[Philadelphia]

We are now at the 1st of October & have heard from Mr. Deane after his arrival at Bourdeaux his last letter is dated 23d June when he was just setting out for Paris. We have later intelligence than his In Consequence of which we desire you to enquire of the General & Governor whether they have recd any Arms or Ammunition from Monsr. Hortalez with directions to deliver the same to any persons properly authorized by Congress to receive them If they have, We hereby authorize you to receive the same giving your Receipts on behalf of the United States of America. If none such are arrived enquire if they have any advice of such & request they will make known to you when they do arrive. We desire you will make the like application to the Governor of St. Eustatia, but proceed cautiously in this business. We think you shou'd go there yourself in a French Vessell or if that might be unsafe or make a noise get Mr Richd Harrison or some person in whose prudence You can Confide, Let the first question be, whether His Excellency has received any advice from Monsr. Hortalez, if the answer be in the Negative, tell him that he will receive letters from such a person & that those advices have reference to you, therefore request the favour of being immediately made acquainted when they come to hand & you will wait on him or send a proper person in your stead ー If the answer be in the affirmative then enquire if his Excellency has rec'd anything beside advice from Monsr. Hortalez & if he has, inform him you are empowered to receive the same from him agreable to the directions sent with the Goods, We believe you had best proceed in the same Cautious manner at Martinico & open no more of the business than Circumstances shall make absolutely necessary

We also enjoin you to the Stricktest secrecy and herewith enclose you two separate letters as your proper Authority for receiving any Goods or Money Mr Hortalez our agent in Europe may remit

It was intended that Capt [John] Young shou'd deliver you this letter but as we have some important dispatches to send Mr Deane, we have concluded to send Mr Wm Hodge junr the bearer hereof with the same in order that he may deliver them with his own hands. You'l please to shew Mr Hodge proper attention and assist him to the utmost of your power in procuring him a passage immediately from Martinico to France, in a good Ship, if any Man of War or Packet should be going, make application to the General to recommend Mr. Hodge to the Commander, also to the Commander of the Port where he goes to in France to give him support & assist-ance from thence to Paris with the best dispatch. If Mr. Hodge should want money for his Expences supply him & transmit us his receipts for the same. You will serve Your Country by forwarding Mr Hodge without delay but you need not mention to the General how urgent we are on this point unless you find it will promote his dispatchー

We learn from many quarters that a Fleet of Twenty Sail of the Line are fitting out at Brest & Toulon Shou'd they come out to the West Indies & be destined to Commit Hostilities against the British Trade or Territorys, they have a fair opportunity to Strike a Capital Stroke at New York where they have upwards of 400 Sail of Ships Guarded only by 2 sixty four Gun Ships, two fiftys and six Fortys the rest are all Frigates &c Twenty Sail of the Line wou'd take their whole Fleet with ease & then we coud as easily manage their Army. We had omitted above to desire that you shou'd send back in the Sloop Independence Capt Young a proportion of the Arms Ammunition Money or other Stores you may receive either at Martinico or St Eustatia from Monsr Hortalez, taking bills of Loading for the same deliverable to us or our order & if the quantity you receive shou'd be considerable, you may send by Capt Young about the Value of three or four thousand pounds Sterlg observing that we want Muskets & Woolen Cloathing most immediately. We shall send more Armed Vessells after Capt Young to bring away the remainder of what you may receive or buy and are sir [&c.]