11From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 17 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress A friend of mine in England, who has been servicable to me in negociating the Exchange of American Prisoners requests that I would endeavour to obtain the Release of one of his friends now a Prisoner in france. The Person is thus described John Stephenson of hull Master and Owner of the ship Sally; taken on the first of July, by a Lugger Privateer of Bretagne, named...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 6 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have the honour of Sending your Excellency inclosed, an extract of a Letter I have lately recd. from London, desiring the release of certain Prisoners therein named, taken by American Privateers, & now confined at St. Omers. Being desirous of repaying as soon as possible the Prisoners I owe, for those I recd. from England some time past, & being promised that if...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 7 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your Excellency will perceive by the inclosed Extract of a Letter to me, from Messrs. Parsons Alston & Co. of Martinique, that certain Prisoners made by American Vessels, & carried in there were with others taken by French Vessels, sent to France via St. Domingo in order to be exchanged. If the sd. Prisoners are arrived, or when they do arrive, I desire your...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 13 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Enclosed is the Order Your Excellency required of me in the Letter you yesterday did me the honour of writing to me, relating to the English Prisoners brought into L’Orient by the Black Prince, & other american Privateers. I beg leave to mention to your Excelly. that there are still remaining in the English Prisons 410 Americans, some of whom have languish’d there...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 30 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer Capitain Foligny commanded the Marquis De la Chalotais in her Voyage to America laden with Stores for our Armies in which Voyage he rendered considerable service on various occasions to the Americans with great Readiness Zeal, Activity and Intelligence and as a Mark of their Approbation and Confidance he received a Commission from the Congress Being...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine: Two Letters, 22 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) copy: Library of Congress They have written to me from England, that they propose to Send two Cartel Vessels with American Prisoners to Morlaix, one from Portsmouth, the other from Plymouth, in order to clear both Prisons at once. For this purpose they desire another Passport; which if your Excellency has no Objection to it, I Should be glad to send by the first Opportunity. I am,...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine: Two Letters, 19 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 14th. Inst. relating to the Claim of françois Vermeille to be payd Wages and prize money due to him from Capt. Cunyngham, Commander of the Revenge Privateer. I find on Enquiry that the Said Vermeille and several other french Sailors who Said they had belonged to that Vessel,...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 25 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Having received Copies of the Papers found in the English Vessel called les trois amis, taken by Captain Landais, I desired a Person conversant in Such Matters to examine them, and I have now the honour to send to your Excellency here with the Remark he has made upon them. What Weight they may have is submitted to your Excellency’s Judgement. For my own Part, I should...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 1 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Archives de la Marine, Library of Congress Conformement à la demande de Votre Excellence je vous envoye cy joint les lettres et les instructions que j’ai adressées aux Captn Jones et Landais. Je suis très respectueusement De Votre Excellence Le très humble et très obeissant Serviteur In English. Sartine’s request is that of April 27. The communications to Landais are dated April 24 and...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 5 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress J’ay l’honneur d’informer votre Excellence, que le Commodore Jones a prie le vingt du Mois d’Aoust, par les 50 Degrés 20 Minutes Latitude, un Brig Anglois nommé le May Flower, de soixante dix Tonneaux, Chargé de Beuf et de Beurre Salés, de Biere et de quelques Balles de Plumes, destiné pour Londres. Le Capitaine de cette Prise arrivé a...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 2 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de vous remercier de l’information contenue Dans la lettre que vous avez eu la bonté de m’ecrire hier au sujet des 16. Prisoniers amenés a Morlaix par le Corsaire la Princesse noire, ainsi que de l’offre que votre Excellence a bien volue me faire, de les envoyer en Angleterre par le parlementaire anglois qui est actuellement dans le port— J’accepte...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 8 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received the honour of your Excelly’s: Letter of the 3d. Instant. I am very Sensible of the King’s Goodness, in granting Liberty to the Americans who have been taken Prisoners in the English Service as by that means his Majesty Lessons the Number of the Prisoners that may be exchanged for his own Subjects; and I think we ought whenever we can Show our Gratitude...