Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-28-02-0348

John Bondfield to the American Commissioners, 23 January 1779: résumé

John Bondfield to the American Commissioners7

ALS: American Philosophical Society

<Bordeaux, January 23, 1779: While visiting you on January 9, I inquired about the convoy we requested.8 I must also request passes by return post for four of our vessels, the Molly, the Chasseur, the Governor Livingston, and the Mary Fearon, all the property of James Price, William Haywood, and John Bondfield.9 Letters from Cadiz report the capture of an American ship loaded with tobacco and rice, sent into Gibraltar. Also reported is an engagement between d’Estaing and the English fleet at the end of November. Letters from Martinique report ports blockaded by English cruisers. The British are daily in expectation of d’Estaing. You will have learned of the arrival of a vessel at Morlaix.1>

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7Published in Taylor, Adams Papers, VII, 374–5.

8See Bondfield’s earlier letter of Nov. 12. The ships were going to join the ones from Nantes at Paimboeuf.

9The Molly, 120 tons, was a prize of the General Mifflin, purchased at La Rochelle. Le Chasseur, 250 tons, was also taken from the English and bought at La Rochelle, as was the Governor Livingston, 500 tons, for which, Bondfield added, he had a letter of marque that might take the place of a pass. The Mary Fearon, 350 tons, was a prize which had been purchased at Lorient. Price and Haywood, both Montreal merchants, are identified in XXVI, 278n.

1The Morris, according to Taylor, Adams Papers, VII, 375n.

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