Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 6

123 The Commissioners to Sartine, 16 May 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris JA Sartine, Antoine Raymond Jean Gualbert Gabriel de The Commissioners to Sartine, 16 May 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John Sartine, Antoine Raymond Jean Gualbert Gabriel de
The Commissioners to Sartine
Sir Passy 16 May 1778 1

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.

We have the Honour to be, with great Respect, your Excellencys most &c. signed F. L. and A.

LbC (Adams Papers).

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, 16 May 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris JA Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de The Commissioners to Vergennes, 16 May 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de
The Commissioners to Vergennes
Sir Passy May 16. 1778

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

We have the honour to be Your Excellency's most obedient & most humble Servants B Franklin Arthur Lee John Adams

RC (Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol., E.-U., vol. 3)

124 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.