John Bondfield to the American Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society
<Bordeaux, September 8, 1778: The privateer schooner Success
arrived this morning. Her master, Captain Attwood of Virginia,
reports d’Estaing sailed from Chesapeake Bay for New
York on July 9, leaving behind five frigates. When English
prisoners are brought here by privateers, your authority is not
invoked as to whether they should be set free or not, and the
French government doesn’t interfere. Neither do their courts
recognize cases between masters and their seamen. I suggested
earlier the advantages of all American vessels being
required to report to you. I am attentive to procuring as authentic
reports as I can on my own.>
630559 = 027-375b.html