From Benjamin Franklin to John Torris, 9 February 1780
To John Torris
Copy: Library of Congress
Passy. feb. 9. 1780.
Sir,
I send you herewith the Judgments of the Sloop Providence, the Brig. James and Thomas and The Ship Camden also that of the Two Ransomers for the Brigt. success and The Brig. Samuel.—3 The Proces verbaux relating to The Brig. Owners adventure, and the Brig. Betsey which you mention4 are not yet come to my hands. As soon as I have receiv’d and perus’d them, I shall send you the judgments. I have the honour to be. Sir &c.
M. Torris.
3. The only one of these documents extant is the condemnation of the brigantine Success of Lynn (Capt. Benjamin Curtis) ransomed for 1,000 guineas (William Hillier, ransomer) and the brigantine Samuel of Kidwilly (Capt. John Pulloss) ransomed for 300 guineas (Robert Story, ransomer). It is addressed to the judges of the Admiralty at Morlaix who had sent BF the procès verbaux it had taken concerning those ships. Hist. Soc. of Del.
4. Torris’ letter mentioning them is missing. BF’s earlier condemnations (printed before Feb. 9) included that of a different prize named the Betsey (for which see Clark, Ben Franklin’s Privateers, p. 106). The papers of the Betsey named here had been misdirected to the duc de Penthièvre, the Admiral of France: Torris to BF, March 31, 1780 (APS). For the Owner’s Adventure see John Diot & Co.’s Jan. 31 letter. On Feb. 21 BF sent the judgment on her, but reported the papers relating to the Betsey, Capt. Armstrong, had not yet come to hand; this covering letter to Torris is at the Library of Congress, although we have not located the judgment of the Owner’s Adventure.