I was yesterday honoured with your favours of the 22d instant, I have not seen the express that brought them, & know not whether he is yet returned, I shall commit this to the care of Genl Lincoln to see it safely forwarded. The British are at length sufficiently humbled to sue for peace tho not in the line we wish they seem to part with every thing more readily than with America. They have proposed to France to permit the reestablishment of the port of Dunkerque, to meet upon the footing of a statu quo in the West Indies, & to grant them some advantages in the East Indies.

To these proposals made directly to the Cte De Vergennes he replied that France would easily be satisfied if the points which her allies might insist upon were one discussed & determined, but that she would in no event treat without them. While they were making these proffers to France, they opened a correspondence with Docr Franklin on the subject of a peace with America; & they sent an agent about the 20th of March, to learn from Mr Adams whether he had any commission enabling him to treat of a truce with G:B: declaring that if they had not feared to be exposed, or ill treated, Genl Conway or some other person of high rank would have been sent—Both of these ministers wisely objected to any communications that did not lead to a general peace. I have not received any Letter from the Marquis de Lafayette for your Excellency, But inclose an extract from one that I have received dated the 30th March. I believe he wishes me to be in some sort the channel of information to you as he hints to me that he has no good cypher settled with you, I have translated it for your greater convenience. You will find from it that our pecuniary aids are much smaller than we expected, perhaps it may be necessary to explain the words additional livres by informing you, that they have made a grant for this year of 6000000 of Livres beyond what we borrowed last year, but this as well as the remainder of the last years loan, is nearly absorbed by old debts & the purchase of necessaries for the army, so that very little of it will be brought to this country. None of our Letters mention the plan of the ensuing campaign, which indeed does not appear to be absolutely settled. perhaps you may have some letter from the Marquis which is more explicit. all I know of it is several declarations made by the Count De Vergennes in different Letters, that tho the plan of the campaign was not absolutely decided yet they had it in view to afford us assistance in expeling the enemy from New York & Charles town. I fear with you that this is a secondary object & that it will in some measure depend upon the operations in the West Indies. But I do not give much credit to the New York account of the action between the fleets. I believe upon comparing all circumstances there is reason to conclude that a very severe engagement has taken place & that both sides claim the victory, both must have gone to leeward, from our being able to get no distinct information, tho’ so many vessels have arrived from the windward islands since the action. Nothing can be more just than your observations on the danger which may attend a fond belief that peace is at hand. This delusion should be combated by every means in our power, least it cause us to neglect [   ] those that are now in our power of expelling the enemy & commanding that peace which we wish for: Congress have, upon this principle, directed two delegates to go to each of the States, in order to urge them to timely & vigorous exertions, if any can be called timely, which are delayed even to this day. I should have informed you, that Mr Adams had, on the last of march, the highest expectations of being acknowledged in a few weeks by the United provinces. The prince of Orange finding it impossible longer to stem the torrent had determined to yield to it. Spain still lingers on at her old rate. If she ever does us a favor it will loose its grace by the manner in which it is done. I have the honor to be Dear Sir with the greatest respect & Esteem Your Excellencys Most Obt hum: Servt