No 109
Separate
My Lord,

I am sorry to inform Your Lordship, that the Mercury a French Ship just arrived from Boston has brought certain Advice of the safe Arrival of the Amphitrite: She reached Portsmouth in New England the 30th of April. It is said that these two Ships the Amphitrite and Mercury, had on hoard no less than thirty thousand Stand of Arms four hundred Tun of Gun Powder, five thousand Tents, and sixty four Pieces of Field Artillery. The Arrival of these great Succours, greater I believe than ever were furnished by a Nation pretending to be at Peace, has raised the Spirits of the Rebels and of their numerous Well-wishers here.

I am secretly informed that Carmichael set out on Sunday last for Dunkirk: There can I think be no Doubt that the Object of his Journey is to quicken the Expedition of the Succours the Rebels are drawing from thence, and which are shipping on board those Vessels Beaumarchais' Secretary has hired.

One Thompson an American Captain who had cruized very successfully before he was taken and who has lately made his Escape, out of I know not what Prison in England is arrived here. He had no Money when he arrived, but was immediately supplied by Franklin with a pretty large Sum, and is going to Nantz, to purchase a French Vessel and cruize as he says in the Channel, where as he gives out, he hopes to take ample Revenge for the harsh Treatment he pretends to have received in Prison.

I am with the greatest Truth and Respect My Lord [&c.]

P S One French arrived here with Thompson and as I understand they both escaped out of Portsmouth Jail.²