1Sartine to the Commissioners, 3 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai recû, Messieurs, La Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire Le 16 du Mois passé pour demander qu’il soit accordé une fregate du Roi aux frères Basmarin Raimbeaux et Cie. pour etre emploié a proteger Le Commerce qu’ils font a l’Amerique et en même terns user de Represailles pour Les Pertes que Les Anglois Leur ont fait essuyer en dernier Lieu. Je voudrois qu’il me fut possible de...
2Thomas Simpson to the Commissioners, 8 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Its extremely disagreeable to me, that my first address to you, shou’d be on such an occasion, as the following detail, which is that immediately on the capture of the English Ship of war Drake, off the harbour Carrickfurgus, in Ireland Captn. Jones was pleased to appoint me (his first Lieutenant,) to the command of her for Brest, giving me instructions, a correct copy of which I inclose, and...
Since my last letters, nothing worthy of writing about has occurred. That is not to say, however, that every day I have not had some occasion of acting for the general welfare of the cause and, therefore, of visiting the French embassy daily in order to receive intelligence and letters, or to provide extracts which sometimes are sent to the Cabinet, but more often, and even with regularity, go...
Yorktown, 24 March 1778. FC ( PCC , No. 79, I). This is Instruction No. 3, which probably reached the Commissioners in late April, having first arrived at Bilboa on a vessel “from Baltimore in 22 days” (John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 21 April , below). In its first communication to the Commissioners since JA ’s departure, the Committee for Foreign Affairs commented on the depreciation of...
5Sartine to the Commissioners, 5 July 1778 (Adams Papers)
Comme je suis dans le cas, Messieurs, d’avoir besoin du Capitaine Jones pour quelqu’expédition particuliere, je desirerois qu’il pût rester ici. Si vous n’y voyez point d’inconvénient, vous me ferez plaisir de le laisser à ma disposition et de donner le Commandement de son Batiment à son Second s’il doit retourner en Amérique. J’ai l’honneur d’être avec beaucoup de considération, Messieurs,...
6Abraham Whipple to the Commissioners, 19 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
I had the pleasure of writing you July 31 from Paimbeufe where I had been wind bound for fifteen days. The Boston had not joined me Then. She afterwards did and August 8th we proceeded for Brest in Company. Contrary winds proving unfavourable detained us at Sea till the 14th when we arrived at Brest. I here found that Lt. Simpson had strictly attended to my Orders of July 24th and done every...
Whereas Jerome Cazneau, Serjeant of Marines, on board said Ship, on her Arrival in said Port, obtain’d Liberty to go on Shore, and there maliciously, and falsely represented to the French Men in general of their Abuse on board said Ship, telling them he would not return to said Ship, and injoyning and perswading those Marines and French Men who belonged to the Ship, to quit the Ship, and in...
8C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 5 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer ci-joint la Traduction de deux Lettres Allemandes, que j’ai reçues Samedi passé, et ce matin, de Berlin et de Hambourg. Le gd. F——r en a fait fixer copie aussi pour l’envoyer à sa maison. J’ai reçu, d’un autre côté 3 bulletins des affaires de france, du 10, 15 et 20 Avril. J’enjoindrois volontiers copie ici, car il y a des choses curieuses, mordantes, et...
9Abraham Whipple to the Commissioners, 27 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
In my last letter I had the pleasure of Acquainting you, that it was in my power to take some Goods on board in account of the United States, agreable to Capt. Wm: Jones information, who ac quainted me that you had some Goods on hand, which you desired to forward for America. My Ship is already graved, and now taking in ballast if am to take any Goods, would be extreamly glad to know, that I...
10Hezekiah Ford to the Commissioners, 30 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
By Capt. Turner, who left South Carolina the Beginning of May, I have the Happiness to communicate the following Intelligence; which he received, in his Passage to this Place, from one of the Prizes. About the middle of last Month, two Privateers, belonging to the State of Connecticut, but last from Boston; the one mounting twenty, nine pounders; the other Sixteen 6’s, fell in with two British...