Papers of John Adams, volume 6
Yesterday Monsr. Le Comte de Fumel Governor of the Castle call'd at my Lodgings to inform me that Monsieur De Sartine in answer to the Letter he wrote had sent him Instructions to pay all the Honors due to Ships of War of forreign States to the Boston Frigate and to every other Vessel belonging and in the Service of the United States of America, requesting I would give him Notice before the Frigate Sails that he may prepare the return due to her Salute.1
Her Carreen will be finish'd this Evening. The Holidays will break in a little on the other workmen but shall be attentive to get every part executed with dispatch, we are without any Arrivals on this Coast since I had the Honor to write you Last. I am with due Respect your honors Most Obedient Servant
Bondfield had written to the Commissioners on 6 April, reporting that the Boston's salute to the castle at Bordeaux had not been returned because the officials there had received no instructions (
Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S.
, 1:390). On receiving the letter of the 6th and unaware that instructions had already been sent, the Commissioners apparently wrote to Sartine on 20 April (not found) about the matter, to which Sartine replied on 26 April (below).
Since exchange of salutes was an attribute of sovereignty, it is understandable that the authorities at Bordeaux without approval of the French government hesitated to take an action that could be interpreted as recognition of American independence. To a degree, however, the question was moot, for on 14 and 15 Feb., at Quiberon Bay, the Ranger and Independence had exchanged salutes, as had the privateer General Mifflin, at Brest, in the summer of 1777. Moreover, American ships had exchanged salutes at St. Croix and St. Eustatius as early as 1776, the latter incident provoking sharp British protests and ultimately the recall of the island's governor (Allen, Naval Hist. of the Amer. Revolution
, 1:159–160, 280–281, 338–341; Morison, John Paul Jones
, p. 128–130; Bemis, Diplomacy of the Amer. Revolution
, p. 122–123).
Your Excellencies favour of the 13 Instant I have duely received. You may depend that I shall not make any new Engagements without your express Orders. I apprehend I shall very soon satisfy every demand on the public Account, 'till when I must beg a Continuation of your Approbation of my Drafts on Mr. Grand. Had I not been prevented by Illness my Accounts 39 would have been at present before you. I hope in about a Fortnight or three Weeks to lay them before you in person.
I have hitherto employed the Workmen in repairing those of the Arms that required the least Repair, judging that their Value in America depended on their speedy arrival, and by this means I have now between 3 and 400 Cases ready. To finish the whole number compleat would I suppose require at least 2 Years. I have about 40 Men at Work every Day, and I pay them every monday morning, were the operation to be stopped, all these men must be sent at your Expence to their own Homes which are principaly at Leige about 200 Leagues from this, and the arms to remain in their present State would not be worth anything to the public; indeed if we can't find some method of sending them to America, they can do the Public as little good when repaired. When I come to Paris I will give you the best Information on this1 and many other Subjects which the sudden Departure of Mr. Deane may render necessary: During his presence you could be well informed of all that is transacted here. I will try to get Freight on board the American Vessells, but do not expect to do much at present.
I beg Mr. Adams' acceptance of my Congratulations on his safe arrival. I have the honour to be with the greatest Respect Your Excellencies most obedient & most humble Servant
P.S. The Letter on the other side was intended for the last Post, but was unfortunately too late. I have nothing new to communicate to your Excellencies and have the Honour to be as before.
For the outcome of this controversy, see Williams to the Commissioners, 3 July (below).