M^r A Whipple
Sir

The Chevalier de la Forest brought on board the Providence Frigate ten Men, of which eight remain on board the others were desirous to go back again to Nantes to pay some debts they owe, I paid them nothing but I have advanced to the eight others fifteen Livres a piece—promising them fifteen Livres more when the Ship will return in her moorings, be so kind as to send another mast as soon as possible I have been twice a day to the Carpenter to entreat him to work with all the expedition possible, there is one piece of Oak Timber put into the mast and two others ready the Lieutenant Pitcher¹ has got the Top Mast painted today theres a Ballast boat along side now the Carpenter has told your Officers that he has not got an answer yet whether he shall hew a Top Mast here, if it is possible get a thousand livres from M^r Schweighauser² for the Butcher the Chevalier tells me he has about thirteen men & shall be able to get twenty more but he thinks it very advisable not to bring them on board, untill the Ship is ready to Sail and I think it would make a great noise & they might be claimed by superior Orders the Gentleman has paid for their Victuals at Quoron³ I am sir [&c.]