Benjamin Franklin Papers
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The American Commissioners to Sartine, 16 July 1778: résumé

The American Commissioners to Sartine8

AL (draft):9 Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives

<Passy, July 16, 1778: We shall take the first opportunity to send to Congress and the government of Massachusetts your letter of the 14th; it will, we are confident, lead to exertions for the relief of the islanders. Success is undoubted if British warships are withdrawn from the area; if not the difficulty will be great.

The enclosed letter from Mr. Schweighauser will show the troubles with prizes that still plague our frigates;1 please give orders for their relief. We also ask that British prisoners already or subsequently captured by our ships be confined in your jails at our expense, until we either exchange them or send them to America.>

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

8Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary, IV, 164–5.

9In Arthur Lee’s hand.

1The letter, of the 9th, is missing; Schweighauser reminded the commissioners of its contents in his letter of July 16.

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