To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Shewell, 29 August 1784
From Robert Shewell1
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Philadelphia Augst: 29. 1784
Sir
I have presumed to forward you the resolve of Congress respecting the seizure of the Brig L’amiable Elizabeth at St. John’s Newfoundland by Nicholas Gill Esquire judge of the Court of Vice Admiralty at that place, with sundry other papers.2
The Honble Charles Thomson Esquire secretary to Congress writes by this oppertunity requesting you’ll be so obliging to do your endeavour to procure me redress.3
I have wrote my friend Mr. John Warder Merchant of London4 to enter into any stipulations or give such security as may be necessary to carry on the prosecution against Mr. Gill.
Your Excellency’s condescension in writing to Mr. Warder on the subject, should it be deemed necessary will confer a lasting obligation on Sir. Your most Obedient and very humble servant
Rot Shewell
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esquire
Addressed: His Excellency / Benjamin Franklin Esqr: / Minister Plenipotentiary from / The United States of America / Versailles / Honor’d by Wm. Macarty Esqr.5
Notation: Schewell 29 Augt. 1784.
1. The Philadelphia ship captain who had petitioned Congress to help in the dispute he mentions here, regarding the sale of the Aimable Elizabeth. The Committee of the States, acting in lieu of Congress, resolved on July 10 that Shewell’s petition and the supporting documentation he provided be sent to the American commissioners in France, who were to seek redress from the British government. Charles Thomson so informed the commissioners in a letter of July 16, which enclosed a packet of documents copied continuously over 16 pages: the committee’s resolution, Shewell’s petition, and four other items. An overview of the dispute and an itemized list of these enclosures are in annotation of Thomson’s letter; see XLII, 413.
2. BF apparently sent the now-missing set of papers to Deumié Groc on Feb. 25 (below). Based on the translations that Deumié Groc had made, the set seems to have been a duplicate of what Thomson had sent the American commissioners on July 16.
3. No such letter has been found.
4. XLI, 587n.
5. William Macarty went to Philadelphia in the spring of 1784 to collect all outstanding debts owed to his Lorient firm Cuming & Macarty (XXXVII, 53n). James Cuming, his late partner, had died in October, 1783: JW to Cuming & Macarty, Oct. 16, 1783, Yale University Library; Independent Gazetteer, May 15, 1784; Pa. Packet, and Gen. Advertiser, July 22, 1784.