Benjamin Franklin Papers
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The American Commissioners to Sartine, 22 July 1778: résumé

The American Commissioners to Sartine

AL (draft):6 Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives

<Passy, July 22, 1778: We have received your letters of July 15 and 18. Niggins and Selby are unknown to us, but unless something appears to invalidate their story please grant their request. We are sorry for the dispute between two officers of the Boston and some French crewmen. Captain Tucker has sent us his account of the incident.7 We believe that if the sailors enlisted to go to Boston they should return to the ship; if not, they have the right to leave and are entitled to their wages. We will write this to Captain Tucker.8 We have ordered all our frigates to sail immediately.>

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

6In the hand of JA with interlineations by Arthur Lee. The letter is published in Taylor, Adams Papers, VI, 309–10.

7Which the commissioners summarize. They also enclosed a copy of the statement by satisfied French crewmen of the Boston mentioned in Tucker’s letter to the commissioners, July 14.

8See the commissioners’ letter of the same day to Tucker.

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