To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 3 March 1779
From Landais
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Brest March 3d 1779
May it Please your Excellency
Mr Windship arrived So late the 28th of february that I had no Time to answer the last article of Yours of the 22d.1 I have no other orders or papers from the Hble Navy Board of Boston Promissing any one of the Ship Money but one of which herein is inclos’d a Copy;2 Mr Cottentin adgent Commrs. here3 had a translated one in french at my arrival here (of which I Suppose he Sent a Coppy to Mr Schweighausen adgent at Nantes) upon which order Mr Cottentin geve me the meney to pay the frenchmen but I have few more of the crew to whom the Same promisse was made.
I Shall be very glad to have the Hounble Adams a passanger beside the Honnour and Benefit of his company4 I Shall have an Eye Witness for to justify my futur cunduct as my former has had.
I Am waiting for Your Positive order and cannot Proceed to do any thing till I have receiv’d them.
I am with the Greatest Respect Your Excellency’s Most obeidient Most humble Servant
P: Landais
Doctor B. Franklin Minister Plenipotentiary to the united States
Addressed: To His Excellency / Benjamin Franklin Esqr. / Passy / near Paris
Endorsed: Capt Landais March. 3. 1779 With Copy of a Letter from the Navy Board—
1. For BF’s of Feb. 22, see XXVIII, 589. Amos Windship (XXVIII, 478n) was the Alliance’s surgeon, who had carried messages to Passy.
2. Probably their letter of Jan. 8, in which the Eastern Navy Board ordered Landais to pay a bounty of $20 per crewman either at Boston or upon the Alliance’s arrival in France. It also told him “to apply to the agent of the United States at any of the Ports in France that you shall arrive at for money & all the necessaries that you may want for your Ship.” APS.
3. Berubé de Costentin, Schweighauser’s agent at Brest, charged with dealing with American ships and prizes: XXVII, 293.
4. Landais told JA the same: Adams Papers, VIII, 7.