Mr. Ross has lately demanded of me near twenty thousand pounds sterling, due to him from the committee of commerce, but I have been obliged to refuse him, as well as an application made last week by Mr. Izard for more money, though he has already had 2,500 guineas, and another from Mr. Arthur Lee, though he has had five hundred guineas, since the news of his being out of this commission. He writes me that he will return to America forthwith if I do not undertake to supply his expenses: as I see no likelihood of his being received at Madrid, I could not but approve his resolution.

We had reason to expect some great events from the action of the fleets this summer in the Channel, but they are all now in port without having effected any thing. The junction was late, and the length of time the Brest squadron was at sea, equal to an East India voyage, partly on the hot Spanish coast, occasioned a sickness among the people that made their return necessary: they had chased the English fleet, which refused the combat..... The sick men are recovering fast since they were landed; and the proposed descent on England does not yet seem to be quite given up, as the troops are not withdrawn from the ports. Holland has not yet granted the succors required by the English, nor even given an answer to the requisition presented by sir Joseph York. The aids will be refused, and as the refusal must be disagreeable, it is postponed from time to time. The expectations of assistance from Russia and Prussia seem also to have failed the English, and they are as much at a loss to find effective friends in Europe, as they have been in America. Portugal seems to have a better disposition towards us than heretofore. About thirty of our people taken, and set ashore on one of her islands by the English, were maintained comfortably by the governor during their stay there, furnished with every necessary, and sent to Lisbon, where, on inquiry to whom payment was to be made for the expence they had occasioned, they were told that no reimbursement was expected, that it was the queen's bounty, who had a pleasure in shewing hospitality to strangers in distress. I have presented

thanks by the Portuguese ambassador here in behalf of the congress and I am given to understand that probably, in a little time, the ports of that nation will be as open to us as those of Spain. What relates to Spain I suppose Mr. Lee informs you of.

The sword ordered by congress for the marquis de la Fayette, being at length finished, I sent it down to him at Havre, where he was with the troops intended for the invasion. I wrote a letter with it, and received an answer, copies of both which I enclose, together with a description of the sword, and drawings of the work upon it, which was executed by the best artists in Paris, and cost altogether two hundred guineas. The present has given him great pleasure, and some of the circumstances have been agreeable to the nation.

Our cartel goes on; a second cargo of American prisoners, one hundred and nineteen in number, being arrived and exchanged. Our privateers have dismissed a great number at sea, taking their written paroles, to be given up in exchange for so many of our people in their gaols. This is not yet quite agreed to on the other side, but some expecta tions are given me that it may take place. Certainly humanity would find its account in the practice of exchanging upon parole, as all the horrors of imprisonment, with the loss of time and health, might be prevented by it.

We continue to insult the coasts of these lords of the ocean with our little cruisers. A small cutter, which was fitted out as a privateer at Dunkirk, called the Black Prince, has taken, ransomed, burnt, and destroyed above thirty sail of their vessels within these three months. The own ers are about to give her a consort, called the Black Princess, for whom they ask a commission. The prisoners brought in, serve to exchange our countrymen, which makes me more willing to encourage such armaments, though they occasion a good deal of trouble.

Captain, now commodore, Jones, put to sea this sum

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mer with a little squadron consisting of a ship of forty guns, the Alliance, another frigate of twenty, with some armed cutters, all under American colors, with congress commissions. He has sent in several prizes, has greatly alarmed the coast of Ireland and Scotland; and we just now hear, that going north about, he fell in with a number of ships from the Baltic, convoyed by a fifty gun ship and a twenty four gun frigate, both of which he took after an obstinate engagement, and forced several of the others ashore. This news is believed, but we wait the confirmation and the par

ticulars.

The blank commissions remaining of those sent to us here, are all signed by Mr. Hancock, which occassions. some difficulty. If congress approves of my continuing to issue such commissions, I wish to have a fresh supply, with the other necessary papers, instructions, rules, bonds, &c. of which none are now left

M. le comte de Maillebois, esteemed one of the best general's in this country, and who loves our cause, has given me a memorial, containing a project for raising a corps here for your service, which I promised to lay before congress, and accordingly enclose a copy: I know nothing of the sentiments of congress on the subject of introducing foreign troops among us, and therefore could give no expectation that the plan would be adopted. It will, however, be a pleasure to him to know, that his good will to serve them has been acceptable to congress.

