Give me leave to remind Your Excellency That before I Set
out from Paris to go to Marseille to take the Command of the
heureux after Call’d the Flamand loaded with brass guns and
mortars, bumbs Shels, balls, Small arms and Powder, I told
Silas Deane Esqr that I wanted to pay my respect to you and
wanted Your acknowlegment on my Departure, accordingly
when you Came to the City, he Shew’d you the Commission
and the Sailing orders he gave me, and beside told you that
Mr Monthieu having by Mr Deane orders offer’d me that command,
I ask’d twelve thousand livers gratification beside the
Monthly pay Expences &c, that Mr Monthieu advis’d me to
See Mr Deane, who told me that my demand was but just and
if I would Confide in the generosity of the Congress he
doubted not but I Should be better rewarded than that came
to if I succeeded: You approved of my Pretention and trust, I
Set off Staid five month in Marseille, at last went away and
arriv’d Safe at Portsmouth in Hamshire according to my instructions
where I delivered the Ship and Cargo to Mr Defrancy
as was agreed: I wrote to the Honourable Congress
Sent them the letters I was instructed with and waited at Boston
all the winter at my own expence without receiving any
Answer; in the beginning of April I went to Congress where I
Petitionned that Hounorable Body was heard, ask’d Several
memoirs on differents subjects about the Navy: His Excellency
Hry Laurens Esqr Sent me the following piece to be addapted
to my Commission
In Congress May 9th. 1778
Resolved that a Sum of Money be paid to Captain Landais,
and that the Marine Commetee be directed to report a Pecuniary
Consideration adequate to his Services. Resolved that
Capt. Landais be Continued as a Captain in the Navy of the
united States.
Copy
the Second piece I had was this
Resolved
That Capt Peter Landais be appointed to Command the
new Frigate, Called the Alliance
Congress having appointed you to Command the Frigate
alliance you are to repair to Boston and there to apply to the
Honble the Continental Navy Board who will put that Vessel
under your care. We doubt not your best exertions will be
used in getting her Speedily fitted and manned for the Sea in
which business you will be aided by the Navy Board whose
orders in every respect you are to Obey.
You are to proceed as far as Portsmouth in new hamshire
and there give your advice respecting the construction of the
56 guns Ship now on the Stocks in that Port.
We have directed the navy Board to pay you the ballance of
your wages, and have agreed that the Consideration of a gratuity
to be made you be deferred until we Shall be enabled by
Consulting with Silas Deane Esqr to judge with propriety
what Sum will be adequate to your Services.
Copie of the original
Your Excellency may See by the above pieces that it was
Resolved that I Should be gratifyed but I have not, for Mr
Deane has been long time in Congress but had done nothing
yet with that Body before my departure. I expected allways
that with my Sailing orders I Should receive a Credit upon
france of the Sum they Should think proper to allow me but
was fully disapointed; my monthly pay is due Since the 4th
July last, I have Sold all my Clothes and spent the money I
carried with me and had but 9 guineas leaft when I came here.
This is my Present Condition. I am with the Greatest Respect
Your Excellency’s Most obeidgent Humble Servant