Sir
I had the honor of writing You Yesterday respecting Capt [John] Adams, of Boston, whose Vessel was sunk on the Coast of Bell Isle by an English man of War since which I have received intelligence that Three 74 Gun Shipps & one 64, are sailed, to cruise in the Bay of Biscay, their names are the Hector, Essex, Egmont & Exeter; permit me to remind You, that from what You did me the honor of telling Me some time since, I was pleased with the hopes of seeing a Fleet at Sea sufficient to check the insolence of Our Enemies, & even to make some diversion in favor of Our Commerce; may I still hope for it? Or am I to see the reverse? To see the Enemies of America, (and God knows they are not the Freinds of France), extend themselves the whole length of Your Coast, intercept a Commerce equally beneficial to both Countries, as to detain, & even make prize of Vessels belonging to the Subjects of France, only because they were supposed to have Stores on board for America, — which is the Case with the Seine now detained in Dominica — forgive Me Sir, I will trouble You no farther, but must ask an Opportunity, of waiting on his Excellency, to represent to him, in the true Light, many things, which are of the last importance, and the situation & appearance of which, gives me more inquietude than it is in the power of Language to express. I have the honor to remain with the Utmost respect Sir [&c.]
P.S. Since writing the foregoing I have seen a Captn from Nantes an American who says that Capt Adams was chased by an English Man of War. That finding he could not escape he attempted to run his Vessel on shore, but the Man of War got between him, & the Land, & took him within a very small distance from Shore, & the report was that taking out the People he sunk her. Letters from London mention the Same thing so that I have no doubt of the Truth of it. Captn [Henry] Johnson, going out of Bordeaux, was chased before he was out of sight of the Tower but escaped.
I have seen Mr [Ferdinand] Grand this Moment who has greatly alarmed Me; he says that his Excellency told him to tell Me, that I had been ill advised, & was betrayed, but did not inform Me in what, With respect to the Cutter at Dunkirk, I mean that last purchased, in which individuals are interested, Lean only say that I advised my Freinds to get her away as quick, & as silently as possible, & to stand directly off the Coast, & on no Consideration, permit her, to return to France or near Any of its Ports. if I shall be instructed to give better advice I shall most readily do it & I doubt not, my advice will be attended to, but the owners have already expended Two Thousand pounds Sterling in the purchase & repairs, which they cannot afford fo loose. I hoped farther that Capt Cunningham [Gustavus Conyngham] & his People might get a passage in her, to their Own Country, where they may be usefull. I hope at least they may be dismiss'd from Prison, & be permitted to depart in such manner as they can, though if they disperse, there will be danger of their not returning, & consequently of Our loosing a Number of brave, and honest Subjects. I can only add, that I am ready to follow most exactly the advice which shall be given Me, on this, & every other Occasion by his Excellency, but am at an uncertainty, what to do untill more explicitly informed.
