Papers of John Adams, volume 8

From J. D. Schweighauser, 26 April 1779 Schweighauser, John Daniel JA

1779-04-26

From J. D. Schweighauser, 26 April 1779 Schweighauser, John Daniel Adams, John

From J. D. Schweighauser

Sir Nantes 26 April 1779

I have the honor of sending you inclose a Letter1 received per this Morning's post and altho I expect to have that of seeing you dayly I have thought proper to send it you per this conveyance as if you are on your way here that it can not miss you on the road.

We have learnt that the french frigate the Surveillante has sent it in two English Privateers at L Orient and sunk three others. The Prince of Nassau with four or five Ships is gone to make a descent on Jersey.2 One of the Gentleman who goes down to Mindin3 will deliver you the Bag you ordered for your papers, all the other articles are ready and will be sent when You direct. I shall be happy if you would tell me if you'll take your wine from Mr. Williams and if you'll want any white wine—the Captains Steward is come to me to day and I see that there is but 8 dollars per Month allowed him by Congress4 therefore imagine that he must be cloathed as the seamen who have the same Wages.

Mrs. Schweighauser and family join me in respectfull Compliments to you and am Sir Your mo: humble & mo: obedient Servant

J. Dl. Schweighauser

RC (Adams Papers).

Letter not identified. On the 27th Schweighauser hastily wrote again (Adams Papers) to transmit a letter just received from Benjamin Franklin, presumably that of 24 April (above), advising JA that the Alliance would not be returning to America. JA received that letter on the morning of the 28th and immediately set out for Nantes (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 2:363).

The French attack on Jersey occurred on 1 May, when troops led by Charles Henri Nicolas Othon, Prince of Nassau-Siegen, attempted a landing at Owens Bay. The assault was beaten off by the militia and regular troops on the island, and further attempts were forestalled by the arrival of British naval forces (London Chronicle, 4–6, 6–8, 8–11 May; Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale ).

Pointe du Minden, the Alliance's anchorage, is opposite St. Nazaire at the mouth of the Loire.

The rate of pay for seamen is according to the revised scale adopted by the congress on 15 Nov. 1776. The pay for a steward, however, is listed as ten dollars per month ( JCC , 6:954).

From William MacCreery, 28 April 1779 MacCreery, William JA

1779-04-28

From William MacCreery, 28 April 1779 MacCreery, William Adams, John

From William MacCreery

Dear Sir Bordeaux 28th. April 1779

Your Letter of 14th Instant1 from Nantes reached me to Day only. It was but very lately that I heared of your having left the Metropolis, and but now of your intentions of going to America.

I have written to Doctor Franklin on the Subject you allude to, and have had the pleasure of an Answer from him, by which I perceive that at Paris they are not well acquainted with the Duties and imposts which clog Some branches of Commerce at this Port, which do not exist in others, from its being a Conquored Province.2 I have given him as much information as my time permitted of: having a large Ship loading here for Baltimore, in which I purpose embarking, I have of late, and am still kept buisey. We expect to Sail about the 10th or 15 of May, will carry 22 Nine and 6 four Pound Guns, and have near one Hundred Men.

I presume you purpose going home in the Alliance, in which, (or indeed in any other) case, I shou'd be very glad to be in Your Company. They talk of a Fleet being to Sail about the time we expect to be ready, which we shall aim at going with, and have no doubt but you will be of it.

We have no News here save what comes from the N. E. which relates to Captures and arrivals favourable to us. I am very happy to find that the Count D'Esg. appears to be in a much better Posture than we 50had reason to expect of late. I sincerely wish you a happy sight of Your Freinds on t'other side the Water, & am very truely and Respectfully Dear Sir Your obt. Servant

Will MacCreery

RC (Adams Papers).

Not found, but probably an answer to MacCreery's letter of 5 March (above).

Bordeaux was in the province of Guyenne, which, with Gascogne, had formed Aquitaine and had come under English rule in the mid-twelfth century. Not until the middle of the fifteenth century, when Charles VII conquered the English possessions in southwest France, did it return to French rule.

MacCreery's letter to Franklin may be that of 6 March. Franklin's reply has not been found, but MacCreery's answer to it, apparently alluded to below, was probably that of 17 April, which supplied information about duties on the export of salt from various ports in France ( Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. , 2:38, 63).