close
{p. 123}
{p. 124}
The Commissioners to Sartine
Docno: PJA06d105
Recipient: Sartine, Antoine Raymond Jean Gualbert Gabriel de
Date: 1778-05-16
[dateline] [Passy 16 May 1778 ] 1
[salute] Sir
Messrs. Basmarine, Raimbeaux and Co.2 having represented to Us, that they have applied to Government for a Frigate, to be employed in Defence of their Commerce to and from America, and in making Reprisals for the Losses they have lately Sustained by our Enemies. We the Commissioners of the united States of North America, hereby request, that Such a Frigate may be granted them: and in that Case, We are ready to give a Commission and Letter of Marque to Such Frigate, upon Messrs. Basmarine & Cos. giving Bond to Us, for the regular Behaviour of Such Frigate according to the Laws of Nations, and the Usage of the united States.
[salute] We have the Honour to be, with great Respect, your Excellencys most &c.
[signed] signed F. L. and A.
1. Date supplied from Sartine's reply of 3 June (below).
2. Récule de Basmarin et Raimbeaux was a leading mercantile firm at Bordeaux and heavily involved in the American trade. JA had dined with the two partners at Bordeaux on 2 April (JA, Diary and Autobiography
, 2:294, note 1; 4:36).
The Commissioners to Vergennes
Docno: PJA06d106
Recipient: Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de
Date: 1778-05-16
[dateline] Passy May 16. 1778
[salute] Sir
We had this Morning the Honour of receiving your Excellency's Letter of the 13. Instant relative to the Boston Frigate.
We beg leave to assure your Excellency that the Frigate called the Boston, now at Bourdeaux, is a Ship of War belonging to the 13 United States of North America, built and maintained at their Expence, by the Honourable Congress.
We therefore, humbly presume that his Majestys royal Determination on the Representation of the Farmers General, will be according to the Usage of Nations in such Cases, and your Excellency may be assured that Captain Tucker will conform to that Determination with the utmost Respect.1
[salute] We have the honour to be Your Excellency's most obedient & most humble Servants
[signed] B Franklin
[signed] Arthur Lee
[signed] John Adams
RC
Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol., E.-U., vol. 3
1. Vergennes replied on 17 May (Dft, Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol., E.U., vol. 3), stating that the King had decided that the Boston “éprouveroit le même traitement qui est d'usage a l'egard de ceux detoutes les autres puissances” (would receive the same treatment ordinarily given to those of all other nations) and that the Farmers General would be informed of the decision.
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/
http://www.masshist.org/ff/