Nantes 21 July. 1778-
Gentlemen
I arrived here Last Night, deliverd my letters to Capt. Whipple, & shall have his Instructions for Capt. Tucker & Sett out immediately for Lorient.1
I will be Exceedingly Obligd you, to do me the Favour, to give me two, or three Lines, either to the President of congress or by way of Certificate, Mentioning, what Capt. Tucker Said of My Conduct, during My being on board the boston;2 as it will be a very great Satisfaction to my Friends, & may be, Other wise Servisible to me;3 I for got to make this Request while in Paris, or would not now, have taken the Liberty to trouble you; I shall Return to Nantes, in five or Six days from whence I Expect to git a passage to america; So that If I am honourd with your Letter under cover to John Loyd Esqr. at this place, I shall be sure to git it. I have the Honour to be with much Respect [&c.]
M Livingston
L, PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 10, fol. 139. Addressed on separate page: “The Honble the Commissioners/for the United States of/America at/Paris.” Docketed: “M Livingston/Nantes 21 July 1778.”
1. Capt. Abraham Whipple had already sent instructions to Capt. Samuel Tucker in a letter of 7 July, above.
2. See Tucker to the commissioners, 3 July, above.
3. The commissioners wrote a letter to the President of Congress on Livingston’s behalf. That letter, dated 29 July, is printed in Benjamin Franklin Papers 27: 174–75.
