Versailles, September 27th, 1778.

Gentlemen,

In your letter of the 28th ult. you remind me of the promise of the
king, by the 8th article of the treaty of amity and commerce, signed
the 6th of February last, to use his exertions with the Barbary Powers
to provide for the security of the commerce and navigation of the
citizens of the United States in the Mediterranean. I have
communicated your request to M. de Sartine, to whose department it
belongs, and you will see by the reply of that minister, of which I
send you a copy, that he considers it reasonable, but requires further
explanations before he can receive the orders of the king on this
matter. I beg you gentlemen, to have the goodness to communicate them
to me, and to be assured that the king will cheerfully do all in his
power to satisfy the wishes of the United States, and promote their
views with the different Barbary powers.

I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, &c.

DE VERGENNES.

* * * * *

TO M. DE SARTINE.

Passy, September 27th, 1773.

Sir,

We have received the letter, which your Excellency did us the honor to
write to us on the 21st inst. relative to the Isabella, retaken from a
Guernsey privateer, by Captain M'Neil, in the General Mifflin.

It is extremely probable, that Count d'Estaing has retaken several
American vessels from the English; we shall no doubt soon have
intelligence what has been done in those cases.

We have advised Captain M'Neil to leave one third of the produce of
the Isabella in the hands of such public officer, as your Excellency
shall point out, to be repaid to him, or restored to the original
proprietor of the Isabella hereafter, according to the rule which,
shall be adopted by the two nations, and to this Captain M'Neil has
agreed. Captain M'Neil will have the honor of delivering this letter
to your Excellency, and is ready to give your Excellency any assurance
you may require of him, and to take the charge of your despatches
respecting this affair; if your Excellency is disposed to do him the
honor to trust them to his care.

We have the honor to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN,
ARTHUR LEE,