——— to the American Commissioners
AL: American Philosophical Society
<On board the Boston, Port Louis, July 11, 1778: Jerome Cazneau,
sergeant of marines, obtained shore leave and persuaded
the other Frenchmen aboard to quit the ship. He did
everything in his power to alienate them from returning to
duty. The General, though under orders to assist us, gave
them the choice of staying or quitting, even though he was
reminded that anyone who overstayed his leave for forty-eight
hours without excuse forfeited all prize money. The trouble
came from the complaints of a few Frenchmen about the
strictness of Mr. Reed, our first lieutenant, and Mr. Bates, our
third. We certify that the French have been indulged beyond
what our regulations allow, and that those officers have the
good will of every one else on board; thereto we append our
names. The General was too partial to his countrymen to
allow those officers to vindicate or even speak for themselves,
and reminded Capt. Tucker that we were within range of his
cannon.>
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