11From John Adams to the President of the Congress, 3 August 1779 (Adams Papers)
French Navy and Amer. Independence
12From John Adams to Joseph Bradley Varnum, 5 January 1813 (Adams Papers)
...of the most experienced, best read, and most Scientific Naval Commanders in Europe! That excellent Officer said to me, in the hearing of The Chevalier de La Luzerne, Mr Marbois and twenty Officers of the French Navy “Your Country is about to become the first Naval Power in the World.” My answer was “It is impossible to foresee, what may happen, a hundred, or two or three hundred years hence:...
13John Adams to Abigail Adams Smith, 26 September 1802 (Adams Papers)
, 8 Sept., printed reports that numerous battle-tested prisoners bent on rebellion had escaped the ships, adding, “Should they journey South they will be an unwelcome sample ‘of oppressed humanity.’” The French navy relocated around 2,000 of the exiles on the Florida coast and about 1,000 in Brest, France (Boston
14[1779 December 13. Monday.] (Adams Papers)
We dined one day with the Comte De Sade on Board the Triomphant, with all the principal Officers of the Fleet in all the Luxury of the French Navy.
15John Adams to Marquis de Castries, 9 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
The French Navy’s generally poor opinion of the quality of American masts was probably owing to the reasons given by
French Navy and Amer. Independence
17John Adams to Samuel Osgood, 13 December 1784 (Adams Papers)
John Paul Jones presented to the Marquis de Castries in June 1784 “a plan to furnish the French navy with all kinds of construction wood, masts, tar, etc., from America” (
18The American Commissioners to the President of Congress, 20 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
The French fleet with 32 ships of the line had sailed on July 10, the British with a slightly smaller number the following day: Dull, French Navy, 120–2; W.M. James, The commissioners were too optimistic. The Spaniards used their neutrality in an unsuccessful attempt to coax concessions from Britain: Dull, French Navy, 126–31. For the arrival of the treasure ships see
19The American Commissioners to Sartine, 25 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
110n), and his letter offered to provide the French navy with masts:
20The American Commissioners to Sartine, 12[–15] October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Two British frigates captured by the French: Dull, French Navy, p. 357.