Adams Papers

John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 12 September 1778

John Bondfield to the Commissioners

Bordeaux 12 Sept 1778

Sirs

I have receiv’d from every Forge from Angoulerme to Bayonne returns of their proposals and offers for the Cannon you Commission’d me to purchase.1 Not One of them will engage to compleat the delivery before February. The dryness of the Season deprives them of a supply of water nessessary to execute the Work in Less time. I have survey’d the Arsenals hoping to find there to Borrow and to replace, but the Armaments have drain’d from every quarter and I learn that the two New Frigates Launcht at St. Malo are obliged to wait for their Artillery. Thus circumstanced I have concluded to close with the Forges of Petigore2 where the quality of the Iron the extent of the Works and the Capital of the Concern’d to which add the inland Navigation to Bordeaux leaves no room to apprehend a disapointment at the time limitted. And we are allways certain of meeting with Vessels going from hence every ten or fifteen days.

We have had strong westerly Winds the three days past without any Arrivals from America.

I have the honor to be with due respect Sirs Your most Obedient Humble Servant

John Bondfield

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “The Honble. Benj Franklin Arthur Lee John Adams Esq Commissioners from Congress at Paris”; docketed: “M Bondfield”; in another hand: “12 Sept. 78.”

1The cannon were for the ship of the line America. See the Marine Committee to the Commissioners, 10 June (vol. 6:199). Angoulême is approximately 75 miles northeast and Bayonne approximately 100 miles south of Bordeaux.

2Présumably Périgueux, a city on the Isle River, 65 miles east-northeast of Bordeaux.

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