Papers of John Adams, volume 6

333 The Commissioners to the Navy Board for the Eastern Department, 29 July 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris JA Navy Board for the Eastern Department The Commissioners to the Navy Board for the Eastern Department, 29 July 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John Navy Board for the Eastern Department

The Commissioners to the Navy Board for the Eastern Department

Gentlemen Passi July 29 1778

We have received your Favour of the Eighth of June, by the Hand of Captain Barns of the schooner Dispatch, together with the Packetts, forwarded by the Hon. Council of the Mass. Bay.1 We, have according to your desire given orders to Mr. Schweighauser at Nantes to furnish the Captain, with such supplies as may be necessary to provide for his Return, and to defrey his Expences there.2 We have given him an order on our Banker for a Months Pay, to himself and his Crew, and a Gratification to him of one hundred Dollars, in lieu of Primage, which as you inform Us, is according to Contract.3

We thank you for the Gazettes, and shall always be obliged to you for similar favours, which are not less beneficial to the public, than amusing to Us. We have the honour to be, with great Respect, &c.

We cannot avoid expressing our Surprize at the monstrous Sum to be advanced here in silver and Gold to the officers and Crew of this Vessell, if it was really the Intention of the Honourable Board that it should be paid so—We wish the Board had Specified the sums to be paid to each Person.

LbC (Adams Papers).

The Commissioners also wrote a letter to the Massachusetts Council on this date offering nothing not in their other letters to America at this time (LbC, Adams Papers).

For the Commissioners to Schweighauser, 29 July (LbC, Adams Papers), see their letter to the Committee of Commerce of 29 July, note 1 (above).

This order, dated 29 July, was for 2,108.15 livre (Accounts, 30 June, above).

John Ayres to the Commissioners, 29 July 1778 Ayres, John First Joint Commission at Paris JA John Ayres to the Commissioners, 29 July 1778 Ayres, John First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John

John Ayres to the Commissioners

Gentlemen Bordoux July 29th. 1778

I arived Yesterday in 26 days from Boston,1 with a packet for Your Excellencys With Positive Orders to deliver the Same with my Own Hands, which should have done with greatest Pleasure, but my Ill State of Health Prevents me that Honour. Therefore have desir'd Mr. Texier, a friend off Mr. Bondfield, to take the Charge, Which he Readily Accepted, and make no doubt will Come Safe to hand. I trust I shall grow Well Soon, and as I have a Commission, as Captain in the Continental Navy, if Anything 334turns Out, shall be glad to be Employd in my Own line of Duty, if not, Shall Wait Your Orders, and have the Packet Allways Ready. I am with the Greatest Respect Your Hble Servt.

John Ayres

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “The Honble. Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee & John Adams, Commissioners from Congress at Paris Pr. favour of Mr. Pre. Texier with a Packet from America”; additional note by Ayres: “The Gentlemans Name is Pauly, the Bearer of this. Mr. Texier did not Set off for Parris, so was Disopointed in him”; docketed, not by JA: “Capt Ayres Bordeaux 29 July 78.”

Ayres' vessel was the Arnold Packet.