Continental Committee for Foreign Affairs to Massachusetts Council, May 19, 1778

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York Town [Pa.] May [19]¹ 1778

Gentlemen

The Navy-board² having been directed to keep two Packet-boats ready for your Orders,³ we now send to your Care very important Dispatches for France, which you are requested to give in Charge to a trusty Captain, to deliver with his own Hand to our Commissioners at Paris.⁴ Your Wisdom will dictate pointed Orders for conveying the Packets without Injury, with Secresy & with Dispatch; but, for sinking them in Case the Vessel should be unfortunately taken. We are respectfully Gentlemen [&c.]

Richard Henry Lee⁵
James Lovell⁶

L, M-Ar, Mass. Archives Collection, vol. 199 (Revolution Letters, 1778), fol. 145. Addressed on cover: “Honble/Council of Massachusetts-Bay.” Notation on cover: “(on public Service)/York Town/May 19th.” Addressed below close: “Honble Council/ Massachusetts-Bay.” Docketed: “Letter from the Hon./Richard Henry Lee &/James Lovell—/May 1778—.”

1. Date taken from cover of letter. The committee sent similar letters this date to Gov. Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut and Continental Agent John Langdon of New Hampshire. DNA, PCC, item 79, fols. 230, 232 (M247, roll 105).

2. Continental Navy Board of the Eastern Department at Boston.

3. See Continental Marine Committee to Continental Navy Board of the Eastern Department, 5 May, above.

4. The Committee for Foreign Affairs on 19 May sent three packets containing copies of the ratified Franco-American treaties to the Massachusetts Council, which entrusted them to Capt. Corbin Barnes on 9 June. PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 53, no. 68.

5. Richard Henry Lee was chairman of the Continental Marine Committee.

6. James Lovell was a member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs.

Document Information

Date

1778 May 19

Volume

Volume 12

Series

American Theatre from April 1, 1778 to May 31, 1778

Naval Documents of the American Revolution

Continental Committee for Foreign Affairs to Massachusetts Council, May 19, 1778

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