[St. Pierre, August 29, 1776]
[Extract]
The Reprisal, the Vessel which was appointed to bring me here, sailed a few Days agoe; tis Said that several Vessels of War are laying in Wait for her; I have no reason to believe She will be taken; but if She was, I am confident She would meet with very rough Treatment...
The General promised me, that one of the French Frigates should convoy the Reprisal beyond the Track of the British Cruizers, but upon Receipt of Admiral Young's Letter, he called a Council, & it was thought adviseable, that it should not be done; Perhaps they were afraid of com-mencing Hostilities; as the French Navy is very weak in the West Indies
1. Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, XXIII, 24-25.
2. The date is approximated. Josiah Bartlett, in reporting the arrival of the Reprisal at Philadelphia, wrote that she sailed from St. Pierre on August 26, 1776. As Bingham lists her as sailing "a few Days agoe, " it is assumed that "a few" might represent three days.
