We the Congress of the United States of North America, having thought it proper to appoint you their Minister plenipotentiary to the Court of his most Christian Majesty, you shall in all things according to the best of your knowlege and Abilities promote the Interest and honor of the said States at that Court with a particular Attention to the following Instructions.

lst. You are immediately to assure his most Christian Majesty, that those States entertain the highest sense of his Exertions in their favor, particularly by sending the respectable Squadron under the Count D’Estaign which would probably have terminated the war, in a speedy and honorable manner if unforeseen and unfortunate Circumstances had not intervened. You are further to assure him that they consider this speedy Aid not only as a Testimony of his Majesty’s fidelity to the Engagements he hath entered into but as an earnest of that Protection which they hope from his power and Magnanimity, and as a Bond of Gratitude to the Union founded on mutual Interest.

2dly. You shall by the earliest opportunity and on every necessary Occasion assure the King and his Ministers that neither the Congress nor any of the States they represent have at all swerved from their Determination to be Independent in July 1776. But as the Declaration was made in face of the most powerful Fleet and Army which could have been expected to operate against them and without any the slightest Assurance of foreign Aid, so altho in a defenceless situation and harrassed by the secret Machinations and Designs of intestine foes they have under the Exertion of that force during three bloody Campaigns, persevered in their Determination to be free. And that they have been inflexible in this determination, notwithstanding the Interruption of their Commerce the great sufferings they have experienced from the Want of those things which it procured and the unexampled Barbarity of their Enemies.

3dly. You are to give the most pointed and positive assurances that altho the Congress are earnestly desirous of Peace as well to arrange their Finances and recruit the exhausted state of their Country as to spare the further Effusion of blood yet they will faithfully perform their Engagements and afford every assistance in their power to prosecute the war for the Purposes of the Alliance.

4thly. You shall endeavor to obtain the King’s consent to expunge from the Treaty of Commerce the eleventh and twelfth Articles as inconsistent with that Equality and reciprocity which form the best surity to perpetuate the whole.

5thly. You are to exert yourself to procure the consent of the Court of France, that all American Seamen who may be taken on board of British Vessels, may if they chuse, be permitted to enter on board American Vessels; in return, for which you are authorised to Stipulate that all Frenchmen who may be taken on board of British Vessels, by Vessels belonging to the United States shall be delivered up to persons appointed for that purpose by his most Christian Majesty.

6thly. You are to suggest to the Ministers of his most Christian Majesty, the advantage which would result from entering on board the Ships of these States, British seamen who may be made Prisoners, thereby impairing the force of the Enemy and strengthening the Hands of his Ally.

7thly. You are also to suggest the fatal consequences which would follow to the Commerce of the Common Enemy if by confining the war to the European and Asiatic seas, the coasts of America could be so far freed from the British fleets as to furnish a safe Asylum to the Frigates and Privateers of the allied Nations and their prizes.

8thly. You shall constantly inculcate the certainty of ruining the British Fishery on the Banks of Newfoundland and consequently the british Marine by reducing Hallifax and Quebec since by that means they would be exposed to alarm and plunder, and deprived of the necessary supplies formerly drawn from America. The plans proposed to Congress for compassing these Objects are herewith transmitted for your more particular Instructions.

9thly. You are to lay before the Court, the deranged state of our finances together with the causes thereof and shew the necessity of placing them on a more respectable footing in order to prosecute the war with Vigor on the part of America. Observations on that subject are herewith transmitted and more particular Instructions shall be sent whenever the necessary steps previous thereto shall have been taken.

10thly. You are by every means in your power to promote a perfect harmony, Concord and good Understanding not only between the Allied powers but also between and among their subjects that the connection so favorably begun may be perpetuated.

11thly. You shall in all things take care not to make any Engagements or stipulations on the part of America without the consent of Congress previously obtained.

We pray God to further you with his Goodness in the several Objects hereby recommended and that he will have you in his holy keeping.

Done at Philadelphia the twenty sixth day of October 1778. In Congress