Sartine to the American Commissioners
Copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two), Library
of Congress
<Versailles, September 16, 1778, in French: I have received
your letter concerning the French ship Isabelle recaptured by
the privateer General Mifflin. The naval ordnance of 1681 assigns
captains of recaptured vessels a third of their value if
retaken within 24 hours. American privateers in France benefit
from these provisions assuming that conditions of reciprocity
obtain for French privateers in American ports. Americans
may prefer French to British law which awards a higher proportion
to the original proprietor. The law, however, may not
be applicable in the present affair of the Isabelle. The French
proprietor claims his vessel as retaken from pirates; he offers
to pay the American privateer one third its value. In all likelihood
the Guernsey privateer had no letter of marque. The
issue must be submitted to a court of law. At any rate I await
your opinion, in case our two nations are subject to different
laws on the matter.>
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