William Bingham to the American Commissioners
ALS and AL: American Philosophical Society
<St. Pierre, Martinique, May 29, 1778: I have written Congress
for permission to draw on you; if I do not hear I shall have to
draw for 100,000 livres to honor my commitments. Congress
owes me much more, but if I receive payment in goods I shall
be hard put to it to dispose of them; the likelihood of war has
virtually stopped trade here. I must report the loss of the Randolph
and Alfred. The latter was captured because of the cowardice
of Capt. Thompson, in the Raleigh, who refused to assist
her. The former was destroyed because of Capt. Biddle’s intemperate
courage in attacking the Yarmouth, 64; only four of
the crew were saved.>
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