Richard Grinnell to the American Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society
<Dunkirk, July 9, 1778: I arrived here last August after serving
on the Belle Isle, 74, as a midshipman impressed at sea; a London
merchant got me my discharge. I went to Nieuwpoort,
and told Mr. Nesbitt that I wanted to be commissioned in
Paris and then sail for Brazil to destroy the London fleet there.
He put me in touch with Mr. Coffyn, who took my papers and
advised me to write you. This I did, but after hearing nothing
for two months accepted his offer of a vessel to go whaling off
Brazil. I wrote to London, got ten Americans, and took four
on the voyage with me; Mr. Coffyn sent the rest to Nantes. He
wants me to go again, but I will not until I hear from the
bearer, Capt. Amiel, whether I can serve my country. Mr. Nesbitt
asks me to get as many Americans as possible from London;
I think a number will be able to escape and come by way
of Holland.
True or not, I heard today that my brother, William Grinnell,
first lieutenant on the Columbus when she engaged the
Glasgow, is now at Brest in command of a frigate.
Please let me know how to proceed. I have promised Capt.
Amiel to do nothing until I hear from him.>
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