51The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 13 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
The Therese has arrived at Nantes and her Cargo is consigned to Us. We have determined to make Sale of this Cargo, and reserve the Proceeds for a particular Purpose. We therefore, hereby request and impower you, to demand and recive her Cargo, make sale of it to the best possible Advantage, transmit Us an Account sales as soon as may be, and reserve the Proceeds of Sale for our further orders....
52C. W. F. Dumas to the Commissioners, 13 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Quoique ce ne soit pas aujourdhui jour de poste, je commencerai par vous dire, que l’Assemblée d’Hollande, après avoir duré longtemps hier, est enfin venue à la Résolution, de porter l’équipement de cette République, pour le temps qu’il y aura guerre entre la F—— et l’Angle terre, indépendamment de l’Escadre qu’il y a aux Indes occidentales, à 32 tant Vaisseaux de Ligne que Frégattes, et 8000...
Although today is not post-day, I will begin by informing you that, after a long session yesterday, the Assembly of Holland has finally resolved that as long as France and Britain are at war and in addition to the squadron in the West Indies, it would increase the Republic’s forces by 32 ships of the line and frigates, and 8,000 crewmen, to serve in Europe, mainly in the Channel and the North...
54John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 15 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
Referring to what I had the Honor to write you the 12th Current. Yesterday arrived from Virginia the Cutter Tartar Capt. Southcomb. He left York River the 29th July. Private Letters by him are dated the 21st of same contain no accounts other than them at hand. He reports a report of Comte d’Estaing having taken five English Frigates, that New York was closely blockt up and no doubt of the...
55Richard Grinnell to the Commissioners, 15 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
I would Inform the Honnourabel Board of Commisioners that I Took Passage with Capt. Barns as did Capt. Peter Collis and Sailed from Penbufe Paimbeauf on the 29th august and on the First of September Being in the Lattitude 46°:00′ and Longitude 9°:00′ we ware Taken by the Speedwell Cutter Belonging heare mounting twelve Guns and Commanded by Capt. Abraham Bushall who Treated me and Capt. Collis...
56Daniel McNeill to the Commissioners, 15 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
On my Cruize in the Ship Genl. Mifflin of Boston, and on August the 22 Instant being about fifty Leagues West and North of the Island Oshant att 9 AM saw Three Sail of Vessells bearing ENE from us about five Leagues Distance Standing to the ENE, which I took to be Enemies by the Course they Steared. I gave them Chase, as soon as they found I was in Chase of them, they spoke each other, and one...
57Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, with a Contemporary Translation, 16 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai recu, Messieurs, La Lettre que vous m’avez fait L’honneur de m’ecrire au Sujet du navire francois L’isabelle—que le Corsaire americaine le General Mifflin a repris Sur un Corsaire de Guernsey. Dans La these generale, vous connoissez les dispositions de L’ordonnance de la marine de 1681 que adjudge aux Capitaines preneurs les Batimens repris lorsqu’ils ont été pendant 24 heures en la main...
I have received the letter which you did me the honor to write to me on the subject of the French Ship Isabella which the American Privateer General Mifflin recaptured from a Guernsey privateer. In the general Thesis, you may see the Dispositions of the Ordinance of the Marine of 1681 which adjudges to Captains captors of recaptured vessels when they have been during 24 Hours in the Enemies...
The last letter which We have had the Honour to write jointly to Congress, was of the Twentyeth of July, and as We have Sent Several Copies of it by different opportunities, We hope one of them at least will come Safe to hand. Since our last there has been an important Action at Sea, between two very powerfull Fleets, in which, in our Opinion the French had a manifest and great Advantage, but...
60The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 17 September 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have this Morning the Honour of your Excellencys Letter of the Sixteenth, relative to the french Brigantine the Isabella retaken, by the American Privateer the General Mifflin, from a Guernsey Privateer, after having been Eighty Hours in his Hands. We have the Honour to agree perfectly, with your Excellency, in your Sentiments of the Justice and Policy of the Principle of Reciprocity...