To Benjamin Franklin from David Gallwey & Co., 22 January 1784
From David Gallwey & Co.
ALS: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères
Nantes ce 22 Jany 1784
Mr: Barclay Consul General laid before your Excellency le Comte de Vergennes letter to the underwriters on the american ship Nancy Capn. Sewell saild from Philadelphia for L’orient the 16. March 1783. In Consequence of said letter of which annexed is Coppy6 The underwriters have summond us at the Court of Admiralty to pay the premio of insurance at Twenty five per cent pretending the hostilities ceased only the 4 April in the american seas—
We are apprehensive the juges will pronounce on Mr. De Vergennes Letter. We Therefore request your Excellency will honour us with the result of your Conferance with the minister on this Subject or let us Know when we may expect your decision to put a stop to the expence of a Process at law of which at all events a decision can be only given by the Council in Case you & Mr. De Vergennes shou’d differ in opinion.
We have the honor to be very respectfully Your Excellencys Most faithfull & obedient Servants
David Gallwey & Co
His Excellency, Benjamin Franklyn Esqr. Ambassador of the united states of America at the Court of France
Notation:7 M de R
6. The enclosure is missing, but for Vergennes’ Nov. 15, 1783, letter to the French underwriters of the Nancy see the annotation of Nesbitt to BF, Dec. 23, above.
7. In Vergennes’ hand. BF, or more likely WTF on his behalf, must have conveyed the present letter to Vergennes, who turned it over to Gérard de Rayneval.