A Versailles le 18 Juillet 1778.
Je recois, Messieurs, des Lettres de L’orient au Sujet de differents qui se sont elevés le Commandant de la Fregate americain le Boston, et des Francois, qui faisoient partie de son Equipage, tant, en qualité de Voluntiers, qu’en cell de Matelots.1 Suivent ce qui m’est marqué a ce sujet, quelques Moyens qu’on ait employé pour faire [blank] de les concilier, on n’a pas pû parvenir, et l’on a été obligé d’en faire debarquer un nombre de 28, dont 25 Volontiers et 3 Novices, et il paroit que le Mécontentement de ces gens n’etoit pas contra le Capitaine du Batiment, ne contra celuy des Volontontaires mais qu’il n’en est pas de même du 1r. Lieutenant,2 et de deux autres officiers de l’Etat Major, dont il est constant qu’ils avoient éprouvé de tres mauvais traitement; ce sont des faits dont le Commissaire des Classes de L’orient a eu connoissance, ainsy que M. de la Touche de Preville chef d’Escadre qui s’etant trouvé à l’orient, a l’occasion d’operation dont il est chargé, s’etoit transporté abord de la Fregate: cet officier Général a méme eu personnellement des sujets de plaintes qui l’ont mis dans le cas de s’en expliquer vis-à-vis du Capitaine. Au surplus, lorsque les Gens debarqués été mis a terre, le Capitaine s’est employé a leur faire, rendre tout ca qu’il a pu de leur hardes, qui, pendant leur Observe, avoient été en partie pilleés par les gens de L’Equipage; mais il paroit qu’ils éprouvent des difficultés sur leur traitement; que ces gens pretendent avoir part sur deux Prises conduits a L’orient, renonceant a toute pretentions sur deux autres qui ont été expédieés pour L’Amerique.3 Ils prétendent qu’ils ne s’etoient engagés a Bordeaux que pour une Croissiere, ainsly que leur Engagement en fait mention, et le Capitaine soutient qu’elle ne devoit finir qu’a L’Arrivée du Batiment a Boston, qusique [quisque] ella ne soit pas expliqué dans l’Engagement; il conviendroit, Messieurs, que vous donnassiez des ordres a ce sujet pour eviter les frais auxquels cette Contestation pourroit donner lieu, si elle étoit portée une Siege de L’amirauté. Je vous prie de me marquer ce que vous auriez fait a ce sujet, a fin que je fasse connoitre au Commissaire de Classes. ce Commissaire m’a mandé avoir offert au Capitaine de la Frégate toutes les facilités qui pourroient dependre de lui, pour L’Engagement de nouveaux Voluntaires en renplacement. J’ay l’honneur [&c.]
P.S. Le Sr. Schweighauser4 vient de m’ecrire de Nantes que son Correspondant a Brest éprouve des Difficultés de la part de l’amirauté relativement a la Vente des Prises faites par la Fregate Le Ranger.5 j’ecris aux officiers de ce siege pour faire cesser ces difficultés, et j’eu donne avis au Sr. Schweighauser.
D. S.
[Contemporary Translation]
Versailles the 18 July 1778
I receive, Gentlemen, Letters from L’Orient, on the Subject of Differences, which have arisen, between the Commander of the American Frigate the Boston and some Frenchmen who made a part of his Crew, some in the Character of Volunteers, and others in the quality of Sailors.1 According to what is written to me, upon this Subject, whatever means have been employed to effect a reconciliation, they have not been able to obtain it. And they have been obliged to disembark a Number of twenty Eight, twenty five of whom are volunteers and three Novices. It appears that the discontent of these People was not against the Captain of the Ship, nor against that of the Volunteers, but that it was not the same with the first Lieutenant,2 and two other Officers, from whom, it appears, they had received very ill Treatment; These are Facts which have come to the Knowledge of the Commissary of the Classes at L’orient, as well as of Monsieur De La Touche de Treville Chef D’Escadre, who being at L’orient on Occasion of the Operations, with which he is charged, went on board the Frigate. This General Officer has had, even, personally Subjects of Complaint, which have obliged him to enter into Explanations with the Captain. Moreover, when the People disembarked were put on Shore, the Captain employed himself, in causing to be restored to them, all he could of their property, which during their Absence had been in part pillaged by some of the Crew; but it appears that they experience difficulties about their Pay and Subsistence; that they pretend to have a right to Shares in two Prizes sent into L’orient, but renouncing all Pretentions to two others, which have been sent to America.3 They pretend that they did not engage themselves at Bourdeaux, but for one Cruise, as their Engagement mentions but the Captain asserts that it ought not to finish, till after the Arrival of the Vessell at Boston, although this is not explained in the Engagement. It will be convenient, Gentlemen, that you give orders upon this Subject to avoid the Expence to which this Contest will give rise, if it should be carried to the Admiralty. I pray you to signify to me, what you would wish to have done upon this Subject, that I may communicate it to the Commissary of the Classes. This Commissary writes me, that he has offered the Captain of the Frigate, all the facilities, which may depend upon him, for the Inlistment of new Volunteers, to replace the others. I have the honour to be [&c.]
De Sartine
P.S. Mr. Schweighauser4 has written me from Nantes, that his Correspondent at Brest, meets with difficulties on the Part of the Admiralty relative to the Sale of the Prizes, made by the Frigate Ranger.5 I write to the Officers of the Admiralty, to cause those difficulties to cease and I give Notice of it to Mr. Schweighauser.
D.S.