George Washington Papers

To George Washington from James Lovell, 30 May 1777

From James Lovell

Philada May 30th 1777

Sir

As chairman of the Committee on foreign applications, I inclose herewith to your Excellency the only list which has come to hand from France, tending, in any manner, to discover the arrangement made there of the officers who lately arrived in the Amphitrite.1

Should it appear hereafter by any vouchers that some of them have a just claim by compact to higher commissions, Congress will attend to the claim. In the mean time these passionate admirers of rank will be the objects of your Excellency’s Justice according as they may exhibit to you extraordinary merits.

It is not to be doubted but that their differing progress in our language will make them useful in different degrees in our service.

Mr Maligny who has been this week in Philadelphia discovers a surprising aptitude in speaking and writing English, and appears highly ambitious to merit your favor.2 I have the honor to be With sincere devotion Your Excellency’s friend And humble Servant

James Lovell

ALS, DLC:GW.

1The enclosed undated list, which is written in French, is headed by Thomas Conway as colonel commandant. Beneath Conway’s name appear the names of four artillery captains, four artillery lieutenants, four infantry captains, two engineer captains, five engineer lieutenants, a surgeon major, ten artillery sergeants (including six artisans and four artificers), and three servants to officers (DLC:GW).

2Charles Melchior Garde de Maligny appears on the enclosed list as an artillery lieutenant.

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