To Benjamin Franklin from John Dalton et al., 9 December 1779
From John Dalton et al.
ALS:8 American Philosophical Society
Coutances December the 9th 1779
Honored Sr,
We Received your Letter Dated the 28th, of November Whitch We have Shown to the gentelmen that Commited us To Prison But they Say that they Cannot Clear us untill you apply to the Great Admiral9 in Paris. We beg the favor of Your Honnour to apply to him as quick as Posible, for We are Worse hear then We Was In Mill Prison amonge our Enemies.
As for the Boat We Stole at tinmouth [Plymouth?] the 7th of November at 10 at Night and Came a way in her With an 8 Penney Loaf and twenty Apples and No Watter And We Went on board of a Brig Lying in the Harbour and Stoale a Compass and made The Best of our Way for france, the 9th of November at Eight at Night We Run a Shore Upon the Beach, Being Weake We Was Obliged To Leave her thoar, the Surfe Runing So high that Night, She Stove to peices.
We are very Sorry for our Mistake in the Town Name Before.
Honere’d Sir We Should Be Glad of an Answer as quick as Posible, So We Remain Your Humble Servants
Christopher Bubier
William Neal
John Pickworth
John Dalton
Francis Messervy
Israel Matthew,
P.S. The enclosed is the Advice to us from them that Committed us to Prison
Addressed: To / Dr: Franklin / in Paris
8. Or perhaps L. It is in the hand of the person who wrote and signed for the same group on Nov. 11, giving John Dalton’s name first.
9. The duc de Penthièvre, the only full admiral in the French navy. (There were three vice-admirals.)