From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 19 May 1779
To Landais
Copy: Library of Congress
Passy, may 19. 1779.
Sir
I received yours of the 12th. and 15th. Instant. I was glad to hear of your safe Arrival at l’Orient, but what you write me about the Officers of your ship afflicts me exceedingly. At this Distance I can do nothing towards remedying the Disorder. I must therefore leave it to Commodore Jones whose Authority with the Aid of Courts martial, if necessary, will I hope be sufft to compose these Dissensions—5 I have the h. t. b. w. m. Esteem. Sir., Y. m. o. and m. h. S.
Honble. Capt. Landais.
5. On May 27 and on June 6 Landais asked Jones, apparently without success, to convene either a court of inquiry or a court martial to hear the Alliance officers’ charges against him and his against them: Bradford, Jones Papers, reel 3, nos. 629 and 636.