Item 42: Letter from Chevalier Anne-César de la Luzerne to “Monsieur le Cher de Luxembourg” [Anne Paul Emmanuel Sigismond de Montmorency-Luxembourg] [French Language] (Removed to Black Box #1), 1782 September 6
Item — Box: 2, Folder: 42
Dates
- Created: 1782 September 6
Creator
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Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
Access:
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Extent
1 items
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Fair; water damage on corners, torn corner
Measurements:
12 ½ in. x 8 in. (closed); 16 in. x 12 ½ in. (open)
Description:
The following item is a letter sent from Chevalier Anne-César de la Luzerne to Chevalier Anne Paul Emanuel Sigismond de Montmorency Luxembourg, later the Prince of Luxembourg, on September 6, 1782, concerning the frigate l’Indien, also known as the South Carolina. This item concerns Captain Alexander Gillon, who commanded the ship, and his actions over the last several months. Luzerne starts out by stating that he has been watching over the South Carolina for Luxembourg, reminding Captain Gillon to contact Luxembourg, however Captain Gillon had not sent any replies. Luzerne spoke to the representatives of the state of South Carolina in order to get an answer, but as they had no jurisdiction over the captain, they could only pass the word along. Gillon responded with a letter outlining that, though he agreed to share ¼ of all catches made by the South Carolina, the delays due to Luxembourg have cost so much that the allotted amount of catches would not be enough to cover the costs of maintenance and pay. Luzerne then explains that the attached letter is a translation of Gillon’s response. Luzerne wished to prosecute Captain Gillon, but upon speaking to his sailors, found that those who had previously sued him for wages earned nothing for their efforts. Luzerne ends the letter by explaining how it would be a waste of money and time to press charges, because the costs of the lawsuit in America were immense. The South Carolina was a frigate built for U.S. commissioners in France, chartered by the Duke of Luxembourg, likely referring to Chevalier Anne Paul de Luxembourg. In 1780, she was chartered to the state of South Carolina represented by Captain Gillon, where she was used to capture British ships in the American Revolutionary with ¼ of all profit going to Luxembourg. Luxembourg filed a civil suit against Gillon in November 1782 and won. Gillon was arrested and escaped without bail to Charleston, South Carolina, where the suit was brought into debate (Cutting v. South Carolina), with deliberations lasting another 14 years, eventually making it to the Supreme Court. This suit was initiated by creditors including Jean B. Cutting, who sought repayment for funds owed by the state of South Carolina to the ship’s financiers. The claims were not fully settled until 1856, when it was dismissed by the Supreme Court on the grounds of sovereign immunity, in that the state of South Carolina could not be sued by private individuals.
Location:
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Transcription:
[first page]
A[sic] [À] Philadelphie le 6. 7bre. 1782 .
Monsieur
trente Cinq jusee(?) trente 8
Dès le moment de l'arriveé[sic] [l'arrivée] de M. Gillon ici je me suis occupé de vos interets[sic] [intérêts] et je l’ai pressé de vous rendre compte du montant des prises(?) qu’il a faites avec la South Carolina; Je n’ai pu obtenir déclaircissement[sic] [d'éclaircissements] des(?) bal(?) de lui. Je lui ai écris[sic] [écrit] deux lettres qui sont demeurés sans reponse[sic] [réponse] satisfaisante. Je me suis adressé aux Delegues[sic] [Délégués] de l'Etat[sic] [l'État] de la Carolina en Congrès, mais comme ils n’ont aucune autorité sur lui ce n’est pas sans peine qu'ils l’ont engagé à me fournir quelques éclaircissements qui ne sont pas plus satisfaisan[t]. M. Gillon en convenu enfin que le quart des prises(?) quil[sic] [qu'il] ferait devoir vous appartenir, mais il a ajouté que le préjudice que lui avaient cause huit mois de délais resultant[sic] [résultant] de votre fait n'était point payé par le produit des quart de ces prisere[sic] [prises]. Yl[sic] [Il] prétend même que vous etes[sic] [êtes] convenu avec lui de lui tenir compte de ces delais[sic] [délais]. La traduction ci[-]jointe d’une lettre qu’il m’a écrite hier vous instruira
M. le Ch[evali]er. De Luxembourg
[second page]
plus particulièrement de ses vues. J'étais résolu à faire poursuivre le M. Gillon en justice; mais j’ai été informé que des propres matelots français et autres qui l’avaient attaqué pour le payement de leurs gages n’avaient pas obtenir satisfaction. Je me borne écrire(?) à vous informer de ces circonstances, afin que vous puissiez prendre vis-à-vis de M. Gillon les mesures que vous jugerez nécessaires. Je vous prie d'etre[sic] [d'être] bien persuadé que je ferai de mon coté[sic] [côté] tout ce qui dependra[sic] [dépendra] de moi pour vous procurer satisfaction. Mais je vous avoue que j’y vois peu d'apparences. Les frais de procedure[sic] [procédure] sont immenses ici et c’est encore un des motifs qui m’ont empêché de porter cette affaire devant les tribunaux. J’ai l’honneur d'etre[sic] [d'être] avec le plus sincère attachement[sic] [attachment] Monsieur Votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur Le Che[valier] de la Luzerne [signature]
Translation:
[first page] To Philadelphia on the 6th of September, 1782
Sir
thirty five. Jusee(?) Thirty 8
