Messrs. F.D and Lee, cannot treat for all the Tobacco which may arrive in France; a great part of it will come on Account of private Merchants, to discharge Debts. But they can assure the F.G. that whatever Contract they make concerning Tobacco, in order to obtain immediate Supplies for the Armies of the Congress, will be confirm’d and punctually executed by the same.

The Proposal they made which is objected to as unjust and unreasonable, viz. that the Farmers G. should be at the Risque and Expence of transporting the Goods both to and from America, did not, when they made it appear so to Messrs. F.D. and Lee, who considered the Lowness of the Price, and the Risque they propos’d to run of its being higher, as a sufficient Compensation. Besides the same Causes that could make 4 Sous worth of Goods in France worth 12. Sous in America, would make 4 Sous worth of Tobacco in America worth 12 Sous when brought to France; which would annihilate the supposed Loss. The English too who formerly carry’d on that Trade, were always at the Risque and Expence both Ways in War as well as Peace. But this Proposal, being only an Alternative to one they thought better for the F.G. viz. that of sending Factors, they readily waive it.