May it please your Excellency to accept of the Translation of Mr. Van Arps Letter to Us inclosed which We promised yesterday. It will appear thereby that they as Ships Husbands are the only persons who have to answer for the Goods which were loaded on board the Dutch Vessels.

I wished their Offers were more generous; and think therefore We could do nothing better than to give up our shares and to offer them to your Excellency, to shew the sincerity of our disinteredness on all Occasions; may we beg leave to confirm those Offers, and even to go to Law with anybody against our own Interest: and in one word to act in Conformity to your Excellency’s pleasure and directions, and so there is not nor could never be any blame upon Us nor any Reason wherefore Doctor Franklin should refuse the payment of our Bills. We have the honor to be, with sincere Regard, Sir, your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant