John Lamb to the American Commissioners, 10 August 1786
John Lamb to the American Commissioners
Alicante August 10th. 1786
Finding my self unable to Imbark and Desiring to have my Decleration forwarded as soon as possible according to your Excellency orders; have sent the vessel to give the earlyst notice. She sailed the nineth of this Curt. with Every Transaction, together with my last orders from Your Excellencys. The vessel is insured and Doth not sail at publick expence. I should be glad if I could here if Mr. Randall had arived and had Delivered to your Excellency my Declaration which I forwarded by him: at the reception of your Excellencys last orders to me. I Stated my Situation1 in Two letters one of the 15th July and the other of the 18th. Ditto, hope they have come safe to hand. I am with Due Respect Your Excellencys Most Obednt. Hmbe Servant,
John Lamb
RC (DLC); endorsed. Tr (DNA: PCC, No. 87, I); in Short’s hand, with a few corrections in spelling and punctuation. Tr (DNA: PCC, No. 107). Noted in SJL as received 5 Sep. 1786.
Your … last orders: See Commissioners to Lamb 20 June and 29 June 1786 (the latter under 7 July).
1. This is a good example of the manner in which Short occasionally corrected Lamb’s punctuation and spelling, with the result that his letters as published make Lamb appear more literate than he actually was. This passage, as punctuated by Short and as published in , i, 816, reads: “I should be glad if I could hear if Mr. Randall had arrived and had delivered to your Excellency my declaration, which I forwarded by him. At the reception of your Excellency’s last orders to me, I stated my situation,” &c.