1441Sartine to the Commissioners, 29 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Versailles, 29 July 1778. LbC ( Adams Papers , French text of both letter and enclosure). For other contemporary copies of the French text of the letter and regulations, the latter as transmitted and later amended as a result of the Commissioners’ letter of 13 Aug. (below), and for English translations of the two documents made at the same time, see PCC , No. 83, 11, f. 467, 46Q–476. For...
1442Titus Ogden to the Commissioners, July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Pardon the freedom I take in thus addressing your honours unknown but as an American I trust you will not take it amiss. On my arrival here the begining of april in the Ship Harmony Hall loaded with Tobacco &c. I was boarded by a Mr. Moylan who shewed my me yours letters impowering him to act as Agent here on which account I consigned my vessell and Cargo to him and must confess the dispatch...
1443To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 1 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Genet a lhonneur de remercier Monsieur Adams qui n’ignore Sûrement pas que le Russel de l’Escadre de Byron est rentré à Plymouth le 23. en tres mauvais Etat, ayant été separé de l’Escadre le 8. juillet sur le grand Bane, par un violent coup de vent qui doit avoir également maltraité toute l’Escadre dont il ne donne pas de nouvelles.
1444Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 1 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Genet has the honor to thank Mr. Adams, who must already know that the Russell , of Byron’s squadron, returned to Plymouth on the 23d, in very poor condition, after having been separated from the squadron on 8 July, at the Grand Banks, by a violent storm which must have damaged the entire squadron, but about which he cannot give any news. RC ( Adams Papers ); docketed: “Genet.” The report on...
1445Pezerat to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 1 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Sans Etre Connu de vous Je prens La liberté de Vous Ecrire, Parce que Je Pense que les Réprésentans d’une nation, qui doit son Existence à ses Vertus, sont assés amis des hommes, pour Vouloir Bien, Eclaircir un de leurs Semblables Sur les moyens qu’Il Se Propose de Parvenir au Bonheur. Les Travaux d’une Vie active, honorables puis qu’Ils Sont Utiles, dérogent En france, par L’Effet d’un...
1446Pezerat to Benjamin Franklin and John Adams: A Translation, 1 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Although a stranger to you, I take the liberty of writing because I think that, as the representatives of a nation owing its existence to its virtues, you are sufficiently the friends of mankind to care to clarify for one of your fellow men the means by which he proposes to achieve happiness. In France, by the effect of a national prejudice, the labors of an active life, honorable as they are...
1447James Moylan to the Commissioners, 1 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Frigate Boston saild this morning with her three prizes. Captain Tucker happend accidentally to have mention’d to me, that he had your orders to take on board some goods here, but that as the wind was fair, he determind not to wait for them. If it is a disapointment to you, which in any manner can be remedied by loading them on a french bottom, I can give you freight for them on reasonable...
1448John Paul Jones to the Commissioners, 2 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Captain Jones begs the Commissioners to oblige him with Copies of the following letters—or with the liberty of taking Copies of Monseigneur De Sartines letter to the Commissioners respecting Captain Jones, of their Answer to that letter, of the Commissioners letter to Lieutenant Simpson in consequence of Captain Jones’ proposition in his favor, and of the paper dated the 4th of July—which...
1449C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 3 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai eu l’honneur de vous envoyer copie de la Lettre que j’aiécrite à Mr. Van Berkel Pensionaire d’Amsterdam le 27 du mois passé. Il m’a répondu ce qui suit de l’endroit òu il est allé passer l’Eté, peu éloigné d’Amsterdam. Je vous ai bien de l’Obligation, pour la bonté que vous avez eue de m’envoyer la Copie du Traité d’Amitié et de Commerce, conclu entre la France et les Etats-Unis de...
1450C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 3 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to send you a copy of the letter that I wrote to Mr. van Berckel, Pensionary of Amsterdam, on the 27th of last month. Writing from his summer place not far from Amsterdam, he replied with the following: I am greatly obliged to you for your kindness in sending me the copy of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce concluded by France and the United States of America. And, since it was...
