Sir

Your favour of the 5th Ult. came to'hand a few days since on the receipt of which I immediately made strict enquiry for Duck & other Cloth suitable for Soldiers Tents but not a single Bolt was to be had in this State, what few ther was to be had some Time since I bought to compleat the first suit of Sails for the Frigate Raleigh am now much in want of about seventy Bolts of heavy Canvas to Compleat her second Suit for which I hope to have an order on the Agent at Providence who I hear has some belonging to the States. ー I have now the pleasure to inform you that Yesterday the Marquis of Kildare (which I sent to France with Lumber &c (on the accot of the States) arrived from Bourdeaux which place she left the 15th August & Cap [Thomas] Palmer who commands the Brig says that on the 17th Septemr in Lattitude 39.20 N, Longitude 46.12 W fell in with Twenty three Sail Ships three of which he took to be Men of War the rest Transports it being thick Weather was within Gun shot of them before he discovered them; one of the men of War bore down upon them, upon which he & also the Passengers (who were two) on board threw their Letters Overboard not thinking they had the least chance of escape but it luckily came on verry thick & blew fresh Gale by which he got clear. There was a large Packett for [sic from] Mr Deane which was done up in Lead for the purpose De- stroyed, & even my Letter with Invoice from the House of S & J H Delap suffered the same Fate, have no other papers than a receipt from the House of the Delivery of the Cargo & Copy of the.Bill of Ladeing of the Goods Shipt; shall have Duplicates by Severall Vessels who were to Sail soon, of which are the following. The Schooner Wm Joshua Bunker to Sail in four or five Days after Palmer for Providence the Sloop Mary Samuel Morgan to sail in four or five days for the Continent; Sloop Samuel James Hutchins to sail in 10 or 15 Days Sloop Lucretia Jacob Surly for new York 20 Days the Cap & Passengers give very pleasing accot of Matters the French Ports all open for every sort of Merchandize from America, all high in favour of the Continent. Cap Palmer was in Company with Mr Dean at Bourdeaux who spoke very highly of the Treatment he received there; the Cap. understood that Mr Dean was offered a Million Sterling on the Credit of the Continent before he left Bourdeaux for Paris to which place he was gone when Palmer came away. Capt Palmer has made verry pretty Freight for the Cargo he carried out which amounted only to about Eight Hundred Pounds Lawful Money first cost here haveing bro't the following Articles on Cargo (tho' he came away without compleating the Sales leaving it with the House of Messrs Delap what was on hand) ー Vizt 5000 wt Powder 250 small Arms, One hundred Thousand flints, upwards of four Thousand Yards of small Canvas 400 or 500 Jackerats 100 Knapsacks 100 Legings 80 large Ruggs 2 small Bales' woolings one Bale Linnen not yet opened, and Ten Tons of Lead, The Powder only will pay cost of Cargo with all charges and hire of Vessel, no doubt it will be agreeable to the Honle Secret Committee that I should reserve such things as may be wanting for the Frigate such as the Powder about fifty or a hundred of the Musquetts some Flints Lead some of the small Canvas which together with that I hope will be immediately ordered from Providence will compleat the second Suit of Sails the Ruggs & Blanketts cannot be done without on board Ship The rest of small Canvass which is very suitable for Tents, can be spared & sent as soon as I receive orders for that or any other part of her Cargo the Masts & Oak plank sold verry well, as the Cap. says some were disposed off before he came away I mentioned to the Honble Committee severall Times that Masts are to be had here which together with other things would make a Good Cargo for France or Spain & pay the Greatest Freight by far of any thing I know of upon the Continent which may be seen by this Brigs Cargo which made the Freight of One Thousand pounds Sterling out & as much (nearly) home on about 800 £ Lawf[ul] money cost of Cargo should the Honle Committee see fit to send Vessel from hence with such a Cargo it may be done to advantage as one of these prize Ships might be purchased Low which would carry large Cargo of Masts & Lumber. I am with respect [&c.]