The Day before yesterday there were a number of Letters in Town announcing a Peace. The News came from the Secretary of the Duc d’ orleans who ’tis said informed that the King had announced it to the Duc. Such respectable Information prevented every Doubt and I among the Rest believed it. I immediately set myself to work to get a little fast sailing Brig I have here ready to sail at 24 Hours Notice, supposing you wanted an Express Boat. The foolish Public always think I am in the Secret when anything happens that regards America and immediately on this news one cried out “M. Williams doit savoir cela”. “Oui” says another “and peut être il a reçu un express de M. Franklin” The third left the peut être out of the Question, and it was established as a Fact that an Express had arrived to me in 36 hours, nay some knew the matter so well as to describe whether the Express wore a green or a blue Jacket. The next Post la nouvelle meritait confirmation how it will be tomorrow I cannot tell, but if it be true, and if you wish to convey it to America, here is the Brig at your Service. I only ask you to give her a protection from the English Plenipotentiaries, or in any other way you judge proper, Paying me for the Brig and outfitts exactly what she cost and no more, and returning me the Vessell in America at her estimated Value when she may arrive; this will be making the public pay what I should otherways lose, and what no Man can think unreasonable. As my only motive is to be usefull it is (as a matter of Interest) perfectly indifferent whether you accept the proposition or not, you have therefore only to say yes or no and your orders shall be punctualy obeyed or the matter will be as if it had never been, if I have not an answer in 10 Days I shall conclude that you have not occasion for my Vessell.

I am as ever most dutifully and affectionately Yours