Gentlemen at Nantes to the American
Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society
<Nantes, January 28, 1779: The memorial from the undersigned
American gentlemen, merchants and commanders of
vessels at Nantes, shows that merchants now incur an inconceivable
expense in outfitting their vessels, many of which
may not sail because of the unjust conduct of the seamen and
lack of an official to arbitrate disputes between American captains
and sailors. Seamen are encouraging one another to
leave their vessels, taking their two months’ advance, and enter
French service. The memorialists have applied to the Commissary
of Marine who, though full of zeal, had no jurisdiction
and referred them to you, as did Schweighauser. According to
the 29th article of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, consuls
and agents are to be appointed in each port. They request
your Honors to appoint consuls and to invest someone with
the power to arbitrate these cases. They refer you to the enclosed
case of Josiah Darrell.>
631440 = 028-434b.html