[Extract]

Monseigneur

j'ay eu l'honneur de vous rendre compte que L'eloingnement ou jetais de painbeuf m'avait determiné avant L'arrivée de M^r. de Rozily, de prier M^r. dunerat commandant Le Courtier de Reclamer un matelot déserteres du navire marchand Le pacifique et Engager pour Servis abord de Bricq insurgent L'indépandence¹ l dans La visitte qu'a fait M^r. dunerat abord de ce Briq il n'a pas trouvé ce matelot, mais un autre matelot francois et un italien ont Reclamés sa protection, il Les En a Retiré, et me Les a Envois. Le matelot francois que j'ay interrogé, ma donne pour Raison, que il Etant Engagé pour travailles au Rearmement de ce briq il n'avait jemais Eu L'intention d'y faire campagne mais que Le travail fini on L'y Retenoit de force: L'italien provenait d'une prise que ce Briq avait fait dans Sa traversé, et qu'on y Retenait de force comme Etranger pour faire partie de l'equipage. j'ay Renviré Le matelot francois a M^r. de Rozily pour verifier Sa déposition tres douteuse Le connoissant pour un Sujet tres Leger. et En outre pour quil Le fit paier des La Solde qu'il a du gagner pendant le tems quil a travaillé abord de cet insurgent Cel que Le prescrit Lordonnance. quand a Litalien, j'ay jugé que Sa plainte devoit Regarder Lamirauté et En consequance je Lay Renviré a mettre Sa plainte devant ce tribunal, me Renfermant dans mes instructions qui ne sont mention que des matelots français; mais, Monseigneur, il me Seroit Essentiel d'avoir vos ordres pour ce qui concerne de tels prisonniers même Les nationnaus de La vieille angleterre que Les Batiments de guerre amériquains retiennent a Leur bord et que La visitte que vous m'avez prescrit dy faire me met aportée de découvrir: Le commissionnaire anglois pour ces deux batiments du commerce Rendus a Sa nation² a desja voulu men parler a litre de Reclamation; il En fera Le Raport a la fregatte angloise que vous m'annoncer devoit Entrer En Riviere, Le capitaine fera vis a vis de moi toutes Les demarches qu'il Sera Engagé a faire; jay Eludé La plainte du Commissionaire En lui Repondant que je ne crorois pas aux prisonniers de guerre que dans nos ports il ne Sagissait que de Commerce et que je devois penser que ces hommes detenus aux fers faisaient partie des Equipages, [illeg.] qu'on punissoit [s'etans?] mal conduits, que c'etait une police interieure des Batiments et que je Lessais aux Etrangers La liberté de l'exerces chez Eux-même.

j'ay a ce mouillage dans ce moment un batiment insurgent purement de commerce, qui se propose de partir, mais Lannonce des fregattes angloises Linquiete, il Est venu pour Reclamer deux hommes de son Equipage, qui sont malgaches d'origine, qui lui ont deserté, il Les croiait abord des batiments anglois. je Les ay fait chercher et on ne Les a pas trouvé, ces hommes En partant ont voler plusieurs Effets a leur Capitaine Samuel Smith capitaine de ce navire de boston nomme L'adams³ de 300 tonnés.

j'ay scu quil y avait une auberge a painbeuf ou Les insurgents Entrenaient et nourissaient plusieurs matelots francois, quils se proposaient de prendre a la mer devant Les faire Sortir de la Riviere sur des barges du pais, j en ay donné avis a M^r. Louvel⁴ et de plus Loin du depart de ces insurgents armée En guerre, Si je ne puis appareiller nesi même pour Les veilles a Leur sortie je Les seray suivre par le Lougre et je Lui Recommenderay de ne Lesser accestes ces batiments par aucune Barge.

permettes moi, Monseigneur de vous representer que cette recherche de nos matelots tres avantageuse dun coté, peut Rebuter Et Eloingner de nos ports tires Les navires ameriquains, qui pour Le moment nous prouere un commerce tres utile; lexpultion des prises est desja une perte Considerable et je pense que votre intention devoit de tollerer quelques abus autant quil seroit possible de ne pas S'en apercevais. je voudroit bien meriter votre confiance et Recevoir vos ordres particulier a ce Sujet....

a Bord de la danaé à St nazaire
ce 18 X^bre 1777

[Translation]

My Lord

I had the honor of reporting to you that the distance I was from Paimboeuf made me decide, before the arrival of M. de Rozily, to ask M. Dunerat command ing Le Courtier to claim a seaman who deserted from the merchant ship Le Pacifique and was hired to serve on board the insurgent brig Independence.¹ M. Dunerat did not find this seaman on board the brig when he inspected it, but another French seaman and an Italian requested his protection; he did remove them from it and sent them to me. The frenchman that I questioned explained that he had engaged to work on the outfitting of the brig without any intention to sign on for a cruise, but that when the work was completed, he was forcibly retained. The Italian came from a prize made by the brig during its crossing and was forcibly detained as a foreigner to be part of the crew. I have sent the French seaman back to M. de Rozily in order to verify his very dubious deposition, knowing him to be a very thought less subject, and in addition to have him paid the balance due him, earned during the time he worked on board the insurgent ship, as prescribed by ordinance. As to the Italian, I decided that the Admiralty should hear his complaint, and in consequence I sent him to place his complaint before that tribunal, referring to my instructions that only mention French seamen. But, My Lord, it appears to me to be essential that I have your orders affecting such prisoners, even the nationals of old England which American war vessels hold on board, and whose discovery is made possible by the boarding and inspection you prescribed for me. The English com missioner for the two merchant vessels returned to his nation² has already wanted to speak with me about a reclamation. He will report about it to the English frigate that you informed me should be entering the river. The captain will make towards me all the approaches that he will be engaged to make. I have dodged the com plaints of the commissioner by responding to him that I do not believe that there are any prisoners of war in our ports. He only knew of those of commerce, and I should think that those men detained in chains were part of crews being punished as malcontents; that that was a policing within the ships, and that I left to foreigners the liberty to exercise it among themselves.

At this time I have at this mooring a purely merchant insurgent vessel which is readying to depart, but news of English frigates makes them anxious. [The master] came to reclaim two Madagascar-born crewmen who deserted, and whom he believes are on board English vessels. I had a search for them made and they were not found. In departing, these men stole several personal belongings from their master, Captain Samuel Smith of this vessel from Boston, the Adams³ of 300 tons.

I learned that there is an inn at Paimboeuf where the insurgents are lodging and boarding several French seamen, whom they intend to pick up at sea by having them go down the river on local barges. I have informed M. Louvel⁴ of it and further of the departure of the armed insurgents. If I am unable to sail, or even to watch them at their sailing, I will follow them with a lugger, and I will recommend to him not to allow any barge to have access to them.

Permit me, My Lord, to remind you that this search for our seamen which is on one hand very advantageous could repulse and keep away from our ports the American vessels, which are at this time procuring us a very profitable trade; the expulsion of prize vessels is already a considerable loss and I think that your intention would be to tolerate a few abuses so long as it is possible to keep them unseen. I desire to merit your confidence and to receive your private orders on this subject....

On board la Danaé, St. Nazaire,
18 Dec. 1777

Kergariou