Papers of John Adams, volume 6
1778-08-16
Je m'empresse, Messieurs, de repondre aux observations que vous m'avez adressées par La Lettre que vous m'avez fait L'honneur de m'ecrire le 13 de ce mois, sur Le projet d'un reglement pour les Prises et prisonniers des Etats respectifs. Je Crois en avoir rempli l'objet par une Nouvelle redaction des Articles 2 et 14 dont je joint ici un nouveau Texte, avec des Exemplaires des 375differentes loix qui ont été publiéer en dernier Lieu relativement aux Prises.1 Au surplus, Je reçevrai dans tous les tems, avec plaisir vos representations sur les inconvénients que L'éxécution du Reglement vous feroit appercevoir, et vous pouvez Etre assurés que Sa Majesté sera toujours disposée a procurer aux habitans des Etats unis toutes les facilités compatibles avec l'lntérêt de Ses finances et le commerce de Ses sujets.
1778-08-16
I take the earliest opportunity to answer the observations addressed to me in the letter which you did me the honor to write to me the 13th. instant on the project of a regulation for the prizes and prisonners of the respective U States.2 I Conceive that I have fulfilled the object by digesting anew the 2. and 14 Articles of which I annex another text with copies of the different Laws that have been lately published respecting Prizes. Moreover, I will at all times receive with pleasure your representations of the inconveniencies which May attend in your opinion the execution of the regulation and you may be assured that His Majesty will be always disposed to procure grant the inhabitants of the U States every facility compatible with the interest of his finances and the Commerce of his Subjects.
For the changes made by Sartine in Articles 2 and 14, see his letter to the Commissioners of 29 July (calendared above) and references there. JA copied the enclosed articles into his Letterbook (Microfilms, Reel No. 94), but the enclosed copies of the prize laws have not been found.
The translator's “U States” is clearly a misreading of “Etats respectifs,” that is, the United States and France.