Papers of John Adams, volume 6

Samuel Tucker to the Commissioners, 14 July 1778 Tucker, Samuel First Joint Commission at Paris JA

1778-07-14

Samuel Tucker to the Commissioners, 14 July 1778 Tucker, Samuel First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John

Samuel Tucker to the Commissioners

Hond. Gentlemen On Board the Boston at Port Louis July 14th 1778

I received a Letter from Mr. Livingston of the 8th. Instant wherein he informs me that their is a possibility of an Exchange of Prisoners, a list of what I have on board I send your Honours inclosed with a List of the Men,1 I suppose must have been Recaptured in one of my Prizes, the other two arrived Eight or ten days past.2 I am only wating on your Honours how to proceed, in hopes to joyn Capt. Whipple.

I received a Line from Capt. Whipple wherein he tells me he shall be ready by the 20th to sail, expecting me to wait at the Rivers Mouth for him. As I wrote your Honours in my last of the 12th. Instant concerning my treatment from the Frenchmen, your Honours may be pleased to Judge from the Inclosed Instruement3 wrote by one of the Marines and five of the same seigned, the Treatment they received from me and Officiers; this I mention Gentlemen to your Honours, because General Latuch La Touche-Tréville intends waiting on your Honours with a tail for Serjent Cauzneau, beleave Gentlemen the Account he has in French I have a Coppy of in English as the General told me, and it is so far false that he is indebted to the Ship, and every person beging me to take the same Merines on board, as they were distitute of every thing, but I utterly denyed them 291all except those mentioned in the inclosed Instrument, whom I received to Convince the Publick that their Reports was not true. Gentlemen be pleased to Exchange Capt. John Lee if possible, takein in the Brig Fanney and a Brother of mine his Master by the Name of Andrew Slyfield, who are in Mill Prison, and a Nephew of mine by the Name of John Diamond,4 and should be glad to have an equal Number exchanged from said Prison for mine. O that I was but Maned with Americans, or other Men I could depend upon, I should think my self a happy man, but Gentlemen as I am not I must do the Best I can, allways feeling for my Country, could whish to be at Sea. I am with Respect Your Honours Obedient Humble Servt

Saml Tucker

PS. I've opened this to acquaint your Honours that the Britania is this minute arrived and that I am happy that none of my People are Prizoners.

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “To The Honble. American Commissioners att Parris” docketed: “Capt. Tucker July 14. 1778.”

Not found.

See the postscript below for the arrival of the third prize, Britannia, which, according to Tucker's log (MH-H), came into port on the evening of the 15th.

Not found.

Capt. John Lee of Newburyport and Andrew Slyfield of Marblehead, taken on the privateer brigantine Fancy, both escaped, the former on 14 Oct. and the latter on an unspecified date. John Diamond was pardoned for exchange on 20 Dec. (Marion and Jack Kaminkow, comps., Mariners of the American Revolution, Baltimore, 1967, p. 114, 174, 55; Allen, Mass. Privateers , p. 126–127).

From Arthur Lee, 15 July 1778 Lee, Arthur JA

1778-07-15

From Arthur Lee, 15 July 1778 Lee, Arthur Adams, John

From Arthur Lee

Dear Sir Challiot July. 15th. 1778

I am so unwell to-day that I cannot stir out. Will you have the goodness to expedite what is necessary for Mr. Livingston and he will bring the Papers1 for me to sign. I suppose a Commission, Instructions and our Orders for his sailing will be sufficient. Adieu

A Lee

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “Mr Commissioner Adams Passi”; docketed in an unknown hand: “Hon. A. Lee Esqr to Hon J. Adams Esqr July 15. 78.”

Carried by Muscoe Livingston to Nantes and Lorient, the papers probably included Thomas Simpson's appointment to command the Ranger (Simpson to the Commissioners, 27 July, below) and letters to Samuel Tucker of 13 July; to Abraham Whipple of 13 and 16 July; and to J. D. Schweighauser of 13 and 16 July (for the letters of the 13th, see that to Tucker, calendared above; letters of Schweighauser and Whipple those of the 16th are both calendared below; see also Livingston to Benjamin Franklin, 21 July, Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. , 1:463).

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