William Hill Sargeant to the American
Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society
<Bordeaux, July 18, 1778: I lately arrived in a fast-sailing vessel
from Virginia. The owners could not arm her there and
gave me power to do so here; I therefore ask a commission for
that purpose. During most of the war I served the state in a
small trading ship. When she was condemned I took command
of the Dispatch, a brigantine with eight four-pounders
and a crew of twenty-five owned by St. George Tucker of
Williamsburg. Mr. Delap will stand security for me. I should
have visited you by now, to pay my respects and learn whether
you had stores for the ship, if I had not had such trouble in
keeping order among an American crew in this port. I shall be
ready to sail in a week or so, and will await your orders.>
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