Ottoman Algeria in Western Diplomatic History with ... - Bibliothèque

American commissioner who throughout the war of independence defended
inexorably piracies of his countrymen against European shipping, those wishes
may sound awkward. 78
Yet, Franklin’s wishes as well as fears for the future of
“mankind” were genuine considering the large scale depredations committed
by American seamen against non-belligerent shipping. The latter’s actions were
not only contrary to the laws of nations, which the Americans trampled
anyway, but they were also contrary to the conditions of letters of marque
Congress granted them. 79
Concerned as he was with the future well-being of his country, Franklin
was apprehensive about the havoc caused by American privateers. While still
negotiating the peace treaty with Great Britain, he proposed an abolition of
privateering for reasons he was best placed to know. To David Hartley, the
British negotiator, Franklin expressed concerns about American privateering
and argued that “if a stop is not now put to the practice, mankind may hereafter
be more plagued with American corsairs than they have been and are with the
Turkish.” 80 He feared that the temptation might be too great as the practice
seemed to be especially profitable to the Americans because the “rich
and Minister Plenipotentiary at Versailles, 2 vol. (Philadelphia: M Carty & Davis, 1834), 1:528, To
David Hartley, May 8, 1783.
78 The following correspondence is just an example of many warnings of the French government to
American commissioners at Paris about piracies committed by American privateers against French
shipping—and this at a time France was their sole ally! As answer, the commissioners—including
Franklin—either apologized or asked for more privileges: USRDC, 1:227-30, Count de Vergennes to
the Commissioners, 16 th July, 1777 and Commissioners to the Count de Vergennes, 16 th July, 1777.
See also, ibid., 1:303-4, M. de Sartine to the Commissioners, 29 th July, 1778; ibid., 1:302,
Commissioners to M. de Sartine, August 13 th , 1778; ibid., 1:305-10, de Sartine to the Commissioners,
29 th July, 1778; Commissioners to M. de Sartine, 10 th September, 1778; ibid., 1:320-22, M. de Sartine
to the Commissioners, 16 th September, 1778; Commissioners to M. de Sartine, 17 th September, 1778.
79 Article 1 and 2 of the instructions authorized them to “attack, subdue and take” British vessels (with
certain exceptions in favor of immigrants), or vessels carrying contraband to the British only. For more
of those conditions see Stark, Abolition of Privateering, pp. 119-21.
80 Franklin, Memoirs, 1:529.
184