Soon after this I accompanied Colonel Lawrens, son of Mr.Lawrens, who was then in the Tower, to France on business from Congress.

We landed at L'orient, and while I remained there, he being gone forward, a circumstance occurred that renewed my former design.

An English packet from Falmouth to New York, with the Government dispatches on board, was brought into L'orient.

That a packet should be taken is no extraordinary thing, but that the dispatches should be taken with it will scarcely be credited, as they are always slung at the cabin window in a bag loaded with cannon-ball, and ready to be sunk at a moment.

The fact, however, is as I have stated it, for the dispatches came into my hands, and I read them.