[text loss] them on the Supposition of his being absent at Congress. We wish such Acknowledgement may be made, accompanied with some Expressions of Gratitude towards those from whom the Supplies came, without mentioning who they are supposed to be. - You mention the Arrival of the Amphitrite & Mercury, but say nothing of the Cargoes. Mr Hodge is discharged from his Imprisonment on our Solicitation, & his Papers restored to him. He was well treated while in the Bastile. The Charge against him, was Deceiving the Government in fitting out Cunningham from Dunkirk, who was represented as going on some Trading Voyage, but as soon as he was out began a Cruise on the British Coast, and took 6 Sail. He is got safe into Ferrol. - We have received and delivered the Commissions to M.r W.m Lee & M.r Izand. No Letters came with them for those Gentlemen with Information how they are to be supported on their Stations. We suppose they write to you, and will acquaint you with their Intentions. Some Propositions are privately communicated to us, said to be on the Part [2] of Prussia, for forming a Commercial Company at Embden. We shall put them into the Hands of Mr Lee. We do not see a Probability of our obtaining a Loan of the 2,000,000 Sterling from any of the Money holders in Europe, till our Affairs are in their Opinion more firmly established; What may be obtained from the two Crowns either as Loan or Subsidy, we shall probably know on the Return of the Couriers, and we hope we shall be able to write more satisfactorily on those heads by Capt. Young who will by that time be ready to return. We are, Gentlemen, with great Esteem Your most obedient humble Servants B Franklin, Silas Deane Arthur Lee