Benjamin Franklin Papers

The American Commissioners to the Massachusetts Board of War, 17 February 1778

The American Commissioners to the Massachusetts Board of War

Copy: Connecticut Historical Society

Paris Feby. 17 1778

Gentlemen

This will be handed you by Capt. Courter who goes express with our Dispatches to Congress and is to inform you that we have wrote by the Capt. of the Frigate in which Capt. Courter takes Passage, for you to Pay the Capt. of said Frigate the Sum of 15,000 Livres money of France1 which Letter of ours we are Confident will meet with due honor; and we have further to ask you to furnish Capt. Courter with every thing necessary for his making the greatest Dispatch on his way to Congress. We most Cordially Congratulate you on the very favourable turn which American affairs have lately taken and have the honor to remain with great Esteem Gentlemen Your &c.

B.F
S.D.

Hon’ble the Committee of War at Boston.

1The commander of the Nymphe was the baron de Sainneville, lieutenant de vaisseau; he had a long voyage from Coruna to Boston, and arrived in early May: below, Courter to BF, May 5, and Sainneville to BF, June 17; see also Jacques Michel, La Vie aventureuse et mouvementée de Charles-Henri, comte d’Estaing ([n.p., 1976]), p. 387. BF had already been in touch with the Lieutenant’s wife, the marquise de Jarente de Sainneville: above, XXIII, 201, 626.

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