Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-27-02-0370

The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 13 September 1778: résumé

The American Commissioners to Schweighauser1

AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives

<Passy, September 13, 1778: The Thérèse, whose cargo is assigned to us, has arrived at Nantes.2 We wish to sell the cargo and reserve the proceeds for a particular purpose. We request and impower you to sell the cargo, transmit an account, and hold the proceeds for our orders.

M. de Sartine informs us he has taken measures regarding the prisoners. We have received from him a passport for a cartel ship to come from England to Nantes and Lorient with American prisoners. This ship should take off your hands and ours all the British prisoners in France captured by American warships and privateers. We sent this passport to England yesterday.3 We hope all these unhappy prisoners, British and American, will soon have their liberty; if not, it will not be our fault.

We want the Baltimore to sail as soon as possible, having no particular orders to give about her.4 We think the 5% commission you charge is too high and are willing to pay no more than the customary commission, which we understand is 2%.>

1Published in Taylor, Adams Papers, VII.

2For the dispute over the Thérèse’s cargo see the exchange with Beaumarchais, Sept. 5 and 10.

3Vergennes had told them on Sept. 9 that he was sending the passport; BF did not actually forward it to Hartley until the 14th.

4Sailing orders had already been sent to her captain, Thomas Read, on July 29; see also Read’s letter of Aug. 25.

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