Done and concluded in duplicates, at Paris, this 24th of March, 1777. B. FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE, PAULZE. * * * * * AGREEMENT FOR PACKETS _Between M. Ray de Chaumont, on the one part, and Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, on the other, viz._ The said Ray de Chaumont engages to equip, in some port of France, agreed to by the said Benjamin Franklin and Silas Deane, in each month, for the space of one year, counting from the month of May next, a packet boat, or vessel, suitable for the carrying of despatches between France and the United States of North America, which vessel, or packet boat, shall be capable of carrying thirty tons of goods, without impeding her sailing to the best advantage; and the said Ray de Chaumont shall be at the whole expense of equipping, victualling, &c. each of the said packet boats, and shall furnish in each of them a passage for one person, sent by the said Franklin and Deane, to take charge of their despatches and goods shipped. Each packet boat or vessel shall attend the orders of the said Franklin and Deane, in pursuing her voyage, for the safest and most certain delivery of the said despatches and merchandise. The said Franklin and Deane shall have liberty to load a quantity of goods on board each packet boat, to and from America, to the amount of thirty tons consigned to their orders; and they, the said Franklin and Deane, shall pay to the said Ray de Chaumont, the sum of eight thousand livres for each voyage of each packet boat, which sum of eight thousand livres shall be paid the said Ray de Chaumont, in three months after the entering on each voyage successively, whether the packet boat arrive in safety or not. The packet boat shall not be delayed after her being ready to receive the goods, either in France or America. The said packet boats, with all their equipments, shall be solely at the risk and expense of the said Ray de Chaumont; but the goods to be shipped as aforesaid, with the freight stipulated therefor, as above mentioned, shall be at the risk of the said Franklin and Deane; and the said Ray de Chaumont shall not, in case either of said packet boats will carry more than the said thirty tons of goods, load them, or either of them, beyond the said quantity, so as in any manner to impede their or her sailing to the best advantage. In witness of which, the parties have subscribed three agreements, each of this tenor and date, at Paris, April, 1777. RAY DE CHAUMONT, B. FRANKLIN, SILAS DEANE. * * * * * TO JONATHAN WILLIAMS.