1From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 18 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have examined the Papers which your Excellency did me the honour to Send me the 11th. of last Month relative to the Prizes and Ransoms taken by the american Privateer the Black Prince, and am of Opinion that the Same are good being taken from the Enemies of the United States. I therefore pray your Excellency to give such Directions relating thereto, to the admiralty...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 11 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received and read with great Pleasure the Letter your Excellency did me the honour to write to me the 26 past, acquainting me with his Majesty’s Goodness towards the Sieur Giddins, who had the Misfortune to lose his Brigantine by the Mistake of a Battery at Guadeloupe. I beg you would present and make acceptable to his Majesty my most thankful Acknowledgements for...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 6 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have immediately given, and send inclos’d, the Order to Capt. Jones, which your Excellency has done me the Honour to demand of me. I have received a Letter from Mr Dargent, Deputy of Trade for the Province of Picardy, enclosing a Memorial, which I beg leave to submit to your Excelly’s. Consideration. With the greatist Respect I am. Y. Excelly: m. o. & m. h. S. We...
4The American Commissioners to Sartine, [16 May 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <[Passy, May 16, 1778:] Basmarein, Raimbaux & Cie. informs us that it has applied to the government for a frigate to defend its commerce and make reprisals for its losses; we request that it may have one, and will give the ship a commission and a letter of marque.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 123. The...
5The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives In Answer to your Excellencys Letter of the Twenty fifth of this Month, We have the Honour to inclose, four Papers, with Blancs to be filled as your Excellency may have occasion. These Requests being all the Protection in our Power to give, We hope will have the desired Effect and We have the Honour to be &c In JA ’s hand.
6The American Commissioners to Sartine, 15 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 15, 1778: We refused M. Bersolle’s previous draft until he had sent his accounts. He then billed us for a thousand louis advanced to Capt. Jones on his arrival. Again we refused, because we had not authorized the advance and, when the Captain wrote that he could not feed his...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 17 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress A friend of mine in England, who has been servicable to me in negociating the Exchange of American Prisoners requests that I would endeavour to obtain the Release of one of his friends now a Prisoner in france. The Person is thus described John Stephenson of hull Master and Owner of the ship Sally; taken on the first of July, by a Lugger Privateer of Bretagne, named...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 6 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have the honour of Sending your Excellency inclosed, an extract of a Letter I have lately recd. from London, desiring the release of certain Prisoners therein named, taken by American Privateers, & now confined at St. Omers. Being desirous of repaying as soon as possible the Prisoners I owe, for those I recd. from England some time past, & being promised that if...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 7 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your Excellency will perceive by the inclosed Extract of a Letter to me, from Messrs. Parsons Alston & Co. of Martinique, that certain Prisoners made by American Vessels, & carried in there were with others taken by French Vessels, sent to France via St. Domingo in order to be exchanged. If the sd. Prisoners are arrived, or when they do arrive, I desire your...
10The American Commissioners to Sartine, 13 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 13, 1778: We are sorry for the delay in answering your letter of July 29. We are of opinion that the regulations are very good but wish to make the following observations. We propose that judges of admiralty in America because of the size of their jurisdictions be permitted to delegate their authority....
11From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 13 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Enclosed is the Order Your Excellency required of me in the Letter you yesterday did me the honour of writing to me, relating to the English Prisoners brought into L’Orient by the Black Prince, & other american Privateers. I beg leave to mention to your Excelly. that there are still remaining in the English Prisons 410 Americans, some of whom have languish’d there...
12The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 30, 1778: We enclose a protest about a ship of ours that the British captured off the French coast. As they have reclaimed similar captures made by our cruisers, we hope you will think it fair that we be indemnified from British goods in this kingdom.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 143....
13The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two); incomplete copy: Archives nationales <Passy, October 30, 1778: We are honored by your letter of October 26 and grateful for the prompt release of some of our countrymen imprisoned at Dinan. We have received another petition from prisoners at Brest; it appears that there are ten of them, only four of whom we had...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine, 8 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Un Corsaire nommé l’union de l’Amerique, qui a été expedié de Dunkerque avec une Commission du Roi, mais équipé avec des Americains et des Irlandois étant chassé dans le Port de St. Malo a été arrêté par ordre de la Cour, et on dit que l’équipage doit être envoyé à l’Orient pour être mis àbord les vaisseaux du Roy qui sont dans ce port. Voilà, Monseigneur, le rapport...
