1The Commissioners to Sartine, 14 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:99–100 . The Commissioners requested that they be given permission to confine on French soil the prisoners taken by American vessels in order to permit their exchange for American prisoners held in England, a question of particular urgency because of John...
2The Commissioners to Sartine, 16 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Messrs. Basmarine, Raimbeaux and Co. having represented to Us, that they have applied to Government for a Frigate, to be employed in Defence of their Commerce to and from America, and in making Reprisals for the Losses they have lately Sustained by our Enemies. We the Commissioners of the united States of North America, hereby request, that Such a Frigate may be granted them: and in that Case,...
3The Commissioners to Sartine, 3 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 3 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:125–126 . Protesting duties charged on goods purchased for the Boston at Bordeaux, listed in an accompanying account, on the grounds that as a ship of war it was not liable for them, the Commissioners desired Sartine to take corrective...
4The Commissioners to Sartine, 15 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 15 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:135–137 . The Commissioners, in answer to Sartine’s letter of 6 June, indicated their reasons for refusing the drafts drawn on them by Bersolle, and, by implication and tone, their displeasure at Sartine’s interference in the...
5The Commissioners to Sartine, 16 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 16 July 1778. printed : JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:164 . The Commissioners told Sartine that the congress and the authorities in Massachusetts would be notified of his request, but that the presence of British warships on the Newfoundland and Halifax stations might make assistance to...
6The Commissioners to Sartine, 22 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have the Honour of your Excellencys Letters of July the 15th, and 18th. James Niggins and John Selby are wholly unknown to Us, but as their Account of themselves to your Excellency is probable enough; and if nothing appears to invalidate their Relation, We should be obliged to your Excellency if you will grant their Request. We are very Sorry for the Dispute between two Officers of the...
7Arthur Lee and John Adams to Sartine, 13 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your Excellency s Letter of the Twenty ninth of July, inclosing a Plan for a System of Regulations for Prizes and Prisoners, We had the Honour of receiving in due Time, and are very Sorry it has remained, so long unanswered. In general We are of opinion that the Regulations are very good, but We beg leave to lay before your Excellency the following observations. Upon the second Article We...
8The Commissioners to Sartine, 18 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
We embrace this first opportunity to answer the Letter, which your Excellency did Us the Honour to address to Us, the Sixteenth of this Month. We have examined, with Some Attention the Alterations which your Excellency has made in the second and fourteenth Articles of the projected Regulations and are of opinion, that they will remove the Difficulties We apprehendd from the first Draught. We...
9The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 10 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Captain Daniel McNeill of Boston in the State of Massachusetts Bay Commander of the American Privateer, which has been so successfull against the Common Enemy in the North seas and White seas had the Fortune to retake a French Vessell from a Guernsey Privateer, after she had been in the Enemy’s Possession more than three days, which Prize he has brought into Port Louis. He represents to Us...
10The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 17 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have this Morning the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the Sixteenth, relative to the french Brigantine the Isabella retaken, by the American Privateer the General Mifflin, from a Guernsey Privateer, after having been Eighty Hours in his Hands. We have the Honour to agree perfectly, with your Excellency, in your Sentiments of the Justice and Policy of the Principle of Reciprocity...