To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 16 August 1781
From Jean de Neufville & fils
ALS:7 American Philosophical Society
Amsterdam the 16th. August 1781.
Honourd Sir!
May we begg leave to thank your Excellency for her last Kind favour,8 we have delivred to Capn. Brown the inclosed,9 and he seemd much pleased that it was likely he should enjoy his prize; about the nature of which we had not heard so much before.
We do not know of anything which should detain Comor. Gillon from Sailing, he hath been waiting some days perhaps for Vessells that Were to go under his convoy; we wish they may all have a safe and speedy passage to America, and bring there the most agreable news of the old Dutch courage; if the report may be confirmd that the English should have lost two or three vessells, against [one] of ours that is sunk; the Victory should be the more glorious, and even if not; though we heard it for certain, the English won’t easily try their forces against us on equal terms, as they were now 230 pieces stronger with heavier metall in generall.1
With all Regard we have the honour to be Honourd Sir. Your Excellencys most Obedient & most humble Servants
John DE Neufville & Son.
Notation: J. de Neufville & fils Augt. 16. 1781
7. In the hand of Jean de Neufville.
8. BF’s of Aug. 6, above.
9. Presumably BF to Brown, Aug. 6, above.
1. The two fleets at Dogger Bank carried almost the same number of cannon, although the British ships on average were larger and had heavier guns. The British did not lose any vessels sunk or captured, whereas one Dutch ship of the line, the Holland, sank the night after the battle: W.M. James, The British Navy in Adversity: a Study of the War of American Independence (London, New York, Toronto, 1926), pp. 310–12, 448; Gaz. de Leyde, Aug. 17.