To Benjamin Franklin from Archibald Carrol, 4 October 1784
From Archibald Carrol2
ALS: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères
Haver de Grace Octbr. 4th. 1784
Sir
Permit me to Lay before you the Inclosed by which you’ll see the most unjust Proceedings of the Court of Admiralty of Nantes.3
The whole of this Proceeding was Caried on when Mr. Williams and me was Absent from Nantes In Course had no Oppertunity of defend Ourselves, Besides I can make it Appear the man deserted from my Ship— It is Strange that the judge of the Admiralty Should Cale him a Lieutanent, when a Second mate is Only Considerd as a Good Seaman in Our Countray— It is not Proper at this time to Aledge what I have against the Fellow, But sir if you Can get this mater So Orderd as I Can be Heard by the Laws of my Countray you Will Greatly Add to the Favors Already Confar’d on Sir Your Most. Obliged and Very Hble servt.
Archd: Carrol
His Excellency Dr B Franklin Ambassador of the United States of America to H. M. C. M. Passy.4
2. The captain of the Mariamne, formerly owned by JW but currently owned by William Alexander & Co. of Richmond, Va. Carrol had put in at Le Havre on Aug. 9 with a cargo of tobacco consigned by Alexander to the farmers general: XLII, 508n. On Oct. 2, he notified WTF that he expected to set sail for Norfolk in eight or ten days (APS).
3. Carrol enclosed a petition imploring BF’s help. During a voyage in the fall of 1783, he had disciplined his “troublesome, Latigeous, Drunken” second mate, Theobald Burk, who deserted upon their arrival at Nantes and filed a lawsuit against him. The suit, adjudicated after Burk had departed for America, levied a judgment against him in the amount of 2,400 l.t. The Admiralty in Havre de Grace has just seized the Mariamne, pending receipt of that sum. Carrol is unable to pay it. Could BF “Cause the Ship to be Liberated”?
The court’s ruling was made on March 5, 1784; see Vergennes to BF, March 8.
4. This line was written by Andrew Limozin.