La Rochelle 30th. June 1781./.
Mr. Bourdot the Admiralty Interpreter here for the English
came to me yesterday, to show me a Letter he just received from
Mr. Mumford to inquire & let him know, whether Captn. Jos:
Conckling with his Brigg The Whim was gone from here,
when, and wether loaded for account of his owner (mr. Jos:
Packwood of New London) or was oblig'd to take freight, I can
give account of every particulars, since I was his correspondent
here being consign'd to me by my Friend mr. Et: Dechezeaux at
La Flotte on Isle Rez by whose assistance the Brigg & cargoe
were sav'd from the Coast at La Tranche.
I am sorry to observe that no captn. likely never met with such
Misfortunes and disapointements as Captn. Conckling, Your
Excellency was inform'd with his runing on the Rocks of Le
Grouin on the coast of La Tranche in Lower Poitou on the 23d
July 1780, which mr. Mumford knows since he was a passenger
on Board. The most unnecessary formality of the poor ignorant
officers of the Admiralty at Sables D'Olonnes to have referred
Captn. Conckling's case to Le Conseil des Prises, before allowing
him the Liberty of his Brigg & Cargoe (which no other officers
in any Port of the Kingdom would have done) tho' the papers
were very regular, the long time Le Conseil des prises was
about it, on which I advised Captn. Conckling to apply to Your
Excellency which he did by the Letter I wrote the 10th. August
last Sign'd by him & Captn. Raux, to which was pleased to
honour him with your Answer of 21st said month, covering
Monsr. De Sartine's answer of 19th. ditto by which this Minister
assured Your Excellency He had transmitted all the Papers to
the Conseil des prises in order for a speedy Dispatch but every
thing continued undone, which determined in October following
to send to paris Lieut. Pinkham to wait on Your Excellency
and it was in November only we could had the Tobacco brought
here from La Tranche, when so low price offered by the Farmers
Generals' Agent here on account of being Spoil'd by the Salt
water at La Tranche, that it would have been as well to give it
away therefore thought proper to wait 'till better price, and in
January last mr. G: L: De Stocker (a german born) mercht. here
bought it at 50: l.t. Hundred weight the less Spoil'd, So that it took
long time to pick out the worst of every Cask and finding at that
price it could not produce to free the Expences, Captn. Conckling
wrote Your Excellency on the 23d. January for your Protection to
obtain about 50 or 60 Tuns Freight for the French Fleet at Newport
& the Freight to be paid before going away from here, and
receiving no answer I wrote my Friend Mr. P.C. Lambert (Banker
vielle rue du Temple pres L'Egout) in Paris on the 17th. February
to wait on Your Excellency about it, But all in vain. Nothing
favourable could be obtain'd for a Good Freight So that Captn.
Conckling loaded for His kown account having had Several Bills on
Your Excellency paid to Said mr. Lambert, he bought & loaded on
board his Brigg the Whim for his account viz—
1508 Bushels Salt which came to him at 21 s. 9 d. clear of every
thing aboard the Ship per Bushel weighing 80 Lbs poids de marc
121½ Velts of Brandy about 3 l.t.: 13 s. 6 d. Tournois the Velts Clear
on board
585 Lbs Good Boë Thea [Bohea Tea], 2 l.t.: 15 s. Clear aboard
941 Lbs. German Steel at 10 s. 4 d. Tournois Clear on board—
200 quire Glasses 7 to 9 Inches at 4 s. per quire
Captn. Conckling promised me if he should arrive Safe at New
London he would offer to Treat with mr. Jos: Packwood honestly
about this Cargoe, for this owner will be at a very great Loss
to see his Brigg without any goods on board and even in Debt
with his Captain which is easily to Account Viz.
&a. | 11205 l.t.: 16 s. 9 d. |
Sables D'olonnes charges included | 8784:18.6 |
To charges on Tobacco in Rochelle | £854 l.t. | | : | — | | : | — |
captn Conckling's private account | 11932 | | : | 4: |
per Hundred weight | £30235 | | : | — | | : | — |
To passage Money & Freight &a | 5718 | | . | 7 | | :— |
To neat proceed of 1100 Small Staves | 208 | | . | 6 | | : |
I delivered Captn. Conckling to carry Mr. Packwood a General
account by articles of all the Disbursements by which he will
See it was impossible to do otherwise, and had it not been by the
great Vigilence of my Friend mr. Dechezeaux of La Flotte, the
Brigg & all would had been lost to all this Misery poor Captn
Conckling was Sick most all the time & His Crew troublesome
now & then, for once the Boatswain at the Head, all went to the
house where he Boarded, and insisted on Money or to be discharg'd
on which I waited on the Commissioner of the Navy (Le
Commissaire de la Marine) who had the Boatswain & two men
confin'd 'till Captn Conckling was pleased to have them out
again, this Captn. & I, have several time had opportunity to apply
here for redressemt. which plainly Show the Need of a Consul
or Vice Consul here for the Congress, I once wrote my friend
Mr. Lambert about it & desired him to Beseech Your Excellency
if any appointed for this place that I may be the person. I do re-iterate
Your Excellency my Services for that Purpose & No one
will be More acknowledgfull than me, if this favour Granted me
I hope my being born here will not be an obstacle.— I have the
Honour to be with due Respect Sir Your most obedient & very
Humble Servant
His Excellency Dr. Franklin at Passy ./.