From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 7 September 1779
To John Paul Jones
LS:4 National Archives; copy: Library of Congress
Passy Sept. 7. 1779.
Sir,
This will be delivered to you by M. Dumas, Agent of the United States of America residing at the Hague, who has Instructions to render you any Services in his Power.
Inclosed I send you a Copy of a Letter I have just received from M. De Sartine.5 You will do your utmost to render the Service therein mentioned effectual, which will in the present Circumstances be very advantageous to the common Cause, and very acceptable to his Majesty. It will be well to keep your Intention of convoying those Vessels as secret6 as possible, lest Notice should be sent of it to England, & Ships placed to intercept you.
Your Irish Prize is arrived, that under Convoy of the Monsieur not yet heard of.7
I congratulate you on the Taking of Grenada & the Beating of Byron by Count D’Estaing.
I wish you all sorts of Success being ever with great Esteem, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant.
B Franklin
Commodore Jones.
Endorsed: From Doctr. Franklin of the 7th September inclosg. One from M. de Sartine of Septr: 7th: 1779 No. 12.
4. In WTF’s hand.
5. Above, Sept. 5.
6. Here Jones later inserted a mark and wrote in the margin, “I found our Object in the Publick Papers when I arrived in Holland and Sir Jos. York had sent an Express to England, informing also that part of my business there would be to take out the Indien. I was then under a necessity to represent the Want of secrecy of Mr. Chaumont to Court & to complain of his conduct towards me in the Affair of the Concordat.” As soon as he arrived at the Texel Jones began to complain of Chaumont’s indiscretion. For the “concordat” see Jones to BF, Aug. 13.
7. See BF to Sartine, Sept. 5.