From [Jean-Georges?] du Buat
ALS: American Philosophical Society
<St. Malo, May 19, 1778, in French: At the end of last year I
sent two expeditions to America, of which one arrived safely
at Charleston in March. No news has come of the other, and I
am extremely anxious. My ship is the Vicomte de Vaux, twenty-four
guns and a crew of ninety commanded by the Sieur Donat
de la Garde; she left Lorient on December 31 with the
Lion (formerly the Beaumont), forty guns, commanded by
my brother-in-law, the Sieur Michel. The two were to keep
together for mutual protection. I assume that if they were
taken we should have had news; such ships would have made
a stir in England. Their safe arrival, on the other hand, would
probably have done the same in America. I should be most
grateful to know anything you do about their fate.>
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