Bilboa Novembr th 12d 1777 —
Mr Beniaman Francklen Esqr Sir
This Days post from Nantes brought me the Disagrable a Counts of the Sea prisers1 tacking by me & Capt Kendrick to be Condemed to yours [use] of the King France I Cannot Se on what grounes or authoruity thay have for So Doing, as I had agood Commision for tacking of Saiad Shipes, I Neiver thought of their Doing aney thing futher then oarding them out again & Sir I Cant help thincking if the Coart of France New how fair I am Now Distressed thay would Realive me at this time Sir I Left Nantes as Mr Williames thought it bettor that I should be out of the way I Continued Crausing Till the Second of this month my Stores being almost out was oblige to Cum to this port I have Now Fortey Eight Seamen besides offersors Down with the Small pox & No frind Nor a farthing to Supply my Self with Stores to proced on aNother Crause when my peple have Recvard their Sicknell, the ship thay have Tacking from me has ben my Last Dependance to fit my Versell for a Nother Crause But Sir with oute Sum Releaf must must lay up my Versell
It is Not In my power to Right the gentll oaners of my Versell the afair as I No Not on what foundashon thay have for tacking the Ships from us & Sir must beg you would favour me with a line2 & am Sir your Obt & Verey Humble Sarvent
James Babson
L, DNA, PCC, item 45, pp. 279-82 (M247, roll 59). Addressed: "To/Beniamen Franklen Esqr/In/Paris." Docketed: "Capt. Babsons Letter/to Doctr. Franklin/inclosed in Novr 30th. 1777."
1. Jamaicamen Clarendon and Hanover Planter; taken by Fanny and General Mercer, Massachusetts privateers.
2. On 30 Nov., Franklin wrote to Jonathan Williams: "Let Capt. Babson know that I receiv'd his Letters and have done all I can for him. That we shall endeavour to obtain the whole Value: but it will be a Work of Time, And that he must be careful how he attempts to put his mad Threats of making Reprisals in Execution unless he has a mind to hazard being hang'd for Piracy." Papers oJ'BenjaminFranklin 25: 215.
