You have doubtless been amused this month or two past with various conjectures about the Fate of the Confederacy. She left Chester (on the Delaware) the 18 Octr bound for France, lost h was dismasted and split her Rudder the 7 Novr off the Banks of Newfoundland. On the 23d following, the officers of the Ship being all of opinion that the condition of her Rudder forbid our proceeding to Europe, we steered for Martinico & arrived there the 18 Decr. & were mos We sailed from thence the 28th following in the Aurora and I expected to have proceeded with her to Toulon but on arriving here the 22 Inst we heard of the Success of the Enemy in the Mediterranean, and that of their ^several^ Cruizers of being near this Coast whom we had fortunately escaped. The further Prosecution of my voyage of my Voyage ^havg thus^ become improper I gave notice of my appointmt & arrival to Don Joseph De Galvez the Secy of State for the Dept of the Indies in a Letter of ^which^ the th enclosed No. 1 is a Copy, and also to the Count DVergennes in a Letter of which the enclosed No. 2 is a Copy. Mr. Carmichael is the Bearer of the former and Mr. Gerard will be so obliging as to take Charge of the latter.

While at Martinico I drew a Bill upon you for  2in Favor of Mr Bingham to repay him for money I was obl ha ^of which^ I gave you advice by a Letter from thence and enclosed a Copy of the Resolution of Congress which authorized that measure.

It happened that altho I had Letters with me to Gentlemen in other Ports of Spain yet ^it unluckily happened that^ I had none for any Person here. You may imagine therefore that I became ^was at first a little^ embarrassed on the article of money and should not probably have been relieved but I ^but it gives me Pleasure to inform you that the^ polite and unsollicited offer of Chevalier Roche and Mr. Penet3 ^have^ made me easy on that head for the present—by these means I obtained 3912— Livres Tournois from Messr. Quintin freres &— and Compy on my qiving them ^for^ a Bill on you for 4079 Liv ^four thousand & seventy nine^ Livres Tournois, that being it seems the Difference of Exchange—the Bill is dated the 25 Day Inst and is made payable at the Expiration of sixty Days from the Date, which they tell me is the Manner of drawing Bills here.4

American Credit suffers exceedingly in this Place from Reports that our Loan Office Bills payable in France have not be^en^ duly honored but have been delayed paymt under vari what they here call ^under^ various Pretexts, one of which is that it was necessary for a whole set of Bills to arrive before the Money can ^could^ be paid.5

How far you may be in Capacity to answer the Dema^nds^ made upon you I cannot divine ^determine^, but many Considerations enduce me to entreat you by all means punctually to pay the Bill in Question—private Honor forbids that these Gentlemen shd by an Act of Kindness to me expose themselves or their Friends to Inconveniences and public Credit demands that the Reputation of Congress be not distroyed by the Protests of Bills drawn under their immediate Authority ^for the necessary Subsistence of their servants^— And I may further might also add that if this Bill shd. fail there will be an End put to my gettin Credit and I also on the Consequences of such an Event it ^is^ neither necessary or pleasant to dwell

I have in my Possession several Letters or rather Packets directed to You and am much at a Loss what to do with ^them^. Be pleased to direct me— There are many things I wish wish to say to you but you must my Dear Sir excuse my postponing them to another opportunity— I have ^been^ so confined since my arrival by preparing Letters for Madrid an Paris ^France^ and America that I have not yet been two Hours out of my Chamber

God bless you my dear Sir and give you ^the^ Health ^long continue to^ you the Blessing of Health & Chearfulness—I am ^believe me to be^ with sincere Regard & Esteem Your most obt. Servt.