Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 6

The Commissioners to Sartine

From James Lovell
The Commissioners to Vergennes, 16 May 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris JA Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de The Commissioners to Vergennes, 16 May 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Vergennes, Charles Gravier, Comte de
The Commissioners to Vergennes
Sir Passy May 16. 1778

We had this Morning the Honour of receiving your Excellency's Letter of the 13. Instant relative to the Boston Frigate.

We beg leave to assure your Excellency that the Frigate called the Boston, now at Bourdeaux, is a Ship of War belonging to the 13 United States of North America, built and maintained at their Expence, by the Honourable Congress.

We therefore, humbly presume that his Majestys royal Determination on the Representation of the Farmers General, will be according to the Usage of Nations in such Cases, and your Excellency may be assured that Captain Tucker will conform to that Determination with the utmost Respect.1

We have the honour to be Your Excellency's most obedient & most humble Servants B Franklin Arthur Lee John Adams

RC (Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol., E.-U., vol. 3)

124 1.

Vergennes replied on 17 May (Dft, Arch. Aff. Etr., Paris, Corr. Pol., E.U., vol. 3), stating that the King had decided that the Boston “éprouveroit le même traitement qui est d'usage a l'egard de ceux detoutes les autres puissances” (would receive the same treatment ordinarily given to those of all other nations) and that the Farmers General would be informed of the decision.