15The American Commissioners to Sartine, 23 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 23, 1778: Mr. Joy Castle of Philadelphia informs us that his bark Jane , William Castle master, and her cargo have been seized at Bordeaux on the King’s order as British property. He is an American citizen, abroad because of sickness in the family, and now wants to return home, where he has an estate. His...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 30 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer Capitain Foligny commanded the Marquis De la Chalotais in her Voyage to America laden with Stores for our Armies in which Voyage he rendered considerable service on various occasions to the Americans with great Readiness Zeal, Activity and Intelligence and as a Mark of their Approbation and Confidance he received a Commission from the Congress Being...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine: Two Letters, 22 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) copy: Library of Congress They have written to me from England, that they propose to Send two Cartel Vessels with American Prisoners to Morlaix, one from Portsmouth, the other from Plymouth, in order to clear both Prisons at once. For this purpose they desire another Passport; which if your Excellency has no Objection to it, I Should be glad to send by the first Opportunity. I am,...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine: Two Letters, 19 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 14th. Inst. relating to the Claim of françois Vermeille to be payd Wages and prize money due to him from Capt. Cunyngham, Commander of the Revenge Privateer. I find on Enquiry that the Said Vermeille and several other french Sailors who Said they had belonged to that Vessel,...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 25 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Having received Copies of the Papers found in the English Vessel called les trois amis, taken by Captain Landais, I desired a Person conversant in Such Matters to examine them, and I have now the honour to send to your Excellency here with the Remark he has made upon them. What Weight they may have is submitted to your Excellency’s Judgement. For my own Part, I should...
20The American Commissioners to Sartine, 26 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives The Honourable Ralph Izzard Esqr., Minister from the United States to the Grand Duke, having ordered his Baggage to Italy from London has had the Luck to have them taken in an English Vessell, and carried into Marseilles. We have written to the Compte de Vergennes on the subject who refers Us to your Excellency. We...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 29 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received the Proceedings of the admiralty at Brest concerning the young Dominique Prize, and eight Ransoms made by the Black Prince Privateer which your Excellency did me the honour of Sending to me the 27th. Instant. With the greatest Respect I am, Your Excellency’s most
22The American Commissioners to Sartine, 22 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, July 22, 1778: We have received your letters of July 15 and 18. Niggins and Selby are unknown to us, but unless something appears to invalidate their story please grant their request. We are sorry for the dispute between two officers of the Boston and some French crewmen. Captain Tucker has sent us his account of the...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 1 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Archives de la Marine, Library of Congress Conformement à la demande de Votre Excellence je vous envoye cy joint les lettres et les instructions que j’ai adressées aux Captn Jones et Landais. Je suis très respectueusement De Votre Excellence Le très humble et très obeissant Serviteur In English. Sartine’s request is that of April 27. The communications to Landais are dated April 24 and...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 5 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress J’ay l’honneur d’informer votre Excellence, que le Commodore Jones a prie le vingt du Mois d’Aoust, par les 50 Degrés 20 Minutes Latitude, un Brig Anglois nommé le May Flower, de soixante dix Tonneaux, Chargé de Beuf et de Beurre Salés, de Biere et de quelques Balles de Plumes, destiné pour Londres. Le Capitaine de cette Prise arrivé a...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 2 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de vous remercier de l’information contenue Dans la lettre que vous avez eu la bonté de m’ecrire hier au sujet des 16. Prisoniers amenés a Morlaix par le Corsaire la Princesse noire, ainsi que de l’offre que votre Excellence a bien volue me faire, de les envoyer en Angleterre par le parlementaire anglois qui est actuellement dans le port— J’accepte...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 14 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Procedures of the admiralty of Morlaix Which your Excellency did me honour to send me, relating to the prises and Ransoms taken by the black Prince. With Great respect I am Your Excellency most Obedient and most humble Servant.
