To George Washington from Thomas Mifflin, 19 August 1793
From Thomas Mifflin
Phila. 19. Augt 1793.
Sir.
Since the communication, which I made to you this morning,1 relatively to the Trunk of Dollars, deposited on board a Pilot boat, by the Little Democrat, and alleged to have been taken from the Dairy Maid, after her capture, I have received two Affidavits, of which I transmit copies for your information.2
As the Captain of the Pilot-boat states, that the Trunk is consigned to Mr Genet, the Minister of the French Republic, I wish for particular instructions, with respect to the restoration of the money it contains, to the persons claiming it, as owner.3 I am, with perfect respect, Sir, Your most obedt Servt
Tho. Mifflin
Df, PHarH: Executive Correspondence, 1790–99; LB, PHarH: Executive Letter-Books.
1. See Mifflin’s first letter to GW of this date.
2. In the first affidavit of 19 Aug., mate William Young and passengers John Boreman and Peter Davis swore that they “saw a large quantity of Money” removed from the Dairy Maid and put into a trunk on the Petite Démocrate. They “have since seen the said Trunk on board A Pilot Boat called the Delaware now lying at Philada … and they have been informed by a French Boy who was on board the Privateer at the time of the Capture” that this was the same trunk that contained the captured money. In the second affidavit of this date, Bailey Art, the captain of the Delaware, swore that on 16 Aug. he was “about three Leagues at Sea off Cape Henlopen,” Del., when the captain of the Petite Démocrate asked him to carry two trunks to the port of Philadelphia. One of the trunks was very heavy and reputedly contained pewter. Both trunks were still on the Delaware and “were consigned to Citizen Genet.” Notary public Jacob R. Howell certified both affidavits, which are at PHarH: Executive Correspondence, 1790–99. On GW’s receipt of Mifflin’s letter and the enclosed affidavits, see , 224.
3. For the administration’s position on the restoration of these prizes, see Knox to Mifflin, 20 Aug., in note 2 of Mifflin to GW, 20 Aug. 1793.