Inclosed I send you an Extract of a Letter, from our friend Commodore Jones, which came to my hands a few hours before my Departure from Paris and which I had not time to Communicate, whilst there.

I arived here on tuesday afternoon with Mr. Coffyn and my family all well, though the journey was rendered unpleasant by almost incessant rains the whole way. And Since my arival the Winds have been Contrary, and still remain so; I think however that we shall warp out of the Harbour this afternoon if Practicable.

Since my Stay here I have been again a Witness to the troublesome importunity and interruption which Mr. Coffyn dailey receives from American Seamen discharged out of Prison in England and resorting here for the means and opportunities of returning to our Country not being able to Procure employment on board English Vessels. It is really difficult for you to Conceive the waste of time and trouble to which Mr. Coffyn has been exposed since the beginning of the War, by the Applications of these distressed but generally unreasonable People, and the Enquiries and     necessary to prevent impositions &c. and you will I hope permit me again to express my hope, that on this account as well as in Consideration of his Merit, and Superior Ab[ility] to Serve the United States here, he will be appointed the Consul or Agent at this Port whenever Powers to make such an appointment shall arive. You were pleased a few days before my Departure to express the like Sentiments and good Wishes towards Mr. Coffyn, and an intention to inter in his behalf with Barclay &c; My great regard However for Mr. Coffyn has impeled me once more to mention the Subject to you though I am perswaded your own dispositions towards him render it unnecessary. There are Vessels going from Hence in about ten days both for Boston and Philadelphia and Mr. Coffyn will carefully forward any Letters which you or Mr. Jay may wish to send by them. I beg you will make my respectful Compliments to him, his Lady, your Grandson &c. I shall have the honor of writing to you and them from London meantime beleive me with great Respect Dear Sir Your most affectionate and Devoted Humble servant

Extract

You have no Doubt Heard that by an Act of Congress, the America was presented to the King of France, after I had been 16 months inspecting the Construction of that Ship, in constant expectation from the Promises I had of effectual Support, to be set to Sea with her immediately to proceed to Brest with the upper Battery and a Cargo of Large Masts, and to be there armed for War, and joined by the remaining Continental and other Frigates. It was thought that Act of Congress would give me great Pain, but those who were of that Opinion did not well Know my Character. It would certainly have afforded me more satisfaction, to have retained that Command and to have rendered thereby useful services to the Common Cause; but as things were circumstanced it was a Sacrafice I made with Pleasure to Testify my grateful regard for France and my invariable attachment to the intrests of the two Allied Nations. I continued my inspection till I had Launched the Ship, and having then delivered her to the Officer appointed by the Marquis de Vandreuil I set out for Philadelphia. It was then in Contemplation to have employed me immediatly with a Command of Frigates but a Circumstance which had not been foreseen at Philadelphia rendered the project impracticable; thus disappointed, and having no other Prospect, I applied to be sent back to Boston, to make a    for my instruction on board the Fleet of Fance. Congress passed an Act for the purpose, and I returned to Boston the day before the Fleet sailed, with Public Letters on Subject to the Marquis de Vandreuil who received me very Kindly as a volunteer on board his own Ship and I have been    so handsomely both by him and the officers of the Fleet and Army they leave me nothing farther to wish for from them. If the Peace is by this time finally Concluded, and that I shall find means to revisit France Soon after America received the Olive Branch. Present my respects to our “Venerable ——— and his Grandson: It gives me the truest Pleasure that he lives to put the Last hand to his Course of Glory;     his rules to reduce a great Empire to a little one have been so well Observed by our Enemies. Present my most fraternal respects to our Lodge. I shall ever retain the most Lively sense of the honors conferred on me by that illustrious and learned Society.” &c &c I am with unabating Affection Your friend and most Humble serbant.