to be subject to the same inconveniencies, and therefore to
require the same amendment.

Upon the 14th article, we beg leave to submit to your Excellency's
consideration, whether the heavy duties upon British merchandise and
manufactures, if these are to be paid upon prize goods, will not
operate as a great discouragement to the sale of prizes made by
American cruisers; and whether it would be consistent with his
Majesty's interest to permit merchandise and manufactures, taken in
prizes made by Americans, to be stored in his Majesty's warehouses, if
you please, until they can be exported to America, and without being
subject to duties.

We know not the expense, that will attend these regulations and
proceedings in the courts of this kingdom; but as the fees of office
in America are very moderate, and our people have been accustomed to
such only, we submit to your Excellency whether it will not be
necessary to state and establish the fees here, and make the
establishments so far public, that Americans may be able to inform
themselves.

As we are not well instructed in the laws of this kingdom, or in the
course of the courts of Admiralty here, it is very possible that some
inconveniencies may arise in the practice upon these regulations,
which we do not at present foresee; if they should, we shall beg leave
to represent them to your Excellency, and to request his Majesty to
make the necessary alterations.

We submit these observations to your Excellency's superior wisdom, and
have the honor to be, with sentiments of the most perfect respect,
your Excellency's most obedient and most humble servants,

ARTHUR LEE,
JOHN ADAMS.

_P. S._ Dr Franklin concurs with us in these sentiments, but as he is
absent, we are obliged to send the letter without his subscribing.

* * * * *

JOHN PAUL JONES TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

Brest, August 15th, 1778.

Gentlemen,

I have now been five days in this place since my arrival from Passy,
during which time I have neither seen or heard from Lieutenant
Simpson. But Mr Hill, who was last winter at Passy, and sailed with me
from Nantes, informs me truly, that it is generally reported in the
Ranger, and of course through the French fleet and on shore, that I am
turned out of the