Papers of John Adams, volume 6

James Moylan <unclear cert="low">Jr.</unclear> to the Commissioners, 29 June 1778 Moylan, James First Joint Commission at Paris JA

1778-06-29

James Moylan [Jr.] to the Commissioners, 29 June 1778 Moylan, James First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John
James Moylan Jr. to the Commissioners
Honorable Gentlemen L'Orient 29th June 1778

The Frigate Oiseau who convoyed a Virginia Schooner out of the Bay which I dispatched from hence, is returned yesterday with the prize Hope, John Poignestre Master belonging to Jersey, a privateer of six Guns, who had taken the Brig Sally Captain Rapeal belonging to the state of Massachusettes the 3d. of May, with a cargo of Rice and Indigo from Charles Town on public account, bound to Bilboa. On board of said privateer, the following 243sailors belonging to Marble Head were prisoners. Thomas Collie, James Howard and John Towler, for whose liberty I apply'd to the Commissary, who granted my request, and in order to save the expence that wou'd naturally attend their delay here, for an opportunity to return to their Country, I prevailed on the Captain of the Oiseau to take them to Brest and deliver them to Cap: Jones of the Ranger, who I make no doubt will receive them. I have the honor to be respectfully Honorable Gentlemen Your assur'd hl St.

James Moylan Jr.

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “The Honorable Plenepotentiary Ministers of the United States of America at Passy”; docketed: “Mr Moylan 29. June 1778.”

John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 30 June 1778 Bondfield, John First Joint Commission at Paris JA

1778-06-30

John Bondfield to the Commissioners, 30 June 1778 Bondfield, John First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John
John Bondfield to the Commissioners
Honble Sirs Bordeaux 30 June 1778

A vessel Arrived yesterday from Louisiana confirms the Accounts received from them parts of the Back Settlers from Georgia and Carolina having got possession of all the British Posts on the Banks of the Missisipi and of two valuable Vessels Loaden for London that they conducted to New Orleans and there disposed of the Cargoes.1

A Vessel from Carolina for this port was taken by a privateer within 40 leagues of the Land, we are adviced by a pilot Boat come up this Tide that a Privateer of 18 Guns being in the River taken by a french Frigate.

Le Comte D'aranda2 past thro' this City the 28th on his return to Paris from Madrid also a Spanish Noble yesterday Name unknown. I am most Respectfully your honors Most Obedient Servt

John Bondfield

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “The Honble Benj Franklin Arthur Lee John Adams Esqs. Commissioners from Congress à Paris"; docketed: “Mr Bondfield 30 June 1778.”

1.

This report probably refers to James Willing's expedition down the Mississippi that had been approved by the Commerce Committee in late 1777 and resulted in the capture of Natchez on 19 Feb. The expedition, intended to harass pro-British settlers and keep the Mississippi open for the transport of military supplies north from New Orleans, succeeded for a time in attaining its objectives but did little in the long run to improve the American position on the western frontier. The two vessels mentioned by Bondfield may have been the Neptune and Dispatch (John Caughey, “Willing's Expedition down the Mississippi, 1778,” Louisiana Historical Quarterly, 15:5–36[Jan. 1932]).

2.

That is, Pedro Pablo Abarca y Boleo, Conde d'Aranda, Spanish ambassador to France from 1773 to 1787 ( Repertorium der diplomatischen Vertreter oiler Länder , 3:430–431).

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