Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners, 23 October 1778
Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society
on Board the General Mifflen9 Oct. the. 23d 1778
It is with Pleasure that I Can Inform your honnours that this Day a Rived heare the Brigg Interprise Capt. Paul Peas1 from London Bound to the Braizels. She was Taken by Belpoole french frigate of thirty two Guns.2 I have the pleasure of Informeing your honnours that Capt. Francis Macy in the Ship Pitt from London was Taken the Same time by the Venger french man of war of 64 Guns3 and one other of the whalemen at Same time name not Known. The Ship Pitt is the Ship I Came from Rhodisland in. I have been on Board the Prise. The Poast is Just going. Excuse hast. Capt. Mackneile will not Sail Soon. I am your honnours obedent. Servant
Richd. Grinnell
Addressed: To / The / Honourable / Beniaman Franklen / Arthur Lee and Adams / att Passy Near Parris
Notation: Capt. Grinnell Oct. 23. 78.
9. Daniel McNeill had clearly acted on JA’s recommendation to find a place for Grinnell on the General Mifflin: see the annotation to Grinnell’s letter of Sept. 15.
1. A Nantucket whaling captain, according to Grinnell’s account to JA: Butterfield, John Adams Diary, II, 320. Pease appears in Griffith Williams’ undated list, “Friends to American Liberty are friends to Mankind,” at the Hist. Soc. of Pa.
2. The Belle-Poule, 30 guns, commanded by de La Clocheterie, out of Brest: Amblard-Marie-Raymond-Amédée, vicomte de Noailles, Marins et Soldats français en Amérique (2d ed.; Paris, 1903), p. 374.
3. Francis Macy also appears on Williams’ list, loc. cit. The French ship in question, The Vengeur, was commanded by d’Amblimont, out of Brest: de Noailles, op. cit., p. 373.