The seizing and delivering up to the English two prizes taken by Captain Babson, on account of their being illegally entered under a false declaration, made a good deal of noise among our people in the ports, and gave unfavorable impressions of the friendship of this Court, which possibly may extend to America. We think it therefore necessary to inform you, that though the confiscation of these prizes on the above account, is _said to be_ agreeable to the laws here, yet the king, after a condemnation, had the power of disposing of the produce, for what purpose, political or otherwise, he might think proper, and accordingly restored it at this juncture, perhaps usefully, to the English claimants. Yet as it is thought a hard case with respect to the captors, a beginning is made of indemnification, and we hope on the same principle on which we are to receive soon a part, 50,000, we shall be able in time to recover the whole. We have, to avoid disputes at a particular time, delivered up the cargo brought by the Amphitrite to M. Beaumarchais. We hear he has sent over a person to demand a great sum of you on account of arms, ammunition, &c. We think it will be best for you to leave the demand to be settled by us here, as there is a mixture in it of public and private concern, which you cannot so well develop. We send you herewith a great many newspapers; you will see Lord North's only answer to our application about the prisoners; as also the success of a subscription set on foot in England by our friends for their relief. They are at present pretty comfortably provided for. By our late advices from England, the ministers began to be alarmed for their country and perhaps for themselves. Some of their emissaries have been here to sound us, and endeavor to get from some of us propositions on which to found a treaty; which we evaded generally, as not being empowered to make any; and apprehending withal, that even reasonable ones, proposed by us, might be used improperly by the ministry to exasperate, instead of conciliating the pride of the nation, choosing still to consider us as subjects. Many of the speakers in parliament of both Houses seem to look upon a French war at this juncture, when so much of their force is abroad, and their public credit so shaken, as immediate ruin. And we are assured by the last post, from good authority, that even Lord Mansfield, who in the beginning of this business was so valiant, spoke lately in private to Lord Camden of the absolute necessity of an immediate coalition of parties, to prevent the great impending danger to the nation, from an alliance between the House of Bourbon and the Americans, which he said he had good information was on the point of being concluded. We have the honor of being, with the highest esteem, Gentlemen, your most obedient humble servants.