Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-26-02-0623

John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 27 June 1778: résumé

John Bondfield to the American Commissioners1

ALS: American Philosophical Society

<Bordeaux, June 27, 1778: The Belle-Poule’s engagement is considered here a prelude to war;2 all foreign produce is being bought up as speculation. Admiral Byron is apparently not bound for America. These developments may further recruiting there, which I am told needs a spur. The marquis d’Almodóvar3 left on the night of the 25th. The nonarrival of the galleons excites alarm; their insurance in England is considered the sole hope of their not being attacked.>

1Published in Taylor, Adams Papers, VI, 236–7.

2On June 28 the government began legal action against British vessels sequestered since March in French ports, and authorized attacks at sea against British shipping. The latter order was made formal on July 10 but no official declaration of war was ever issued. Dull, French Navy, pp. 119–20.

3The new Spanish Ambassador to St. James’s.

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