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Tuesday, July 14, 2009

July 14. 1780
Tonight while on my watch Captain Landy came on the quarter deck after the officers’ dinner and gave Lt. Degge orders to trim the sails properly as she was running one point large upon the wind. Lt. Degge refused saying the Captain Landy wanted to lose sight of the Luzerne. Degge was in liquor and Cap. Landy ordered him below to his cabin under arrest. He refused and there was a scuffle between the two on the gangway. Degge went forward to the forecastle and Captain Landy sent Lt. Warren of the marines after him with two men. Warren returned saying that Degge was on the bowsprit with a pike in hand telling everyone to standoff or he would run them through. Eventually he went over the bow of the ship and through the head doors into the cabin below and is there now under arrest.

On the 12th instant Captain Landy came on the quarterdeck and gave orders to Capt. Parke that all officers, gunner, carpenter, boatswain, master and midshipmen be allowed only one quart of water per day but all of the rest of the people could have as much as they liked as long as they did not carry any away from a scuttle cask which was placed on the quarterdeck.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

July 11. 1780
Today we are at sea, bound for America. We departed Groix on the 8th instant, sailing in company with the Luzerne, Captain Bell, a brig, Captain Montgomery, a lugger, Mr. Smith, and a schooner, Mr. Kardle; we acting as escort for these other ships. On board Alliance we also carry Mr. Arthur Lee, one of the American Commissioners to France.

The lugger sprung her mainmast and spars in some foul weather we have encountered today and Captain Smith has decided to return to France. Mr. Lee’s nephew and some other passengers were traveling on board the lugger so we sent a boat to bring them to the Alliance at Mr. Lee’s request.

We did not leave the roadstead at Groix until the 8th as Captain Landais said he was expecting to receive our prize money; but in the end it did not come. Despite this we were all in high spirits, looking forward to the time, God willing, when we would soon be home, many of us having been gone nearly four years.