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 7 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Agreable to the Letter your Excelly. did me the honour to write me of the 5th. Instant I Sent the orders desired to Capt. Jones, under Cover to Mr. Dumas who will take Care to deliver them. I have to thank your Excellency for your favour to Capt. foligny, in giving him a Lieutenancy. I flatter myself that he will do honour to your Appointment. Please to accept my...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine, copy: Library of Congress I thank your Excellency for expediting the Orders relative to the Sale of the Serapis. I suppose similar Orders are gone to Dunkerque for the Sale of the Countess of Scarborough. If not I beg you would be pleased to send them by the Bearer; as the Daily heavy Charge that must arise on a Delay of Dispatching the Alliance, makes me anxious to...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 25 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I thank your Excellency for the Appointment of a frigate to escort the Ships from Nantes to the Isle of Aix, and the Assurances of Protection to our Vessels who may join the Convoy there. Our Frigate the Alliance, is order’d to prepare for returning immediately to America. If your Excy. should think fit to send some Dispatches by her, they may probably go safe, as she...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 30 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress I am under the greatest Uneasiness to find, that great Part of the Cloathing sent to Brest to be shipt for America, was left behind, and that the Alliance alone has not sufficient Room, to receive it with the Arms and Gunpowder, which the King has been so good as to order for us, and which are all so much wanted in the American Armies. A...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 27 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am much obliged to M. deshayes, Commissaire des Classes a Cherbourg, for the Care your Excellency informs me he has taken of the poor Americans that have escaped from England and arrived at that Port. I shall desire him to send me his Account of the Expence he has already been at in relieving them, that I may discharge it; and I shall request him to continue his...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 4 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your Excellency will perceive by the inclosed Passports the Grounds on which they were given. The Person to whom they were granted is apprehensive that they will not be a Sufficient Protection against French armed Vessels, & desires to have like passes from your Excellency, which if there is no impropriety, I beg may be granted to him. With great Respect, I have the...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 26 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress As soon as I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of Writing to me relative to the Exchange of Capt. John Bell & his Son, I wrote to the Owner of the Black Prince to know if they were not Hostages for the Ransom of their Vessel. I have now received an Answer, that they are not Ransomers, but merely Prisoners, their Brigantine Hopewell having been...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 28 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress As our Prisoners now exchanging are chiefly at Portsmouth and Plymouth and the Distance between those Places & Nantes is double of that between them and Morlaix, and a great Part of the Voyage to Nantes, being in the Bay of Biscay, which will be very inconvenient to the Cartel Ship and other Poor Passengers, in the Winter Season, I am...
31From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 19 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; incomplete copy: Library of Congress J’ay receu La lettre que Vostre Excellence m’a fait L’honneur de m’ecrire Le 17 de ce mois, Sur unne lettre qu’elle a Reçue du Lieutenant general de L’amirauté de Vannes et de L’orient, qui L’informe que J’ay ecrit au dit Lieutenant general pour que le Vaisseau le Serapis Soit vendu par devant Les Juges de Cette amirauté. J’ay...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 21 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I return herewith the Letters of Mr. de la Villehelis and de la Dame de st. Maurice which your Excellency did me the honour of communicating to me the 15th. Instant. I begin to have a bad Opinion of this Mr. Lock he has written me a Letter, in which he pretends to be an American, but it is so written as to make me suspect the Contrary. I knew nothing of the Damsel Des...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 29 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I have received a Letter from Mr. Wm. Bingham, Agent for the Congress at Martinique, covering the inclosed for your Excellency, and giving an Account of an unhappy Mistake, in which a Vessel belonging to some Subjects of the U. S. was sunk by one of the Batteries of Guadeloupe, & 17 of the People drowned. I request your Excellency would take the Matter into...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 22 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Bearer waits upon your Excellency for the order you were so good as to promise on thursday last, for the sale of the Prizes taken by the squadron under Commodore Jones. He waits here for that order only and the ship must be detained at a great expence till it can be executed. With the greatest Respect I am your Excellency’s, most obedient and most humble servant....
