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Browsing: Papers of John Adams, Volume 6

Joy Castle to the Commissioners -

Passi June 22. 1778
Your petitioner is Come from ...

The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser -

[1778-06-23]
printed: JA, Diary and ...

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Pierce Powers to the Commissioners

Docno: PJA06d197

Author: Powers, Pierce
Recipient: First Joint Commission at Paris
Recipient: JA
Date: 1778-06-22

[dateline] Brest Hospl. June 22nd. 1778

[salute] Gentlemen

I would beg leave to inform You that in the Action with the Drake Sloop of War on the 24th of April last, I had the misfortune to lose My right Arm, and at the same time receiv'd a bad wound in My left Hand; but am now so far recover'd that it is no longer necessary for Me to remain in the Hospital. As I am render'd unable to serve My Country as heretofore should esteem it a singular Favour if Your Honours would provide a Passage for Me to America as soon as is convenient and the Indulgence shall be gratefully acknowledg'd by Gentn., Your most obedt. & very humbl. Servant
[signed] Pierce Powers1
I had the Honour of Acting in the Capacity of Midshipman.2
RC PPAmP: Franklin Papers; addressed: “To the Honble. John Adams Esqr. one of the Commissioners for the American united States à Passy prés Paris, to be comunicated”; docketed: “Petition of Pierce Powers to return to America, wounded in the Ranger”; in another hand: “June 22. 78.”
 
1. It is not known what action the Commissioners took in regard to this letter, but on 7 July, Powers renewed his plea for a passage home in a letter to Benjamin Franklin ( Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. , 1:454).
 
2. Written in the left margin.
Cite web page as: Founding Families: Digital Editions of the Papers of the Winthrops and the Adamses, ed.C. James Taylor. Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 2007.
http://www.masshist.org/ff/