On Board the Boston Port Lewis July 6th 1778
Sir
Please to assist Capt Palms while in town to Secure one his Sarchants1 Who from his first Entry on Board att Bourdeaux is behavd Very much Like a Villian Sir I advanced him in Bourdeaux to the amount of fiveteen guineys and after that kindness many other that I do not mention and now the Villian threatens to Dammage my Ship and Stress me all he Can by takeing all my marines from me as for Seaman he cannot for he has not the Love of one on board and these Proceedings agrees with what I heard in the above menti’d Port the Gentlm of the admiralty who took my Case in hand of the Consparicy Carred on in Bourdeaux Desired that I may be Informd that they had a Very Bad opinion of Said Cauzneauf & that he was the greatest Villian of them all2 this authority I may have for applying for att Bourdeaux moreover he would have been Imprisoned but the Offercers of the admiralty out of favour to me thinking to Detain my Ship Sat him on board & I Came to Sea Pray Sir Secure him in Prison and Let me know when it is Done or other ways Send him on board under a Secure gaurd Sir I am with Respect yours
Saml Tucker
Copy, MH-H, Samuel Tucker Papers (MS Am 812). Docketed: “Copy of a Letter to/Mr. Moylan at/O’Lient July. 6th. 1778/Copyd..”
1. That is, sergeants. Capt. Richard Palmes commanded the Marine detachment on board Boston.
2. On the incident referred to here, see Tucker to John Adams, and Deposition of Sergeant Jerome Cazeneuve, Continental Marines, both 27 May, NDAR 12: 762–65.
