Passi July 29th 1778
Gentlemen,
We have recieved your favor of the Eighth of June,1 by the Hand of Captain Barnes of the Schooner Dispatch, together with the Packets, forwarded by the Honorable Council of Massachusetts Bay.2 We have according to your desire given Orders to Mr. Schweighauser at Nantes to furnish the Captain, with such supplies as may be necessary to provide for his Return, and to defray his Expences there. We have given him an order on our Banker for a Months Pay, to himself and his Crew, and a Gratification to him of one hundred Dollars, in lieu of Primage, which as you inform Us, is according to Contract.3
We thank You for the Gazettes, and shall always be obliged to you for similar favors, which are not less beneficial to the public, than amusing to Us. We have the Honour to be, with great Respect &c.
We cannot avoid expressing our Surprise at the monstrous Sum to be advanced here in Silver and Gold to the Officers and Crew of this Vessel. If it was really the Intention of the Honourable Board that it should be paid so—We wish the Board had specified the Sums to be paid to each person.
Copy, DNA, PCC, item 84, vol. 1, p. 167 (M247, roll 111). Addressed below close: “The Honble the Navy Board/Boston.” Notation: “(Copy).”
1. Continental Navy Board of the Eastern Department to American Commissioners, 8 June 1778, above.
2. Capt. Corbin Barnes brought packets containing copies of the ratified Franco-American treaty.
3. According to the accounts of Rodolphe-Ferdinand Grand, the commissioners’ banker, he paid 2,108.15 livres to Barnes. Adams Papers 6: 246.