27From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 8 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received the honour of your Excelly’s: Letter of the 3d. Instant. I am very Sensible of the King’s Goodness, in granting Liberty to the Americans who have been taken Prisoners in the English Service as by that means his Majesty Lessons the Number of the Prisoners that may be exchanged for his own Subjects; and I think we ought whenever we can Show our Gratitude...
28The American Commissioners to Sartine, 25 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives de la Marine Nous avons l’honneur d’adresser à V.E. la copie ci jointe de la lettre que nous avons reçu de M. Langdon, de Portsmouth, ville de l’Etat de New-hampshire. Nous serons très satisfaits si l’avis qu’elle contient peut être utile à V.E. Tout ce que nous pouvons dire c’est que nous ne doutons pas que M. Langdon ne soit très capable d’exécuter ce qu’il propose; Et...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 7 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Agreable to the Letter your Excelly. did me the honour to write me of the 5th. Instant I Sent the orders desired to Capt. Jones, under Cover to Mr. Dumas who will take Care to deliver them. I have to thank your Excellency for your favour to Capt. foligny, in giving him a Lieutenancy. I flatter myself that he will do honour to your Appointment. Please to accept my...
30The American Commissioners to Sartine, 11 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society; National Archives (two) <Passy, July 11, 1778: We received your Excellency’s letter of the fifth regarding Captain Jones, and we readily consent to place him at your disposal.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 158.
31The American Commissioners to Sartine, 3 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 3: We enclose a list of duties paid in Bordeaux on supplies for the Boston . Such payment is unusual for warships, and we ask you to regulate the practice in future. The captain of the Ranger has put his prizes into the hands of the intendant or commandant at Brest, and...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine, copy: Library of Congress I thank your Excellency for expediting the Orders relative to the Sale of the Serapis. I suppose similar Orders are gone to Dunkerque for the Sale of the Countess of Scarborough. If not I beg you would be pleased to send them by the Bearer; as the Daily heavy Charge that must arise on a Delay of Dispatching the Alliance, makes me anxious to...
33The American Commissioners to Sartine, 2 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (three), Library of Congress <Passy, January 2, 1779: We are obliged for the concern you expressed on December 22 for the American prisoners escaping from England. Our agents in Bordeaux, Brest, Lorient, Nantes and Dunkirk, as well as a volunteer in Calais, assist them. We will reimburse your commissaries engaged in this relief as we...
34The American Commissioners to Sartine, 10 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies: National Archives <Passy, September 10, 1778: Captain Daniel McNeill of Boston retook a French vessel [the Isabelle ] held by a Guernsey privateer more than three days. He brought her into Port Louis where he has met with difficulties selling her and her cargo. In keeping with His Majesty’s interest and the treaties between our two...