1451John Paul Jones to the Commissioners, 6 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
By a resolve of Congress the Seamen who engaged to Serve in the Ranger under my Command were furnished Individually with forty Dollars, the Landsmen with Twenty Dollars Advance in Continental Bills at the time of Entry. They have Also been supplyed with Slops from time to time to a considerable Amount. And they received a small Advance in Cash from my hands at Nantes last Winter. I conceive it...
1452To John Adams from Arthur Lee, 7 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Lee’s compliments to Mr. Adams. Mr. Lee has over and over again written to Mr. Williams that the Letters shoud be delivered to him whenever he chose to call, At Mr. Lee’s house and receive them, which he has refused in very indecent terms. It is this and this only that has prevented him from having them, for I have Mr. Lee has constantly left them out to be delivered to him when I He went...
1453To John Adams from William MacCreery, 9 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I this day received the Letter which you did me the Honor to Write me under the 31st. Ultimo. Your other Letter to me was still longer on the way —which I mention to shew you that from some cause of which you may be ignorant, they do not come in the regular course of the Post. I return you compliments of congratulation on the late Naval affair between the French and English Fleets—in my...
1454Sartine to the Commissioners, 10 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Depuis la letter, que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous écrire, Messieurs le 29 du mois dernier, le Commissaire des classes a Nantes m’a marqué que l’agent des Etats unis lui avoit remis des Prisonniers Anglois qu’il avoit fait enfermer au Chateau ou l’agent pourvoit a leur Subsistance. M. de la Porte, intendant a Brest m’a egalement ecrit au Sujet d’une prise du corsaire americain le Ranger dont le...
1455Sartine to the Commissioners: A Translation, 10 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Since the letter that I had the honor to write you on the 29th of last month, the Commissionaire des Classes at Nantes has informed me that the agent of the United States has entrusted him with some British prisoners whom he had confined in the castle, the agent providing for their subsistence there. Mr. de La Porte, Intendant at Brest, has also written me concerning a prize taken by the...
1456Peter Frederick Dobrée to the Commissioners, 11 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
My Father in law has just now comunicated me the Honble. Mr. Lee’s Letter of the 4 Instant which he received Yesterday, together with sundry extracts which would greatly alarm me, was not I consious of my Innocence. I will not take too much upon those precious moments which you so laudably dedicate to your Country, to refute the false accusations contained in the anonimous Letter, but beg you...
1457To John Adams from Edmé Jacques Genet, 14 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai traduit ce jour ci une lettre d’un armateur américain à Nantes, en datte du 8. août, qui se plaint que deux de ses vaisseaux lui ont étá enlevés en sortant de Pamboeuf, et demande certaines facilités pour la Courses. Il m’a été impossible de lire Sa Signature, et c’est la seconde fois que je me trouve dans cet embarras. Je l’ai figurée sur le papier ci joint, pour vous prier de vouloir...
1458Edmé Jacques Genet to John Adams: A Translation, 14 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have today translated a letter dated 8 August from an American shipowner at Nantes who complains that two of his vessels were taken coming out of Paimboeuf and requests certain facilities in regard to the privateers. Because it has been impossible to read his signature, the second time that I have met with this embarrassment, I have copied it on the enclosed piece of paper and ask you to...
1459John Paul Jones to the Commissioners, 15 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I have now been five days in this place since my Arrival from Passy—during which time neither seen nor heard from Lieutenant Simpson. But Mr. Hill, who was last Winter at Passy and who sailed with me from Nantes, informs me truely—that it is generally reported in the Ranger and of course throughout the French Fleet and on Shore—That I am turned out of the Service—and that you Gentlemen, have...
1460John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 16 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Captain Ayres I have found in a very ill State of Health and apprehend he will not be able to proceed in the Vessel. The Brig will be ready for Sea at the reception of your dispatches. Should the Captains Health not permit to proceed you will please to give me your instructions to whom you would transfer the Command. These vessels being built for quick swift Sailing, should the plan I had the...
