Copie
d’une Lettre du S^r. Sieulanne a
M. Le Docteur Franklin

A S^te. Croix de Teneriff Le 30 Juillet 1778

Monsieur

J’ai L’honneur de vous informer que Le Cap^e. G. Cunningham commandant Le Bateau Americain La Revenge, armé en Course, ayant pris & mené a L’Isle de Palme une des Canaries, Le Brigantin Anglois La Comtesse de Moreton,¹ il me proposa de le conduire a la Martinique. Apres avoir obtenu l’agrement de mon Consul dans ces Isles et avoir fait mes Conventions avec le Ca^pe. Cunningham, je me transportai a La Palme ou je pris Possession du d. Brigantin. Mais, Monsieur, comme j’etois a appareiller Le 19 de ce Mois, Le Gouverneur de la Palme2 envoia une Chaloupe armée a mon bord pour m’obliger d’aller Lui parler, ce qu’ayant fait, il me dit qu’il venoit de recevoir l’Ordre de M. Le Marquis de Tavallosos, Commandant general de Canaries,³ d’arreter mon Batiment et il fit en Consequence descendre a Terre Les Voiles et les Boussoles. Je lui demandai les Raisons d’un Procedé aussi violent, il me repondit que non seulement il avoit Ordre de m’arrêter, mais même Le Cap^e. Cunningham; celui ci avoit appareillé un peu avant moi et il etoit encore a La Vuë du Port; Le Gouverneur ajouta qu’il falloit que je m’adresse au General; Je passai en Consequence a Teneriff et m’etant presenté au d. General, il m’accabla d’Injures, moi et Le Cap^e. Cunningham, nous traitant de Brigands. Je lui repondis que j’ignorois ce qu’il pouvoit avoir contre ce Capitaine, que ma Mission se bornoit a conduire La Prise dont il S’agit a la Martinique et que je venois Scavoir la Raison pourquoi il m’avoit fait arreter aussi ignominiousment; Il me dit alors d’aller trouver un Negociant Anglois etabli au Port de L’Orotave appellé M. Thomas Cologan. Ne Scachant a quoi cette Demarche aboutissoit, je fus rendre Compte a mon Consul de ce qui se passoit. Il me conseilla d’ecrire au d. S^r. Cologan, qui me fit La Reponse dont je joins ici la Copie.⁴

Cette Lettre, Monsieur, developpe tout Le Mystêre et il paroit que c’est par Represailles que j’ai été arreté et que le Cap^e. Cunningham devoit l’etre. Je ne reflechirai point sur un Procedé aussy violent de la Part du General des Canaries; je me bornerai seulement a vous supplier de vouloir bien emploier vos Bons Offices pour que la Cour d’Espagne oblige ce General a me payer touts Les fraix que ce Retard m’a occasionnés et qui peuvent etre evalués a cinq cent Piastres; attendu que mon Marché avec Le Cap^e. Cunningham est par Traversée, avec huit hommes d’equipage et que je serai obligé de vendre a Perte une Portion de mon Chargement a La Palme, lequel consiste en Vin de Catalogne. Cette Somme pourra etre remise a M. Le Consul de France qui me La fera passer ou je me trouverai, Selon Les Prieres que je Lui en fait et Les vis que je Lui donnerai. Je pense aussi, Monsieur, qu’en bonne Justice, ce General devroit etre tenu de repondre de touts les Evenemens, jusqu’a mon Arrivée a la Martinique, puisqu’il ma causé un Retard de prés de trois Semaines. Le Chargement & Le Navire sont estimés Seize mille Piastres ou Soixante quatre mille Livres.

Pour ce qui regarde, Monsieur, L’insulte fait au pavillon, je suis persuadé que vous en obtiendrez Satisfaction et qu’il ne sera plus exposé dans ces Parages a des semblables Attentats. J’espere aussi que vous excuserez mon Importunité, mais j’aurois crû manquer aux Egards que je dois au Cap^e. Cunningham qui a bien voulu me confier ses Intêrets, Si j’avois omis de vous faire part de cette Circonstance. J’ai L’honneur d’etre [&c.]

[Translation]

Copie
of a Letter from Mr. Sieulanne to Dr. Franklin
Santa Cruz, Tenerife, 30 July 1778

Sir

I have the honor of informing you that Capt. G. Cunningham, commanding the American Boat the Revenge, armed as a cruiser, having taken and led to the isle of La Palma, one of the Canaries, the English Brigantine The Countess of Moreton,¹ proposed that I conduct it to Martinique. After having obtained the consent of my Consul in these islands and having made my agreement with Capt. Cunningham, I traveled to La Palma, where I took possession of the said Brigantine. But, Sir, as I was setting sail on the 19th of that Month, the Governor of La Palma sent an armed sloop alongside me and obliged me to go speak to him. This having been done, he told me that he had just received the Order of the Marquis of Tavallosos,² Commanding general of the Canaries, to stop my Ship, and he, in Consequence, had the Sails and Compasses sent ashore. I asked him the Reasons for such a violent proceeding, he answered me that not only had he an Order to stop me, but also Capt. Cunningham; the latter had sailed a little before I had and he was still within sight of the Port; The Governor added that I needed to address myself to the General; I passed in Consequence to Teneriff and having presented myself to the said General, he overwhelmed me with insults against me and Capt. Cunningham, treating us like Brigands. I answered him that I was ignorant of what he could have against the Captain, that my Mission was limited to conducting the Prize in question to Martinique and that I came to find out the Reason why he had had me stopped so ignominiously; He told me then to go find an English Merchant established at the port of Orotava called Mr. Thomas Cologan. Not knowing where this proceeding would end, I gave to my Consul an Account of what had passed. He advised me to write to the said Mr. Cologan, who gave me the Response the Copy of which I enclose.³

This Letter, Sir, develops all the Mystery and it appears that it is for Reprisals that I have been stopped and that Capt. Cunningham is their objective. I shall not Reflect on a Proceeding so violent on the Part of the General of the Canaries; I shall restrict myself solely to requesting you to kindly employ your Good Offices so that the Court of Spain may oblige this General to pay me all the expenses that this Delay is costing me and which can be valued at five hundred Piasters; considering that my agreement with Capt. Cunningham is by crossing, with a crew of eight men and that I shall be obliged to sell at a Loss a Portion of my Cargo at Palma, which consists of Catalan wine. This Sum could be remitted to M. the French Consul who will have it sent me where I will be; According to the Requests that I made to him and the notices I shall give him. I also think, Sir, that in good Justice, this General ought to be held responsible for all eventualities, until my Arrival at Martinique; because he caused me a delay of nearly three Weeks. The Cargo & the Vessel are valued at sixteen thousand Piastres or Sixty-four thousand Livres.

In this regard, Sir, the insult made to the Flag, I am persuaded that you will obtain Satisfaction for it and that it will no more be exposed in these Regions to any similar outrages. I hope also that you will excuse my Importunity, but I would have believed it a failure in the Regards that I owe to Capt. Cunningham, who has been pleased to confide to me his Interests, If I had omitted to inform you of this Circumstance. I have the honor to be [&c.]

Sieulanne