St Martins Isle Rhé 4 June 1778
Honoured sir,
This to inform you that I have arrived with the Prize1 safe in the harbour of St Martins After Losing sight of the Ship Providence I strove for Nance,2 but being Chased the next day in the Afternoon, and finding her gain on me at night alter’d my Course, finding myself to the Southward of Nance & the wind to the Northward took a Pilot off the Isle of Dieu,3 tried to beat up but the Brig sailing so dull and dare not to [illeg.] the Offin [i.e., offing] found it impossible to beat up after [six] Hours Beating bore away for the Isle of Rhé,4 as I thought it most convenient port went on Shore to Advise with the Continental Agent was recommended to Mr Fairholm & Luther who transact business for Mr Dean and Franklin,5 I went with Mr Luther to Governors & Admiralty Mr Luther offers to Assist in any thing I should Request I thought it my Duty to acquaint you of my Arrival, and shall wait your Orders. Mr Luther joins me in Advice and writes on the Accompt Sir in hopes of yr Answer I remain Yours at Command
Nich E Gardner
PS. The People are peaceable on board & behave very well thers a Gentleman lost his Vessel and will gladly come onboard. NE—
LB, MiU-C, Abraham Whipple Papers. Addressed below postscript: “To Abraham Whipple Esqr Commd Con. Ship Providence.” Notation in margin: “N.E.G./to/A W/June 4th.” Damage to the manuscript makes the reading of a couple of words conjectural.
1. Brig Lord Grosvenor.
2. That is, Nantes.
3. That is, Île d’Yeu.
4. Île de Ré is opposite La Rochelle.
5. Fairholme & Luther was a merchant house at St. Martin. Although Silas Deane and Benjamin Franklin had had dealings with it, this firm was not formally authorized to act as Continental prize agent. See Fairholme & Luther to Benjamin Franklin, 5 June 1778, Benjamin Franklin Papers 26: 590–91.
