Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 7

Domenico Caracciolo to the Commissioners, with a Contemporary Translation

John Ross to the Commissioners
Domenico Caracciolo to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 8 October 1778 Caracciolo, Domenico, Marchesse di Villa Marina Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris

1778-10-08

 Domenico Caracciolo to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation, 8 October 1778 Caracciolo, Domenico, Marchesse di Villa Marina Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris
Domenico Caracciolo to Benjamin Franklin: A Translation
Gentlemen Paris, 8th October 1778

I am persuaded that you already know that the King of the two Sicilies my master, has ordered the ports of all his dominions to be kept open to the Flag of the United States of America, for which reason, to avoid every possible mistake at this time, when the Seas are covered with the privateers of different Nations, and likewise with Pirates, I request you to inform me of the Colours of the Flag of the U States of America and likewise with the form of the clearances, the better to know the legality of the papers which it is customary to present in ports to gain free admission.1

I have the honor to be with the most perfect regard Gentlemen Yr. mo. hum. and mo. obd. Svt.

The Ambassador of Naples2

RC (DLC: Franklin Papers); docketed: “Letter from the Neapolitan Ambassador 8: 8bre 1778 Ans 9th.” Translation by John Pintard (PCC, No. 85, f. 238).

1.

On 19 Sept., Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies, in order to observe the most exact neutrality of Europe, had issued an edict setting down the conditions under which ships of all the belligerent nations could enter his ports (Martens, ed., Recueil des principaux traités d'alliance , 4:227).

 2.

Domenico Caracciolo, Marchesse di Villa Marina, was the Ambassador of Naples, or more properly the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, from 1771 to 1781 ( Repertorium der diplomatischen Vertreter aller Länder , 3:423).