A major Borre, who has been in America, and some other officers who have quitted our service in disgust, endeavor to give an idea here that our nation does not love the French. I take all occasions to place in view the regard shewn by congress to good French officers, as a proof that the slight these gentlemen complain of is particular to themselves, and probably the effect of their own misbehavior. I wish for the future, whenever any of this sort of people leave our armies to come home, some little sketch of their conduct or character may be sent me, with the real causes of their resigning or departure, that I may be more able to justify our country.

Here are returned in the last cartel a number of French sailors, who had engaged with captain Cunningham, were taken in coming home with one of his prizes, and have been near two years in English prisons. They demand their wages and share of prize money. I send their claim as taken before the officers of the classes at Dunkirk. I know nothing of the agreement, they allege was made with them. Mr. Hodge perhaps can settle the affair so that they may have justice done them. These sort of things give me a great deal of trouble. Several of these men have made personal applications to me, and I must hear all their stories though I cannot redress them. I enclose also the claim of two gunners upon a prize made by the Boston, captain Tucker. I am persuaded the congress wish to see justice done to the meanest stranger that has served them : it is justice that establisheth a nation. The Spanish ambassador here delivered me several complaints against our cruizers. I imagine that all the injuries complained of, are not justly chargeable to us; some of the smaller English cruizers having pillaged Spanish vessels under American colors, of which we have proof upon oath. And also that no such American privateers as are said to have committed these robberies after coming out of Nantes, have ever been known there, or in any other part of France, or even to have existed. But if any of the complaints are well founded, I have assured the ambassador, that the guilty will be punished, and reparation made. The Swedish ambassador also complains of the taking of a ship of his nation by captain Landais, the master of which lays his damages at sixty thousand livres. I understand it was his own fault that he was stopt, as he did not shew his papers. Perhaps this, if proved, may enable us to avoid the damages.

Since writing the above, I have received the following farther particulars of the action between commodore Jones and the English men of war. The 44 gun ship is new, having been but six months off the stocks, she is called the Serapis; the other of 20 guns is the Countess of Scarborough. He had before taken a number of valuable prizes, particularly a rich ship bound to Quebec, which we suppose

he may have sent to America. The English from mistaken intelligence, imagining he had a body of troops with him to make descents, have had all their northern coasts alarmed, and been put to very expensive movements of troops, &c. The extravagant luxury of our country in the midst of all its distresses, is to me amazing; when the difficulties are so great to find remittances to pay for the arms and ammunition necessary for our defence, I am astonished and vexed to find upon inquiry, that much the greatest part of the congress interest bills come to pay for tea, and a great part of the remainder is ordered to be laid out in gewgaws and superfluities. It makes me grudge the trouble of examining, entering, and accepting them, which indeed takes a great deal of time. I yesterday learnt from M. de Monthieu, that every thing necessary for equipping two Frigates of 36 guns, such as sailcloth, cordage, anchors, &c. which we sent to the congress from hence two years since, remained stored in the warehouses of his correspondent, Mr. Carrabass, at Cape Francois, having never been called for. Probably by the miscarriage of letters, the navy board never heard of those goods being there. I shall nevertheless leave the application I have lately made for materials for a frigate of 36 guns, to take its course. But I send you herewith copiese of two invoices of the cargo of the Therese; one of which is what was sent by us, the other by M. Beaumarchais, to the end that enquiry may be made after the whole. On this occasion give me leave to remark, that of all the vast quantities of goods. we have sent you by many different vessels since my being in France, we never were happy enough to receive the least scrip of acknowlegement that they had ever come to hand, except from Mr. Langdon, of a cargo arrived at Portsmouth, and I think of one more. This is doubtless owing to the interruption correspondence has met with, and not altogether to neglect. But as such advices of receipt

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