Nantz 15 July 1778.
Samuel Tucker Esqr. Commander of the Continental Ship of War Boston actually at L Orient Sir
I had the pleasure of writing to you Yesterday to which I beg leave to refer, Yours of the 13 Inst1 is just now come to hand by which I see that my letter to Mr Puchelberg2 has been badly understood when you say that it mentioned that he was not to advance any Money for the Saylors it is true that such are my orders from the Honourable Commissioners but notwithanding I desired him to pay you as far as Ł6000” on acct. of the Prizes ‘till the sales came on, which I did not chuse should be made directly because that LOrient is a Port that makes no consumation of fish and that I wanted priorly to give advice to the Merchants here and at S Malos that this article might sell the most advantageously possible besides I expect by tomorrows Post Letters from the Hble Comissioners in answer to what I have wrote them respecting to the Duties on Coals and fish3 which are exorbitant—I am extreamly sorry to see that you are so impatient as I fear that the Custom house officers will insists upon the ordinary duties of the sale are once made, at all Events I have desired Mr Lee (who is in my house) to be kind enough to go and meet you in order to settle every thing together with you and Mr. Puchelberg mutually satisfactorily—said Mr. Lee is Son to the Honble R. H. Lee member of Congress and Nephew to the Comissioner you will therefore be pleased to receive him with your usual Complesance and I will thankfully acknowledge all the Civilities you will please to shew him—4 I hope if you have sold the Prizes as you mention (wch. notwithstanding you have no right to do) that it will have been done for the best advantage, as I am accountable for half the Value to the Honourable secret Comittee, and that I am in duty bound to make the most Money I can of them
I suppose it will not be long before you receive your orders from Paris to proceed here to join the Providence who will shortly be ready,5 I can only repeat to you that I shall be very happy to see you and shew you all the Politeness & Civilities in my Power—I am sincerely [&c.]
J.Dl. Schweighauser Commercial Agent for ye United States of America
LB, MH-H, Samuel Tucker Papers (MS Am 812). Addressed: “Samuel Tucker Esqr./Comander of the Continental/Ship of War ye. Providence/actually at/L’Orient/ favor of/Mr. Lee/J Dl.” Docketed: “Schweighauser/Cl Agent. Nantzs July/14.1778—/Copyd..”
1. See Tucker to Schweighauser, 13 July, above.
2. Schweighauser’s letter to Puchelberg has not been found.
3. In his letter of 13 July, Tucker had expressed concern regarding duties on the cargo from his captured prizes, which inclued, among other things, coals and dried fish. On Tucker’s prizes, see James Moylan to the American Commissioners in France, 8 July, above.
4. Twenty-year-old Thomas Lee had gone to live with Schweighauser and to become his clerk in order to learn business practices and French. Papers of Benjamin Franklin 27: 294n.
5. In a letter of 13 July, above, the American Commissioners in France instructed Tucker to cruise with Capt. Abraham Whipple and the Continental Navy frigate Providence.
