Nantz 5 July 1778
Sir
Having been informed by my Correspondent at LOrient M Puchelberg & Co. of your arrival at Port Louis with four Prizes1 of which I joyfully congratulate you the purport of this serves to advise you that having been named Continental Agent for the United American States through out this Province of Brittany that I am to have solely the direction of all Comercial Affaires belonging to them and provide their Ships of War with necessaries & refreshments and likewise dispose of their Prizes as I am actually doing for the Providence Cap Whipple here & the Ranger Cap Jones at Brest in consequence of which you will then be pleased to apply to the above said Correspondents who form a house of business which I have established there with other Partners & they will render you all the services in their Power—I will myself meet you there or send some body from my Counting-house to see that you are properly provided as you are the first who has put in there since my Agentcy$ Should there be any unforseen difficulties I shall take or send my Comission duely signed by the Honourable Comissioners at Paris—Much at your Service I have the honor to be [&c.]
J. Dl. Schweighauser Continental Agent
P.S.
Since the above I have received a letter from Mr. Moylan2 I write to him by the present occasion & doubt not but my letter will be sufficient to convince him of the extent of my Comission—he has kindly inclosed me your letter to him3 by which I see your intention of coming here to join Cap Whipple as you might now be ready to leave lorient & knowing you have been thoroughly supplied at Bordeaux I have resolved not to go or send any body as my above Correspondents will equally advantageously dispose of your Prizes.
I long to have the honour of seing you here to assure you how sincerely I am—as above—
J.D.S.
L, MH-H, Samuel Tucker Papers (MS Am 812). Addressed: “Saml: Tucker Esqr./Comander of the Continental/Ship of War the Boston/actually/at L’Orient.” Docketed: “Schweighauser/Conl Agent/Nantz July 5th & 6th/Coppyd..”
1. Two of the prizes captured by Boston, the brig Elizabeth and an unidentified Scottish brig, arrived at Port Louis on 5 July; the third prize, brig Britannia, arrived there on 14 July; the fourth prize, brig John & Rebecca, Tucker had sent to Boston, not France.
2. James Moylan’s letter to Schweighauser has not been found; presumably it was similar to Moylan’s letter to the American Commissioners in France, 3 July, above
3. See Tucker to Moylan, 3 July, above.