35The American Commissioners to Sartine, [13] October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies: National Archives We had the Honour of receiving your Excellencys Letter of the 7 Instant to which We shall take the Liberty of answering fully by another opportunity. As you mention that the Prize was condemned on the 20th Mr. Izard is apprehensive that the goods in Question may be sold, before the ordinary Course of Law can prevent...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 25 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I thank your Excellency for the Appointment of a frigate to escort the Ships from Nantes to the Isle of Aix, and the Assurances of Protection to our Vessels who may join the Convoy there. Our Frigate the Alliance, is order’d to prepare for returning immediately to America. If your Excy. should think fit to send some Dispatches by her, they may probably go safe, as she...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 30 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress I am under the greatest Uneasiness to find, that great Part of the Cloathing sent to Brest to be shipt for America, was left behind, and that the Alliance alone has not sufficient Room, to receive it with the Arms and Gunpowder, which the King has been so good as to order for us, and which are all so much wanted in the American Armies. A...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 27 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am much obliged to M. deshayes, Commissaire des Classes a Cherbourg, for the Care your Excellency informs me he has taken of the poor Americans that have escaped from England and arrived at that Port. I shall desire him to send me his Account of the Expence he has already been at in relieving them, that I may discharge it; and I shall request him to continue his...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 4 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your Excellency will perceive by the inclosed Passports the Grounds on which they were given. The Person to whom they were granted is apprehensive that they will not be a Sufficient Protection against French armed Vessels, & desires to have like passes from your Excellency, which if there is no impropriety, I beg may be granted to him. With great Respect, I have the...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 26 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress As soon as I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of Writing to me relative to the Exchange of Capt. John Bell & his Son, I wrote to the Owner of the Black Prince to know if they were not Hostages for the Ransom of their Vessel. I have now received an Answer, that they are not Ransomers, but merely Prisoners, their Brigantine Hopewell having been...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 28 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress As our Prisoners now exchanging are chiefly at Portsmouth and Plymouth and the Distance between those Places & Nantes is double of that between them and Morlaix, and a great Part of the Voyage to Nantes, being in the Bay of Biscay, which will be very inconvenient to the Cartel Ship and other Poor Passengers, in the Winter Season, I am...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 19 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; incomplete copy: Library of Congress J’ay receu La lettre que Vostre Excellence m’a fait L’honneur de m’ecrire Le 17 de ce mois, Sur unne lettre qu’elle a Reçue du Lieutenant general de L’amirauté de Vannes et de L’orient, qui L’informe que J’ay ecrit au dit Lieutenant general pour que le Vaisseau le Serapis Soit vendu par devant Les Juges de Cette amirauté. J’ay...
43The American Commissioners to Sartine, 2 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We have the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of yesterdays Date, requesting Us to give to the Sieur Fagan all the Security in our Power, for three Vessells, to transport the Merchandises of France to England. We have the Honour to acquaint your Excellency, that we have accordingly given the Sieur Fagan, three...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 21 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I return herewith the Letters of Mr. de la Villehelis and de la Dame de st. Maurice which your Excellency did me the honour of communicating to me the 15th. Instant. I begin to have a bad Opinion of this Mr. Lock he has written me a Letter, in which he pretends to be an American, but it is so written as to make me suspect the Contrary. I knew nothing of the Damsel Des...
45The American Commissioners to Sartine, 1 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have the Honour to inclose to your Excellency, a Letter We have this day recd from Nantes, together with a Representation from Mr The Congress have not as yet appointed any Consuls in any of the Ports of this Kingdom, and they have not invested Us with Power to appoint such officers. We expect...
46The American Commissioners to Sartine, 5 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, November 5, 1778: We received your letter of the fifth of this month, but since the memoir concerning the French surgeon was omitted, we cannot give you an adequate answer. The United States has no official policy for prisoners in England. We have loaned small sums to those who have escaped English captivity to...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 29 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I have received a Letter from Mr. Wm. Bingham, Agent for the Congress at Martinique, covering the inclosed for your Excellency, and giving an Account of an unhappy Mistake, in which a Vessel belonging to some Subjects of the U. S. was sunk by one of the Batteries of Guadeloupe, & 17 of the People drowned. I request your Excellency would take the Matter into...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 22 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer waits upon your Excellency for the order you were so good as to promise on thursday last, for the sale of the Prizes taken by the squadron under Commodore Jones. He waits here for that order only and the ship must be detained at a great expence till it can be executed. With the greatest Respect I am your Excellency’s, most obedient and most humble servant....
49From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 23 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I beg leave to introduce Mr. Alexander by this Line to your Excellency, and to request that you would favour him with a few minutes Audience. With the greatest Respect, I am, your Excellency’s m. o. and m. &. Undoubtedly Alexander John Alexander, who had asked BF to deliver memoirs to Sartine and Vergennes; see his letter of Dec. 14, above.
50From Benjamin Franklin to Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de Sartine, 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Orders which your Excellency did me the honor to inform me (in your Letter of the 13. of January last) were sent to all the Ports, for receiving into his Majesty’s Prisons, the English Prisoners brought in by our Cruizers, have not it seems arriv’d at Brest. For I have just received a Letter from M. Schweighauser of Nantes, who has the Care of the Prisoners taken...