Robert Niles to the American Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society
<Nantes, January 22, 1779: When I arrived here Mr. Dobrée
informed me that, according to you, I claimed to have been
captured by a privateer which was partially owned by his father.
He asked me for a written statement of what the captain
had said, but I preferred to send it to you, as a representative
of the country to which I am accountable. I shall now relate
the matters, and am prepared to swear to them. Captain de
Lagarde of the privateer cutter Mars accidentally told me that
Dobrée of Guernsey was one of his owners. I told him that I
knew Dobrée’s son in Nantes, who had married Schweighauser’s
daughter; this he confirmed. I told him that I would acquaint
the commissioners of this as soon as I arrived in
France. These are the undeniable facts.>
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