The American Commissioners to John Gilbank, 10 November 1778
The American Commissioners to John Gilbank
AL (draft):2 Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives
Passy Novr 10. 1778
Sir
We have receivd your Letter of October the Sixth, and wish it was in our Power to do more for officers in your Situation than We do, altho that amounts in the whole to a large Sum.
But as We have already lent you as much Money as We have been able to lend3 to other officers of your Rank and in your Circumstances,4 we cannot,5 without a blamable Partiality lend you any more. We, are, Sir your most obedient humble Servants
Mr John Gilbank at Nantes.
2. In JA’s hand, with interlineations, as noted below, by BF.
3. The word “lent” was deleted and replaced by “been able to lend”.
4. See XXVII, 359n. He was given 360 l.t. on Sept. 11 according to an account of payments to prisoners, the second memorandum summarized in our editorial note, XXV, 4.
5. The words “it is not in our Power” are deleted and replaced by “we cannot”.