Papers of John Adams, volume 6
1778-04-25
The Mainmast of the Boston was yesterday Surveyd and Condemnd unfit for Service. That no accident happend to the Ship from the defect on the Passage is very fortunate in One part it was it had not three Inches hold and in two others the Splitt went half throw. We have met with a Mast that will replace it and will be got ready with all posible dispatch. Some other alterations the Captain thinks Requisit perticularly an Iron Hearth for Cooking. The one he had on the passage broke down and the heavy weight of Stones employ'd therein put the vessel out of Trim which the Frame he now proposes will releive. I have therefore given orders for the Smith to make One agreable to the Captains directions. This with other Nessessaries he recommends will I hope meet your honors approbation. I am with due Respect Your honors Most Obedient Servant
Bondfield wrote a second letter of this date (Adams Papers), probably as an enclosure with this letter, introducing Capt. Jacques Le Maire, who had been recommended by Patrick Henry and was to procure arms for the state of Virginia (see Patrick Henry to JA, 5 March, above).
1778-04-25
I am sorry to Inform your Honours of my Situation, which is now lying with my mainmast out and condemned. I thought proper to get a Jury sufficient to Condemn it, which Consisted of three Captains of Merchent Ships and Six Carpenters and Mr. Brondfield. Till the present Gentlemen, I've waited for your Honours Orders, with a clean hold, but this Day for fear of being hurried, I've began to take in my Ballast, as I suppose your Honours would have wrote me if your Intentions was to put any meterials on board for America. But not receiving a Line yet, I hope I am not doing amiss, on prepareing for a Cruze. I must acquaint you that my Ship was in a Worse Situation then I thought she was on my Arrival. I would acquaint your Honours that the Officers under his Christian Majesty has taken the Liberty of deluding my Men away and entring them in the Regements of the Irish Brigade.1 I apprehended five this Day, and I am deter-56mined to find out the Officers and enter my Complaint for Satisfaction, as they have taken several of my men before. The above Number were confined in a Private Room four Days and where to Embark to Morrow for St. Martins,2 but I am happy to think I disappointed them of their Intentions.
Gentlemen, I should be glad to see Capt. Palmes return, as I wish to heare from your Honours. I am with Respect Your Obedient Humble Servt.
The Irish Brigade in the French Army had its origin in the three regiments created by Louis XIV on 18 June 1690 from the soldiers brought by James II when he was forced to flee England for France (Général Susane, Histoire de l'infanterie française, 5 vols., Paris, 1876, 5:57).
Presumably the Leeward Island jointly owned by France and the Netherlands.