Adams Papers
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Pierce Powers to the Commissioners, 22 June 1778

Pierce Powers to the Commissioners

Brest Hospl. June 22nd. 1778

Gentlemen

I would beg leave to inform You that in the Action with the Drake Sloop of War on the 24th of April last, I had the misfortune to lose My right Arm, and at the same time receiv’d a bad wound in My left Hand; but am now so far recover’d that it is no longer necessary for Me to remain in the Hospital. As I am render’d unable to serve My Country as heretofore should esteem it a singular Favour if Your Honours would provide a Passage for Me to America as soon as is convenient and the Indulgence shall be gratefully acknowledg’d by Gentn., Your most obedt. & very humbl. Servant

Pierce Powers1

I had the Honour of Acting in the Capacity of Midshipman.2

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “To the Honble. John Adams Esqr. one of the Commissioners for the American united States à Passy prés Paris, to be comunicated”; docketed: “Petition of Pierce Powers to return to America, wounded in the Ranger”; in another hand: “June 22. 78.”

1. It is not known what action the Commissioners took in regard to this letter, but on 7 July, Powers renewed his plea for a passage home in a letter to Benjamin Franklin (Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. description begins I. Minis Hays, comp., Calendar of the Papers of Benjamin Franklin in the Library of the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, 1908; 5 vols. description ends , 1:454).

2. Written in the left margin.

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    Source Project
    Adams Papers
    Title
    Pierce Powers to the Commissioners, 22 June 1778
    Author
    Powers, Pierce
    Recipients
    First Joint Commission at Paris
    Adams, John
    Date
    22 June 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “Pierce Powers to the Commissioners, 22 June 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-06-02-0170. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 6, March–August 1778, ed. Robert J. Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1983, p. 231.]