| 6000 | coats, complete, | at 37 livres ea. | 222,000 |
| 12000 | pair woollen stockings, | 30 pr. doz. | 30,000 |
| 100,000 | lbs. of copper, | 27 pr. lb. | 135,000 |
| 22,000 | " sheet copper and nails, | 33 pr. lb. | 36,300 |
| 20,000 | " English tin, | 17 the c't w't | 17,000 |
| 4 | million flints, | 4 pr. 100 | 16,000 |
| 456,300 | |||
Sum total, four hundred fifty six thousand three hundred livres, errors and omissions excepted.
TO THE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Passy, 8th September, 1777.
Gentlemen,
It is long since we had a line from you, the last received being of the date of ——, we suppose from the same causes which have occasioned your hearing so seldom from us, the difficulty of finding safe conveyances, and sometimes the loss of the despatches by the way. Mr Lee informs you, we suppose, of his negotiations in Prussia, and his safe return hither. There appears in that, as well as in every other country in Europe, a disposition to share in our commerce, and to oblige us as far as may be done without offending England. We have numbers of letters from eminent houses there, proposing to furnish us with a variety of commodities, at reasonable rates, to be received by us in Europe, and paid for here. We advise them to send their goods in their own ships, and protect their own trade to and from our coasts.
We enclose you a copy of the memorial[40] we sent to Portugal, to which we have yet received no answer. That Court has been lately much employed in adjusting its differences with Spain, which it is said are now nearly all accommodated, and that they will accede to the family compact.
This Court continues the same conduct that it has held ever since our arrival. It professes to England a resolution to observe all treaties, and proves it by restoring prizes too openly brought into their ports, imprisoning such persons as are found to be concerned in fitting out armed vessels against England from France, warning frequently those from America to depart, and repeating orders against the exportation of warlike stores. To us it privately professes a real friendship, wishes success to our cause, winks at the supplies we obtain here, as much as it can without giving open grounds of complaint to England, privately affords us very essential aids, and goes on preparing for war. How long these two parts will continue to be acted at the same time, and which will finally predominate, may be a question. As it is the true interest of France to prevent our being annexed to Britain, that so the British power may be diminished, and the French commerce augmented, we are inclined to believe the sincerity is towards us, more especially as the united bent of the nation is manifestly in our favor; their not having yet commenced a war is accounted for by various reasons. The treaties subsisting among the powers of Europe, by which they are obliged to aid those attacked more than those attacking, which it is supposed will make some difference, the not being fully prepared, the absence of their seamen in their fishery and West Indies, and the treasure expected from New Spain, with the sugars from the Islands, have all, it is said, contributed to restrain the national desire of a breach with England, in which her troublesome power may be reduced, the wealth and strength of France increased, and some satisfaction obtained for the injuries received, in the unfair commencement of the last war.
England too is extremely exasperated at the sight of her lost commerce enjoyed by France, the favor our armed vessels have met with here, and the distress of their remaining trade, by our cruisers, even on their own coasts; and yet she seems afraid of beginning a war with this country and Spain together, while she has our war upon her hands. In such a situation, some accident may probably bring on a war, sooner than is desired by either party. In the mean time, perhaps the delay may have this good effect for us, that enjoying the whole harvest of plunder upon the British commerce, which otherwise France and Spain would divide with us, our infant naval power finds such plentiful nourishment, as has increased, and must increase its growth and strength most marvellously.