35From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 8 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Messrs. delap Merchant at Bordeaux desires your Excellency’s Permission to expedite two american Vessels to the West indies without being obliged to pay the Duties. If this may be granted to them consistent with your established Laws of Commerce, I shall be much obliged to your Excellency to comply with their Request. They are satisfied to pay the Duties, if they do...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 28 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I return your Excellency many thanks for your favour in granting Liberty to Capt. Stevenson, and to the six americans who were taken up at Cudant . There is another American Captain named John Lock, now a Prisoner at Nantes who as I understand was taken in an English Whaling Vessel. Since his being in france he has contracted an acquaintance with a Melle. des Bois,...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 27 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society; press copy and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I am very thankful to his Majesty in Behalf of the suffering Owners of the Brigantine Fair play: for his Goodness in ordering to be paid them Fifteen Thousand Livres out of your Treasury. But as that sum is conceived by your Excellency to be a favourable Allowance, in consideration that the Misfortune...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 23 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress Je Recois dans ce moment La Lettre que vostre Excellence m’a fait L’honneur de m’ecrire Le vingt de ce mois, et Je m’empresse a faire tout Cequi peut estre agreable a Sa Majesté; en ecrivant au Capitaine Landais, Commandant La fregatte L’alliance arrivee a Nantes avec quatrevingt treize prisonniers de Se Rendre Le plutost possible a...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 1 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Commodore Gillon has shown me a Project for reducing the English Force in Georgia, by the Help of some Ships from hence. I am not sufficiently a Judge of Military Operations to speak positively of it. I can only say that in my Opinion the Advantage arising from its Success would be very great to the Common Cause; and that the extensive Confidence which appears by his...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 22 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Enclos’d Papers containing much information of the State of the garrison at St. John’s in Newfound land, and of the fortifications there. The Loss of Military Stores by the late great Fire &c &c. I thought it my Duty to communicate them to your Excellency as they may be of use if perhaps an attempt against that Place Should be intended. They were taken in one of...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 26 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Votre Excellence voudra bien recevoir mes Remerciemens pour La Reception favorable dont elle a honoré le Commodore Gillon qui en est on ne peut plus satisfait. Il est echoué sur Les Cotes de France dans Le Mois de Janvier dernier un Vaisseau Anglois nommé l’Amphitrite. Il y avoit a bord de ce Vaisseau trois Matelots Americains qui s’y etoient embarqués a Londres pour...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine: Three Letters, 16 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I), (II), and (III) copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 14 Instant relating to some foreign Seamen which had been engaged for the Madame of Granville, but are now with Capt. Jones. The Demand of the Owners of that privateer seems to be just; and I shall write by the first Post to Capt. Jones to give them satisfaction either by...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 2 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de vous envoyer cy joint la traduction d’une lettre que je viens de recevoir du Capitaine Conklin qui se plaint beaucoup de la Detention de sa Cargaison par l’Amirauté des Sables d’Olones. Votre Excellence a deja eu la bonté de me promettre la main levée de cette Cargaison, mais restant toujours dans la même Situation, je prie V. E. de vouloir bien...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 5 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress Having just received these Letters under Cover to me from New- England, I Send them immediately to your Excellency. Being with great Esteem, and Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Sert. Endorsed: M d F expédies la réponse a toutes les lettres que j’ai recuës de M de la Touche pour la faire partir par l’ariel...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 18 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress By Letters I am daily receiving, I find there are in various Prisons of France a number of American Sailors, who having been forced into the english Service and since taken, remain confined with those of that Nation; but are very desirous of serving their own Country, in any of our Ships of War; and to that end, request I would obtain their Discharge from their...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 20 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Je prends la Liberté d’introduire aupres de votre Excellence le Commodore Gillon de la Caroline Meridionale. Cet Etat l’envoie en France pour y negocier une Affaire tres Importante. Il desireroit soumettre quelques Propositions aux Lumieres de votre Excellence, & je me flatte qu’elle voudra bien lui accorder une Audience favorable. J’ai L’honneur d’etre avec beaucoup...
47The American Commissioners to Sartine, [16 May 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <[Passy, May 16, 1778:] Basmarein, Raimbaux & Cie. informs us that it has applied to the government for a frigate to defend its commerce and make reprisals for its losses; we request that it may have one, and will give the ship a commission and a letter of marque.> Published in Taylor, Adams Papers , VI , 123. The...
