Benjamin Franklin Papers
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The American Commissioners to Sartine, 14 May 1778: résumé

The American Commissioners to Sartine4

AL (draft5): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives

<Passy, May 14, 1778: American warships have hitherto taken between four and five hundred prisoners, who were released because we could not confine them in France. Now Capt. Jones has brought into Brest nearly two hundred, whom we should gladly exchange for our seamen in England, but who we fear will be released in turn. We have found legal opinion that release is not mandatory, and we should welcome your advice on whether there is any way to retain these prisoners until they can be exchanged for ours.>

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

4. Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary, IV, 99–100 and summarized in Taylor, Adams Papers, VI, 114.

5. In Adams’ hand, as are all drafts in the same repository that appear later in the volume.

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    Source Project
    Franklin Papers
    Title
    The American Commissioners to Sartine, 14 May 1778: résumé
    Authors
    American Commissioners
    Franklin, Benjamin
    Lee, Arthur
    Adams, John
    Recipient
    Sartine, Antoine-Raymond-Gualbert-Gabriel de
    Date
    14 May 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “The American Commissioners to Sartine, 14 May 1778: résumé,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-26-02-0394. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 26, March 1 through June 30, 1778, ed. William B. Willcox. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1987, p. 448.]