Versailles, 15 July 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:161–162 (JA's English translation). For the French text, see Adams Papers, Microfilms, Reel No. 94. Sartine's letter concerned James Niggins and John Selby, prisoners at Nantes, who claimed to be American seamen pressed into service on an English privateer after the capture of their vessel, the ship Hancock. Sartine wished to know if the two men were known to the Commissioners as Americans and thus deserving of release.

Passy, 16 July 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:164. The Commissioners told Sartine that the congress and the authorities in Massachusetts would be notified of his request, but that the presence of British warships on the Newfoundland and Halifax stations might make assistance to St. Pierre and Miquelon difficult. They also enclosed a letter from J. D. Schweighauser (not found) regarding problems with the prizes taken by American frigates and requested that Sartine permit the prisoners taken by the Boston, Providence, and Ranger to be confined in French prisons at American expense until they were either exchanged or sent to America.

Passy, 16 July 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:163. The Commissioners notified Schweighauser of Thomas Simpson's appointment to command the Ranger and ordered him to provide Simpson with whatever he might need to prepare for sea. The Commissioners also informed him that the British prisoners were to be left behind and mentioned their effort to have them housed in French prisons.

Passy, 16 July 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:162–163. The Commissioners informed Whipple of Thomas Simpson's appointment to command the Ranger as part of a force under Whipple's overall direction. He was ordered to make every effort to take or destroy the Jersey and Guernsey privateers and to leave his prisoners with whomever J. D. Schweighauser might direct.