[Extract]
My dearest Love 

I am distressed to account for your total Silence, not having received a Line from Home since my departure: my fears are raised in proportion to my Anxiety for your welfare and Comforts—I have wrothe you several Letters lately, by different Opportunities—Yesterday I had the Honor to dine with Monseur La Sieur Gerard Minister plenipotentiary to his most Christian majesty. He is about 50 Years of Age, appears to be a Modest[,] Grave, decent, chearfull Man—highly pleased with our Country, and the Struggles we have made for Liberty—A Comittee of Congress were appointed to wait on him at Chester—On their Arrival, a Barge with 12 Oarsmen dressed in Scarlet trimmed with Silver were ready to recieve them—When they came to the Ship¹ her Sides were Manned & our Committee were recieved of the Gang way on the Deck by the Marines with posted Arms—At the Gang way they met the Ambassador Plenipotentiary &c &c and were conducted into the great Cabbin, when the Compliments of Congratulation being given they returned to the Shore in the same Manner and with the same Ceremony, accompanied by the Ambassador Sieur Gerard, Mr Deane² &c &c here were four Coaches & with four Horses our Committee had prepared, in which they returned to the City, when they were saluted with 15 Guns.—We have had an Acct. yesterday, that one of our Armed Ships called the Ranger of 18 Guns & 123 Men being on the Coast of Ireland, the Drake a frigate of 20 Guns and 150 Men was sent out to take her, but after an Engagement of 65 Minutes, she struck to the Ranger Capt. Jones-having lost the Capt. Lieut. & 42 Men-Capt. Jones lost the Cap of his Marines and about 8 Men—After this the Ranger sailed into Whitehaven, burned all the Ships in the Harbour, and spiked up about 30 Cannon in the Fort & came off. on his Passage he took 5 Prizes besides the Drake—White haven is on the Coast of England in the Irish Channel. . . .³