wants, it
is very possible they may refuse to take our oils; but I do not believe
it possible for them to raise their fishery to that, unless they can
continue to draw off our fishermen from us. Their seventeen ships, this
year, had one hundred and fifty of our sailors on board. I do not know
what number the English have got into their service. You will readily
perceive, that there are particulars in these printed observations,
which it would not be proper to suffer to become public. They were
printed, merely that a copy might be given to each minister, and care
has been taken to let them go into no other hands.

I must now trouble Congress with a petition on my own behalf. When
I left my own house in October, 1783, it was to attend Congress as a
member, and in expectation of returning in five or six months. In the
month of May following, however, I was desired to come to Europe, as
member of a commission, which was to continue two years only. I came
off immediately, without going home to make any other arrangements in my
affairs, thinking they would not suffer greatly before I should return
to them. Before the close of the two years, Doctor Franklin retiring
from his charge here, Congress were pleased to name me to it; so that I
have been led on by events to an absence of five years, instead of five
months. In the mean time, matters of great moment to others as well as
myself, and which can be arranged by nobody but myself, will await no
longer. Another motive, of still more powerful co-agency on my mind, is
the necessity of carrying my family back to their friends and country.
I must, therefore, ask of Congress a leave of short absence. Allowing
three months on the sea, going and coming, and two months at my own
house, which will suffice for my affairs, I need not be from Paris but
between five and six months. I do not foresee any thing which can suffer
during my absence. The consular convention is finished, except as to the
exchange of ratification, which will be the affair of a day only. The
difference with Schweighaeuser and Dobree, relative to our arms, will be
finished. That of Denmark, if ever finished, will probably be long spun
out. The ransom of the Algerine captives is the only matter likely to
be on hand. That cannot be set on foot till the money is raised in
Holland, and an order received for its application: probably these will
take place, so that I may set it into motion, before my departure; if
not, I c