426 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



he has the management of public business and that Mr. Williams pre- 

 tends to what he alone has authority for. Mr. Williams came hither 

 with the sole view of assisting Captain Jones in his affairs and has not 

 attempted to alter the channel the commercial part of the business has 

 taken. The sale of the " Lord Chatham " will probably be made by 

 the Admiralty, if not, it will fall into the hands of Mr. BersoU, by 

 whom the " Ranger " was furnished and to whom Captain Jones has ap- 

 plied for his present wants. The " Drake " is fitting to convey the 

 prisoners to America. Captain Jones's great object to secure the re- 

 lease of two hundred American prisoners in exchange for those he 

 captured ; possibility of effecting this exchange in France ; in that case 

 suggests their purchasing the " Drake " to carry their supplies to Amer- 

 ica. A. L. S. 4 P- XXXVII, 154. 



From Marc Le Fort. 1778. May 18. Marseilles. 



Enclosing an extract from a letter from Antoine Gautier, with in- 

 formation of the capture of the vessel, L'Elegante, Captain Collineau; 

 begs Franklin to write to the General Counsel or the Congress, at 

 Williamsburg, for a detailed account of what happened and whether 

 any part of the cargo or its value can be recovered. A. L. S. 5 p. ( In 

 French.) IX, 182. 



From John Vaughan. 1778. May 19. Bordeaux. 



Reasons why it would be more prudent for him to obtain an ap- 

 proved certificate of his nationality as an American. Departure of 

 the Boston. Report from Martinique of an American frigate being 

 blown up in an engagement with a sixty-four-gun ship ; only four 

 lives saved. News of the French, English and Spanish squadrons. 

 A. L. S. 3 p. IX, 183. 



From Chevalier de Bongars. 1778. May 19. Traillet par Eu. 



Asking for a commission in the army for a French gentleman of 

 noble birth. A. L S. 2 p. (In French.) LXII, 9. 



From du Buat. 1778. May 19. St. Malo. 



Anxious for news of his vessel, le Vicomte de Veaux, which left 

 L'Orient, December 31st, in company with Le Lyon, commanded by his 

 brother-in-law. A. L. S. I p. (In French.) IX, 184. 



