I write to you fully by a Vessel from Nantes, which I hope will reach you before this. If not, this may inform you, That the Ratification of the Treaty with Sweden is come, and ready to be exchang’d when I shall receive that from Congress; That the Treaty with Denmark is going on, and will probably be ready before the Commission for signing it arrives from Congress; it is on the Plan of that propos’d by Congress for Sweden: That Portugal has likewise propos’d to treat with us, and the Ambassador has earnestly urg’d me to give him a Plan for the Consideration of his Court, which I have accordingly done, and he has forwarded it: The Congress will send Commissions and Instructions for concluding these Treaties to whom they may think proper; it is only upon the old Authority given (by a Resolution) to myself with Messrs Deane and Lee, to treat with any European Powers, that I have ventured to beg in these Treaties in consequence of Overtures from those Crowns. The Definitive Treaty with England is not yet concluded, their Ministry being unsettled in their Mind as to the Terms of the Commercial Part; nor is any other definitive Treaty yet compleated here, nor even the Preliminaries signed of one between Holland and England.

It is now near 5 Months since we have had a Line from you, the last being dated the 13th of January: Of course we know nothing of the Reception of the Preliminary Articles, or of the Opinion of Congress respecting them: We hop’d to have receiv’d before this time such Instructions as might have been thought proper to be sent us for rending more perfect the definitive Treaty. We know nothing of what has been approv’d or disapprov’d. We are totally in the dark, and therefore less pressing to conclude, being still (as we have long been) in daily Expectation of hearing from you. By chance only we learn that Barney is arriv’d; by whom went the Dispatches of the Commissioners, and a considerable Sum of Money: No Acknowledgment of the Receipt of that Money is yet come to hand, either to me or Mr. Grand. I make no doubt that both you and Mr. Morris have written; and I cannot imagine what is become of your Letters. With great Esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant