I have received, gentlemen, the two letters that you did me the honor to write regarding Mr. Izard’s complaint about the goods captured on the ship, the Nile. In my letter of 7 October, I indicated that the government would intervene only in such cases where the laws were insufficient and that such an intervention would be unnecessary and uncalled for when the legislation was clear and...
I have received, gentlemen, the letter that you did me the honor to write on 30 August. I have sent to M. de Vergennes the necessary passport for the British vessel charged with the exchange of the prisoners held by England and the United States, and shall give the necessary orders to ensure that your prisoners at Brest will be more closely watched until the moment of exchange. I have the...
13Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 26 October 1778 (Adams Papers)
Je n’ai répondu, Messieurs, qu’à la premiere partie de la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 12 de ce mois, et la Seconde partie renferme des objets interessants. Sans doute, il Seroit a desirer que l’on put rendre á leur Patrie les Matelots Americains que l’habitude ou la Violence ont attaché au Service de l’Angleterre, et se procurer le double Avantage d’accroitre les...
14Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 25 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
Le Roi a fait expedier, Messieurs, des Passeports pour quatre Batimens anglois, qui doivent venir d’un Port etranger a Dunkerque, il est egalment necessaire de les mettre a l’abri d’insulte de la Part des Corsaires Americaines, et Je vous prie de m’envoyer a c e t Effet quatre Lettres ostensibles ou Passeports, dont ils puissent Se Servir dans l’occasion. Je vous observe, qu’ils doivent être...
15Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners, 16 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
J’ai reçû, Messieurs, avec la Lettre, que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire, le 12 de ce mois, la Copie de celle qui vous a été Adressée par M. Schweighausser Agent des Etats Unis de l’Amerique Septentrionale à Nantes, au Sujet de l’Escorte qu’il demande, ainsi que plusieurs Negociants Americains, pour un certain nombre de Navires qu’ils doivent expedier vers la fin du mois. J’aurois été...
I have received, gentlemen, the letter that you did me the honor to write the 26th of last month, in which you support Mr. Izard, United States Minister to Tuscany, in his request for the restitution of certain belongings carried aboard the British vessel, the Nile, which was captured by the Caesar, a privateer from Marseilles. It is by error that in your letter you have cited Article 16 of...
I have placed before the King, gentlemen, the reasons which might convince His Majesty to grant freedom to the subjects of the United States who are prisoners in France. He thought wisely, however, that this favor should be accorded only to those who have been taken on American ships and forced to serve against their country. Therefore, gentlemen, it will be necessary that you take the trouble...
Mr. De Fleury, gentlemen, has informed me that in 1776 his only son embarked for America where he has served the United States in General Washington’s army with enough distinction to merit the rank of lieutenant colonel, but that having been made prisoner and taken to Fort St. Augustine he has been unable to obtain his exchange and finds himself in a most deplorable state. The distinction this...
You are undoubtedly aware, gentlemen, that United States citizens who have escaped from English prisons often arrive in French ports, and since most of these sailors find themselves without articles of first necessity several Commissioners of Ports where you have no agent and who have already made some advances to these escapees request me to authorize them to furnish these objects. I request...
I have not forgotten, gentlemen, the interest you took in Mr. Jones and your request that he be granted an armed vessel to carry him to America. The King, to whom I have rendered a report, is disposed to give the captain this facility. But I would like to know, beforehand, if it would be at all possible to make up the crew of the vessel, which will be provided Mr. Jones, from American sailors,...