To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 11 January 1783
From John Bondfield
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Bordeaux 11 Januy 1782 [i.e. 1783]3
Sir
The Don Galva4 of and from Salem arrivd at this Port Yesterday he saild from Salem the 1 December Mons De Vaudrieul with the Fleet remaind at Boston and from the report of the Captain would not sail before the later end of the month the french Troops were arrivd at Boston to embark on board the Fleet.
The Indians have committed some fresh Crueltys on the back settlements near Sunbery5 otherway all is quiet in America.
I have the Honor to be with due respect Sir Your most Obedient Humble Servant
John Bondfield
Addressed: A Son Excélance / Benjmn. Franklin / Ministre Plenre. des Etats / Unis de Lamerique. / à Paris
Notation: Bondfiel 11 June 1782.
3. The year is based on the reference to Vaudreuil’s fleet in Boston.
4. Either the brig Don Galvez, 6, or the ship General Galvez, 18: Allen, Mass. Privateers, pp. 119, 144. The latter arrived at Bordeaux sometime in January: Vergennes to BF, Feb. 7 (APS).
5. Sunbury (or Fort Augusta), Pa. Indian raids on the Pa. frontier gradually subsided after mid-1782: Jack M. Sosin, The Revolutionary Frontier, 1763–1783 (New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, 1967), p. 137; Barbara Graymont, The Iroquois in the American Revolution (Syracuse, 1972), p. 255.