with respect to
your persons, every security and comfort, which we showed to
foreigners; and as to your commerce and navigation, we would grant
every facility compatible with the exact observation of our treaties
with England, which the king's principles would induce him religiously
to fulfil. In order to prevent every doubt, with respect to the
vessels that may participate in the favors, which we grant in our
ports to nations in amity, I pointed out to you the article of the
treaty, which forbids the power of allowing privateers free access
into our ports, unless through pressing necessity, as also with
respect to the deposit and sale of their prizes. You promised,
gentlemen, to conform thereto.

After so particular an explanation, we did not press the departure of
the ship Reprisal, which brought Mr Franklin to France, because we
were assured it was destined to return with merchandise. We had quite
lost sight of this vessel, and imagined she was in the American seas,
when, with great surprise, we understood that she had entered
L'Orient, after taking several prizes. Orders were immediately given,
that she should depart in twentyfour hours, and to conduct her prizes
to the only admiralties, that were authorised to judge of their
validity. Captain Wickes complained of a leak. Being visited by proper
officers, his allegation was found to be legal, and admissible, the
necessary repairs were permitted, and he was enjoined to put to sea
again.

After such repeated advertisements, the motives of which you have been
informed of, we had no reason to expect, gentlemen, that the said Mr
Wickes would prosecute his cruising in the European seas, and we could
not be otherwise than greatly surprised, that, after having associated
with the privateers, the Lexington and Dolphin, to infest the English
coasts, they should all three of them come for refuge into our ports.
You are too well informed, gentlemen, and too penetrating, not to see
how this conduct affects the dignity of the king, my master, at the
same time it offends the neutrality, which His Majesty professes. I
expect, therefore, from your equity, that you will be the first to
condemn a conduct so opposite to the duties of hospitality and
decency. The king cannot dissemble it, and it is by his express order,
gentlemen, that I acquaint you, that orders have been sent to the
ports, in which the said privateers have entered, to sequester, and
detain them, until sufficient s