From the moment of Mr. Gillon's arrival here, I have been taking care of your interests and I have urged him to give you an account of the amount of catches he has made with South Carolina; I could not get any clarification from him. I wrote him two letters which remain unanswered. I have addressed the delegates of the State of Carolina in Congress, but as they have no authority over him, it is not without difficulty that they have induced him to furnish me with some clarifications which are not more satisfactory. Mr. Gillon finally agreed that a quarter of the catches he would make should belong to you, but he added that the damage caused to him by eight months of delay resulting from what you had done did not appear to be paid by the product of the quarter of these catches. He even claims that you have agreed with him to take into account these delays. Attached is a translation
M. le Ch[evali]er. De Luxembourg
[second page]
of a letter he wrote to me yesterday to inform you more particularly of his views. I was resolved to have M. Gillon prosecuted; but I have been informed that some of the French and other sailors who had sued him because the payment of their wages had not been able to obtain satisfaction. I am just writing to inform you of these circumstances, so that you may take the measures you deem necessary with regard to M. Gillon. I beg you to be well persuaded that I will do everything in my power to give you satisfaction. But I must admit that I see little of it. The costs of the proceedings are immense here and this is another of the reasons that prevented me from bringing this case before the courts. I have the honor to be with the most sincere attachment, Monsieur Your very humble and very obedient servant Le Che[valier] de la Luzerne [signature]
Monsieur
trente Cinq jusee(?) trente 8
Dès le moment de l'arriveé[sic] [l'arrivée] de M. Gillon ici je me suis occupé de vos interets[sic] [intérêts] et je l’ai pressé de vous rendre compte du montant des prises(?) qu’il a faites avec la South Carolina; Je n’ai pu obtenir déclaircissement[sic] [d'éclaircissements] des(?) bal(?) de lui. Je lui ai écris[sic] [écrit] deux lettres qui sont demeurés sans reponse[sic] [réponse] satisfaisante. Je me suis adressé aux Delegues[sic] [Délégués] de l'Etat[sic] [l'État] de la Carolina en Congrès, mais comme ils n’ont aucune autorité sur lui ce n’est pas sans peine qu'ils l’ont engagé à me fournir quelques éclaircissements qui ne sont pas plus satisfaisan[t]. M. Gillon en convenu enfin que le quart des prises(?) quil[sic] [qu'il] ferait devoir vous appartenir, mais il a ajouté que le préjudice que lui avaient cause huit mois de délais resultant[sic] [résultant] de votre fait n'était point payé par le produit des quart de ces prisere[sic] [prises]. Yl[sic] [Il] prétend même que vous etes[sic] [êtes] convenu avec lui de lui tenir compte de ces delais[sic] [délais]. La traduction ci[-]jointe d’une lettre qu’il m’a écrite hier vous instruira
M. le Ch[evali]er. De Luxembourg
[second page]
plus particulièrement de ses vues. J'étais résolu à faire poursuivre le M. Gillon en justice; mais j’ai été informé que des propres matelots français et autres qui l’avaient attaqué pour le payement de leurs gages n’avaient pas obtenir satisfaction. Je me borne écrire(?) à vous informer de ces circonstances, afin que vous puissiez prendre vis-à-vis de M. Gillon les mesures que vous jugerez nécessaires. Je vous prie d'etre[sic] [d'être] bien persuadé que je ferai de mon coté[sic] [côté] tout ce qui dependra[sic] [dépendra] de moi pour vous procurer satisfaction. Mais je vous avoue que j’y vois peu d'apparences. Les frais de procedure[sic] [procédure] sont immenses ici et c’est encore un des motifs qui m’ont empêché de porter cette affaire devant les tribunaux. J’ai l’honneur d'etre[sic] [d'être] avec le plus sincère attachement[sic] [attachment] Monsieur Votre très humble et très obéissant serviteur Le Che[valier] de la Luzerne [signature]
Translation:
[first page] To Philadelphia on the 6th of September, 1782
Sir
thirty five. Jusee(?) Thirty 8
From the moment of Mr. Gillon's arrival here, I have been taking care of your interests and I have urged him to give you an account of the amount of catches he has made with South Carolina; I could not get any clarification from him. I wrote him two letters which remain unanswered. I have addressed the delegates of the State of Carolina in Congress, but as they have no authority over him, it is not without difficulty that they have induced him to furnish me with some clarifications which are not more satisfactory. Mr. Gillon finally agreed that a quarter of the catches he would make should belong to you, but he added that the damage caused to him by eight months of delay resulting from what you had done did not appear to be paid by the product of the quarter of these catches. He even claims that you have agreed with him to take into account these delays. Attached is a translation
M. le Ch[evali]er. De Luxembourg
[second page]
of a letter he wrote to me yesterday to inform you more particularly of his views. I was resolved to have M. Gillon prosecuted; but I have been informed that some of the French and other sailors who had sued him because the payment of their wages had not been able to obtain satisfaction. I am just writing to inform you of these circumstances, so that you may take the measures you deem necessary with regard to M. Gillon. I beg you to be well persuaded that I will do everything in my power to give you satisfaction. But I must admit that I see little of it. The costs of the proceedings are immense here and this is another of the reasons that prevented me from bringing this case before the courts. I have the honor to be with the most sincere attachment, Monsieur Your very humble and very obedient servant Le Che[valier] de la Luzerne [signature]
Creator
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu