by which it might be made to appear to the cruisers and Court
of Admiralty, that the property belonged to Americans abroad? If
Congress should appoint Consuls, could not such power be given to
them, or would Congress empower their Commissioners or any others?
Several persons from England have applied to us to go to America; they
profess to be friends to liberty, to republics, to America; they wish
to take their lot with her, to take the oath of allegiance to the
States, and to go over with their property. We hope to have
instructions upon this head, and a mode pointed out for us to proceed
in.

In observance of our instructions to inquire into M. Holker's
authority, we waited on his Excellency, the Count de Vergennes,
presented him with an extract of the letter concerning him, and
requested to know what authority M. Holker had. His Excellency's
answer to us was, that he was surprised, for that M. Holker had no
verbal commission from the ministry; but that M. de Vergennes, being
informed that M. Holker was going to America, desired him to write to
him, from time to time, the state of things and the temper of the
people.

We have given orders to M. Bonfield, at Bordeaux, to ship to America
twentyeight 24 pounders, and twentyeight 18 pounders, according to our
instructions. By his answer to us it will take some little time,
perhaps two or three months, to get those cannon at a good rate, and
in good condition.

Our distance from Congress obliges us very often to act without
express instructions, upon points in which we should be very glad to
have their orders. One example of which is, the case of the American
prisoners in England. Numbers have been taken and confined in gaols;
others, especially masters of vessels, are set at liberty. We are told
there are five hundred yet in England. Many have escaped from their
prisons, who make their way to Paris, some by the way of Holland,
others by Dunkirk, and others by means of smuggling vessels in other
ports in this kingdom. They somehow get money to give gaolers in order
to escape, then they take up money in England, in Holland, in Dunkirk,
and elsewhere, to bear their expenses to Paris, then they apply to us
to pay their other expenses, and expenses to Nantes, Brest, and other
seaport towns. When arrived there, they apply to the American agent
for more money; besides this, bills of their drawing are brought to us
from Holland, and other places; all this makes a large branc