1John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 23 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Almodóvar, the new Spanish ambassador to St. James’s, was charged with discovering what Britain would offer Spain to remain neutral: Dull, French Navy, p. 114.
2John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 27 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
French Navy and Amer. Independence
3John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 27 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
...legal action against British vessels sequestered since March in French ports, and authorized attacks at sea against British shipping. The latter order was made formal on July 10 but no official declaration of war was ever issued. Dull, French Navy, pp. 119–20.
4John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 29 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
The failure of the French navy to provide convoy protection from port of departure to port of arrival left merchantmen easy prey to British privateers. By the end of the year an improved convoy system was begun.
5John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 8 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
French Navy and Amer. Independence
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 15 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
The Ferrol fleet was moved to La Coruña because of the convenience of that port to Cape Finisterre, the rendezvous point for the Franco-Spanish fleet: Dull, French Navy, p. 149. See Bondfield’s letter of June 22 for further details.
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 22 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
...two of the line lay becalmed at Cadiz from June 4 until June 22. Beset by contrary winds, it took another month to reach the rendezvous; only then could the huge combined fleet sail for the Channel: Dull, French Navy, pp. 147–54, 362–3; W.M. James,
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 24 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
French Navy in 1780: Pierre Le Conte,
9To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 13 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
...had operated off the coast of England the previous summer. He had planned to winter in Brest, but was sent to reinforce Adm. Luis de Córdoba y Córdoba’s Cadiz fleet when Admiral Rodney came to Gibraltar: Dull, French Navy, pp. 163, 174, 178; Lewis,
10To John Adams from John Bondfield, 6 May 1780 (Adams Papers)
French Navy and Amer. Independence