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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 treat