TO M. DE SARTINE.
Passy, September 27th, 1773.
Sir,
We have received the letter, which your Excellency did us the honor to write to us on the 21st inst. relative to the Isabella, retaken from a Guernsey privateer, by Captain M'Neil, in the General Mifflin.
It is extremely probable, that Count d'Estaing has retaken several American vessels from the English; we shall no doubt soon have intelligence what has been done in those cases.
We have advised Captain M'Neil to leave one third of the produce of the Isabella in the hands of such public officer, as your Excellency shall point out, to be repaid to him, or restored to the original proprietor of the Isabella hereafter, according to the rule which, shall be adopted by the two nations, and to this Captain M'Neil has agreed. Captain M'Neil will have the honor of delivering this letter to your Excellency, and is ready to give your Excellency any assurance you may require of him, and to take the charge of your despatches respecting this affair; if your Excellency is disposed to do him the honor to trust them to his care.
We have the honor to be, &c.
B. FRANKLIN,
ARTHUR LEE,
JOHN ADAMS.