of it seemed rather to intimate your desire to sell my prizes at a distance than to manifest your Inclination to furnish in person on the spot the dailey supplies of Provision for my people and prisoners—and the Stores and provision of every kind necessary to refit the Continental Ship after an Obstinate Engagement.— I thought it required no Answer; especially as I had no letter from the Commissioners on the Subject:— and had the Commissioners still remained Silent, neither could I have given a Satisfactory Answer to your last of 31^st Ult^o.2 which is this moment come to my hands:— that Letter Sir seems in the same strain with the former;— but some part of it I freely confess is above my language or comprehension when you express yourself thus—“That I may take the necessary measures to assure us the propriety of these Captures,”—as I am not charged with having infringed the Laws of Government I think your Postscript might have been spared.—

In a word if you consider yourself as the Agent or instrument for Victualling and Repairing the Ships of War of the American Navy—as I came in here in distress the 8^th Ult^o. in want of Provision with a number of Wounded Men and Prisoners—You have not done your duty as you have not to this hour given nor offered me any assistance whereby you have Occasioned a loss of time and Money to the United States. It was your duty to have appeared on the Spot and to have ministred to our Wants.— If on the contrary as I rather think you consider yourself only as the Instrument for selling the Continental part of prizes— yet in this case too you have not done your duty.— It was your duty to have appeared at Brest to have taken care of the Public property and to have brought on the Sales—whereas some of it may perhaps now be perishing thro’ your absence and Neglect.— I have been thus explicit that you may not henceforth misunderstand me and that as far as we may be connected we may henceforth co-operate for the Public good of the American United States, and, I am [&c.]