Should the present plan of importing necessaries still continue to be countenanced by the general assembly, I shall prepair to remit as much as possible, tho’ I doubt vessels cannot be procured—freighting at the present extravigant prices will not be so advantageous as purchasing. If the latter be practicable, I must draw on you for money—I will send you the price currant of articles for the West India market by the next opportunity. A Continental brigantine was cut out from Saby by some British privateers tho’ opposed by the fire from the fort, she has been since demand(ed?) but refused—it was suggested that the Captain, —— Ashmead, and some of his men went into the fort and assisted in protecting their vessel, the answer of the governor of St. Kitts to the demand is humourous; he congratulated the governor of Saby[25] on the restoration of the island seized by the rebel Americans. Part of the French fleet have arrived at Martinique, but we had no account of the Count, some supposed he had sailed for Europe others to South America. We had various reports from Europe which as I recollect I send you—the Dutch have been repeatedly solicited to take part with Britain, they evade it as much as possible, it is said they have given as a reason that they did not think the present plans & intention of the British ministry to be to the interest either of Britain or her allies, but manifestly to their ruin and discredit, and therefore although they were and are at all times ready to act for the interest of great Britain, yet for the reasons before named they must now declare themselves neuter and protest against the proceedings of —— This is credited by some in St. Eustatia. They further report that the dutch Embassador has ben recalled from the British Court in consideration of a demand of some vessels carried into the Texel by John Paul Jones; the governor of St. Eustatius imagines that the Dutch will take part with Britain. The grand convention will be held at Versailles in April—the King of Prussia & Empress of Russia have promised their mediation, the British fleet are in Torbay and do not expect to put to sea till April. John Paul Jones who sailed from Brest in a fifty gun ship with some frigates went north about and did infinite damage to the British vessels—he fell in with the convoy from Norway and took the Seraphis, a new fifty gun ship, and the Countess of Scarborough of 20—Jones engaged the Seraphis two hours, and the whole time they were so near that the guns touched the opposite vessel. Jones lost one hundred and Eighty two men, and Pearson 189. Jones’ ship sunk the next day and he went with his prizes into the Texel, there to refit them. Sir Joseph York demanded them, which was so strenuously opposed by the French minister that his demand was refused and repeatedly. Jones was received with every imaginable mark of respect by the Dutch.