I have been informed that I must address myself to your excellency; I do so with confidence. It is about the two bales of woolens which were loaded in London on my behalf under the label PSD No 1 & 2 on the vessel La Concorde, which was seized by one of your privateers upon its crossing hither. This vessel was neutral, as I was French; an attestation of which I remitted, from my Nation’s consul, along with the bill which amounts to £820.4s.8d and the bill of lading in my name, to Mr. Franklin in Paris to reclaim the sum. I received the following reply:

“From Chaillot near Paris, December 9, 1777:

Mr. Franklin remitted to me, as the agent of Congress to Spain, the letter that he received from you regarding the merchandise belonging to you and taken by one of our privateers.

I have the honor to inform you in regards to this, that a copy of all of the papers on this affair has been delivered to Congress, and that you may count on their justice.

Meanwhile, I am sending you a letter addressed to all of our captains and commanders that I beg you to show to all who enter your ports.

Please have the goodness to know, sir, that there is nothing more contrary to the intentions of Congress than to do harm, or to suffer it done to the subjects of neutral nations.

I have the honor to be, with most distinguished consideration, sir, your most humble and most obedient servant, Arthur Lee.”

Do me the honor your excellency of telling me how Congress handled this affair so that I may act in accordance to what I beg you to do the honor to prescribe.

I have the honor respectfully to be, sir, your excellency’s most humble and most obedient servant.