Sartine to the American Commissioners
Copies: Library of Congress (two of each), Massachusetts Historical Society
<Versailles, July 18, 1778, in French: Letters from Lorient tell
of the trouble between the commander of the Boston and the
French volunteers and sailors in his crew, of whom twenty-eight—
twenty-five volunteers and three apprentices—have
been sent ashore. Their grievance was against the first lieutenant
and two other officers, who apparently mistreated them.
The facts came to the notice of the commissary and of M. de
La Touche de Tréville, chef d’escadre, who put in at Lorient in
the course of operations. The latter had also personal complaints,
which he put before the Captain on boarding the frigate.
When the men were landed the Captain did what he could
to restore their possessions, which had been pillaged by the
crew; they had difficulties, however, over their treatment.
They claim shares in two prizes sent to Lorient, but not in two
others sent to America. They were specifically enlisted in Bordeaux
for a cruise, which the Captain insists extended to Boston;
that was not, they say, in the articles. You should give
orders in the matter to avoid the expense of taking it to the
admiralty court. Let me know what you want done, so that I
may tell the commissary. He writes that he has offered the
Captain all possible facilities for enlisting new volunteers.
p.s. Mr. Schweighauser informs me that his agent in Brest is
having trouble with the admiralty in selling the Ranger’s
prizes. I am writing to have the trouble stopped, and am so
informing Mr. Schweighauser.>
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