The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 August 1778
The American Commissioners to Sartine
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives
Passi Aug. 30. 1778
Sir
We have just received a Letter from Brest1 relating to the insecure State of our Prisoners there a Copy of which We inclose and request your Excellencys Aid in Securing them more effectually, till they can be exchanged. We also beg Leave to remind your Excellency of the Passport we desired for the English Cartell ship which is to bring the American Prisoners from England to Calais or Brest, or such other Port, as you may think most proper.2 We are, with great Respect.
M. De Sartine
1. Presumably Jones to the commissioners, Aug. 28. Jones also complained of the lack of security for prisoners in his Aug. 21 letter to Bancroft (U.S. Naval Academy Museum).
2. For the minister’s promise see Lee’s notation to the commissioners’ letter to Sartine, Aug. 18. They had requested a passport from Vergennes on Aug. 28.