Je m’empresse, Messieurs, de repondre aux observations que vous m’avez adressées par La Lettre que vous m’avez fait L’honneur de m’ecrire le 13 de ce mois, sur Le projet d’un reglement pour les Prises et prisonniers des Etats respectifs. Je Crois en avoir rempli l’objet par une Nouvelle redaction des Articles 2 et 14 dont je joint ici un nouveau Texte, avec des Exemplaires des differentes loix...
1462Sartine to the Commissioners: A Translation, 16 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I take the earliest opportunity to answer the observations addressed to me in the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 13th. instant on the project of a regulation for the prizes and prisonners of the respective U States. I Conceive that I have fulfilled the object by digesting anew the 2. and 14 Articles of which I annex another text with copies of the different Laws that have...
1463James Moylan to the Commissioners, 17 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Brig Lady Washington Cap: Rowntree arrived here yesterday from James River Virginia loaded with Tobacco. She sail’d from thence the 8th. July. The Captain tells me the two army’s were then in the Jerseys, and that the Enemy’s ships were still in the Delaware, in order I suppose to insure it’s retreat if necessary, that General Washington’s army amounted to 18,000 men, the people in general...
1464C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 18 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Depuis mes dernieres, il ne s’est rien passé ici qui valût la peine de vous l’écrire. Cela ne veut pas dire cependant, que je n’aie tous les jours quelque occasion d’agir pour le bien général, et par conséquent de fréquenter tous les jours l’hôtel de F——, de recevoir des intelligences et des Lettres, et d’en dormer des Extraits, qui passent quelque fois au Cabinet, mais le plus souvent, et...
1465C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners: A Translation, 18 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Since my last letters, nothing worthy of writing about has occurred. That is not to say, however, that every day I have not had some occasion of acting for the general welfare of the cause and, therefore, of visiting the French embassy daily in order to receive intelligence and letters, or to provide extracts which sometimes are sent to the Cabinet, but more often, and even with regularity, go...
1466John Ross to the Commissioners, 18 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honour to Address You, on the 16th and 23d. Ultimo —Not on business of my own but that which Regards the United States, and consistent with the common Rule of Regularity, claimed an Answer long since. Mr. Delavile holder of Mr. Ceronio’s bills applyed to me again by letter, on last Saturday, and the bills being drawn, on public Account, shall be glad to know what Answer am to...
1467Abraham Whipple to the Commissioners, 19 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing you July 31 from Paimbeufe where I had been wind bound for fifteen days. The Boston had not joined me Then. She afterwards did and August 8th we proceeded for Brest in Company. Contrary winds proving unfavourable detained us at Sea till the 14th when we arrived at Brest. I here found that Lt. Simpson had strictly attended to my Orders of July 24th and done every...
1468Muscoe Livingston to the Commissioners, 24 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
My having been very unwell ever Since Capt. Tuckers departure from this place, has prevented My writing you, on the Subject, of the three prizes, which he Sold to Monsieure Peuchelburg, of L’orint for Account of Mr. Scweighauser of this place; it appears by Capt. Tuckers certificate as well as by other papers in My possession (which shall be sent you, if Necessary) that Mr. Peuchelburg assured...
1469Puchelberg & Co. to the Commissioners, 24 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Nous avons l’honneur de remettre très humblement à Vos Excellences la lettre ci-jointe dont M. Lee demeurant chez M. Schweighauser a Nantes nous chargea hier à Son Passage par cette Ville Et vous voudrez bien nous faire la grace de nous en assurer la reception. Comme nous sommes les associés du dit M. Schweighauser: c’est avec un Empressement particulier que nous avons offrit à Vos Excellences...
1470Puchelberg & Co. to the Commissioners: A Translation, 24 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the honor to forward very humbly to your excellencies the enclosed letter which was given to us yesterday by Mr. Lee, who resided with Mr. Schweighauser when he was in Nantes, and ask you to please acknowledge its receipt. As associates of the aforementioned Mr. Schweighauser, we have been eager to offer you our humble services in this area. Our wishes would be most fulfilled in...