ir,

You are to proceed with all the despatch in your power, with the
schooner Jenifer, under your command, to Nantes, in France; on your
arrival there, you are to apply to Mr Thomas Morris, if he should be
at that port, if he should not, your application must be to Messrs
Pliarne, Penet & Co., who will furnish you with necessary cash for
your journey to Paris, for which place you must set out immediately,
and deliver your despatches to Messrs Franklin, Deane, and Lee, and
wait their orders; when they discharge you, you are to return with the
utmost diligence to America, and put into the most convenient port to
the southward of the Delaware; we think Chincoteague or some other on
the back of the Eastern shore the most likely for avoiding men of war,
and would therefore have you attempt getting into one of those ports;
when arrived, you must leave the schooner under the command of your
mate, and bring the despatches yourself to Congress, wherever it may
be sitting.

You are, before you set out for Paris, to consult with Mr Morris or
the above gentlemen, whether your vessel will not be most likely to
escape the enemy by sending her to some other port to meet you on your
return; if this should be their opinion, you are to give orders to
your mate accordingly; you are also to deliver your pig iron to the
orders of those gentlemen, and take from them such a quantity of
military stores, as will ballast your vessel. The safe delivery of the
despatches, with which you are intrusted, and the obtaining answers
to them, are matters of such immense consequence to the Continent,
that we cannot too strongly recommend to you the avoiding all vessels
that you may see, either outward bound, or on your return. You are
also to avoid as much as possible, falling in with headlands and
islands, as it is most usual for men of war to cruise off such places.

The despatches will be delivered to you in a box, which you must put
into a bag with two shots, that, in case of falling in with an enemy,
from which you cannot escape, you may be prepared to sink them, which,
on such an event happening, we earnestly insist on your doing.

We wish you a good voyage, and safe return, and are your most humble
servants,

B. HARRISON,
R. H. LEE.

_P. S._ When you arrive at Nantes, inquire and get directions from the
gentlemen there, to who