Papers of John Adams, volume 12
1782-03-01
Le Fort Philippe pris le 4e. fevr. sans capitulation Garnison (2500 h) prisonniere.1 Je le tiens de Mr. l’Ambassadeur même, qui l’a annoncé ce matin au Prince. Je vous en félicite. Voilà un bon toast pour votre Dimanche. J’attends réponse à la mienne derniere. Je viens de payer les 8000ƒ, et demain je commencerai par le paiement des fraix. Bonne nouvelle de Frise. Je travaille ici à quelque chose d’interessant, que je vous communiquerai en son temps coram.
1782-03-01
Fort Philip was taken on February 4th, without capitulation; the garrison (2,500 men) are prisoners.1 I heard this from the Ambassador himself, who announced it this morning to the Prince. I congratulate you. This is a good toast for your Sunday. I am awaiting a response to my last letter. I just paid the 8,000ƒ, and tomorrow I will begin the fee payments. Good news from Friesland. I am working on something interesting here, which I will communicate to you in person.
Dumas seems to indicate here, erroneously, that the British garrison at Fort St. Philips on Minorca had not negotiated a formal instrument of surrender or capitulation prior to laying down its arms. For the Franco-Spanish expedition against Minorca, see John Bondfield’s letter of 7 Aug. 1781 (vol. 11:444–445); for the surrender negotiations and the articles of capitulation, see The Remembrancer . . . for the Year 1782, pt. 1, p. 238–243.