Papers of John Adams, volume 7

To Robert Montgomery

Gabriel de Sartine to the Commissioners

The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 25 November 1778 Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris Schweighauser, John Daniel The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser, 25 November 1778 Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris Schweighauser, John Daniel
The Commissioners to J. D. Schweighauser
Sir Passy Novr 25. 1778

In Answer to your Letter of the seventeenth Instant,1 We desire you 233would ship to America, all the Goods belonging to the United States, of every sort. And consequently to write for no more Workmen, but dismiss, immediately, all that remain if any.

We can give you no Directions about the Articles “entreposed” for the Coast of Guinea: because We understand nothing about the Matter. We neither understand, why, they were entreposed—nor what entreposing is.2

It is impossible for Us to apply to the Minister, without understanding the subject and knowing what Minister We are to apply to, and what Favour We are to apply for.

We leave it to your Judgment, to remove the salt Petre in the cheapest And best Manner for the Interest of the states.

LbC (Adams Papers).

1.

Not found.

2.

Schweighauser's meaning is no clearer to the editors than it was to the Commissioners, but “entreposed” may have been Schweighauser's attempt to anglicize the French word “entreposer,” which means to warehouse or store.