Gentlemen,

On my arrival at Versailles I obtained permission from the French Ministry to dispose of our Prizes to the best Advantage without being subject to any expence from the Admiralty—I have also got the Commissioners to write to the person who sold our Prizes at Bourdeaux in express terms to remit the Captors part and some of it is since come to the hands of M^r Williams—¹ It shall be my care to get the Prisoners Exchanged as soon as possible—to Realize our Prizes, and to obtain leave to return on a Cruize to America—All this I believe I shall very soon be able to effect—and therefore you may publish it in the Ship for the General Happiness and Satisfaction— There will I am persuaded nothing interfere with our proceeding to America unless the Ranger should be previously employed as a Cartel in the approaching exchange of Prisoners—This may or may not happen: and as it will be a Work of little time and of no Danger it cannot but be agreeable to the feelings of Humanity, it might I think be Accomplished before the Prizes can be realized—I only wait here for the list of prisoners which I wrote for some time ago and which I hope will be very exact.—² If the List is not already forwarded I desire it may be immediately sent to Doctor Franklin—let it express the Names and Quality of every Prisoner—Let the Officers (Prisoners) upon rect: of this be served whole allowance, and the private Men two thirds Allowance of Liquor provided they make no undue use of it.—

I rest satisfied that what I have already said will afford General Satisfaction in the Ship and I rely on every person to exert himself Cheerfully for the Honor which we have already acquired, as well as for their own interest and that of the Service—I shall soon be able to Convince every person under my Command that I take particular pleasure to make them Rich and Happy.—

As Brest is not a place of Commerce I would not recommend that the Prize Goods should be sold without having first given information to the Merchants at L’Orient & Nantes &^c. to attend the Sale that they may raise the Prize [i.e., Price]—I do not expect that the Sale will begin before I reach Brest as I may perhaps bring some purchasers with me—but if it should begin I desire that Thirty Hogsheads of the Best porter with all the Packages of Baggage and Plate &c may be carefully Stored and preserved until I come down³

I beg as a particular favor that I may have the pleasure of finding the Ranger perfectly Clean an in Complete Order—her Bottom excepted I am [&c.]

N.B. Desire M^r Bursolle⁴ to keep any letters which may appear for me until I see him unless in the meantime I should write him to the Contrary.