48The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives In Answer to your Excellencys Letter of the Twenty fifth of this Month, We have the Honour to inclose, four Papers, with Blancs to be filled as your Excellency may have occasion. These Requests being all the Protection in our Power to give, We hope will have the desired Effect and We have the Honour to be &c In JA ’s hand.
49The American Commissioners to Sartine, 15 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 15, 1778: We refused M. Bersolle’s previous draft until he had sent his accounts. He then billed us for a thousand louis advanced to Capt. Jones on his arrival. Again we refused, because we had not authorized the advance and, when the Captain wrote that he could not feed his...
50The American Commissioners to Sartine, 13 August 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, August 13, 1778: We are sorry for the delay in answering your letter of July 29. We are of opinion that the regulations are very good but wish to make the following observations. We propose that judges of admiralty in America because of the size of their jurisdictions be permitted to delegate their authority....
51The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 30, 1778: We enclose a protest about a ship of ours that the British captured off the French coast. As they have reclaimed similar captures made by our cruisers, we hope you will think it fair that we be indemnified from British goods in this kingdom.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 143....
52The American Commissioners to Sartine, 30 October 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: National Archives (two); incomplete copy: Archives nationales <Passy, October 30, 1778: We are honored by your letter of October 26 and grateful for the prompt release of some of our countrymen imprisoned at Dinan. We have received another petition from prisoners at Brest; it appears that there are ten of them, only four of whom we had...
53The American Commissioners to Sartine, 23 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 23, 1778: Mr. Joy Castle of Philadelphia informs us that his bark Jane , William Castle master, and her cargo have been seized at Bordeaux on the King’s order as British property. He is an American citizen, abroad because of sickness in the family, and now wants to return home, where he has an estate. His...
54The American Commissioners to Sartine, 26 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives The Honourable Ralph Izzard Esqr., Minister from the United States to the Grand Duke, having ordered his Baggage to Italy from London has had the Luck to have them taken in an English Vessell, and carried into Marseilles. We have written to the Compte de Vergennes on the subject who refers Us to your Excellency. We...
55The American Commissioners to Sartine, 22 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, July 22, 1778: We have received your letters of July 15 and 18. Niggins and Selby are unknown to us, but unless something appears to invalidate their story please grant their request. We are sorry for the dispute between two officers of the Boston and some French crewmen. Captain Tucker has sent us his account of the...
56The American Commissioners to Sartine, 25 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives de la Marine Nous avons l’honneur d’adresser à V.E. la copie ci jointe de la lettre que nous avons reçu de M. Langdon, de Portsmouth, ville de l’Etat de New-hampshire. Nous serons très satisfaits si l’avis qu’elle contient peut être utile à V.E. Tout ce que nous pouvons dire c’est que nous ne doutons pas que M. Langdon ne soit très capable d’exécuter ce qu’il propose; Et...
57The American Commissioners to Sartine, 11 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society; National Archives (two) <Passy, July 11, 1778: We received your Excellency’s letter of the fifth regarding Captain Jones, and we readily consent to place him at your disposal.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 158.
58The American Commissioners to Sartine, 3 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives de la Marine; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 3: We enclose a list of duties paid in Bordeaux on supplies for the Boston . Such payment is unusual for warships, and we ask you to regulate the practice in future. The captain of the Ranger has put his prizes into the hands of the intendant or commandant at Brest, and...
59The American Commissioners to Sartine, 2 January 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (three), Library of Congress <Passy, January 2, 1779: We are obliged for the concern you expressed on December 22 for the American prisoners escaping from England. Our agents in Bordeaux, Brest, Lorient, Nantes and Dunkirk, as well as a volunteer in Calais, assist them. We will reimburse your commissaries engaged in this relief as we...
60The American Commissioners to Sartine, 10 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; three copies: National Archives <Passy, September 10, 1778: Captain Daniel McNeill of Boston retook a French vessel [the Isabelle ] held by a Guernsey privateer more than three days. He brought her into Port Louis where he has met with difficulties selling her and her cargo. In keeping with His Majesty’s interest and the treaties between our two...