1To John Adams from William Jackson, 10 May 1781 (Adams Papers)
Commodore Gillon has applied to me by letter requesting that I would furnish Captain Joyner with bills of exchange on Paris for Twenty thousand Guilders which sum he says is required to pay the ship accounts of the South Carolina frigate, and is necessary to fit her for sea. As this sum appears to be requisite for the purposes mentioned in Commodore Gillon’s letter to me, I have to request...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Jackson, 29 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society, National Archives; transcript: National Archives I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I got to Amsterdam on tuesday morning— It has been thought adviseable to wait a few days that we may sail with a Dutch Squadron of 14 sail destined as a Convoy to the Baltic— The loss of the Ship Marquis de la Fayette, which is confirmed by Lloyd’s list,...
3To Benjamin Franklin from William Jackson: Three Letters, 2 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS and transcript: National Archives; (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society, National Archives; transcript: National Archives; (III) ALS : American Philosophical Society, National Archives; transcript: National Archives I was yesterday honored with your Excellency’s letter of the 28 ultimo, while at the Texel superintending some matters relating to the Ship—equally concerned for the...
4To Benjamin Franklin from William Jackson, 5 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Harvard University Library Lest Your Excellency should not have already answered the letters which I did myself the honor to address you on the 2nd. instant—I must beg leave, in addition to the arguments therein enforced, (which I hope have of themselves proved sufficiently urgent) to remark to your Excellency that the detention of the Ship is...
5To John Adams from William Jackson, 12 August 1781 (Adams Papers)
Could I have supposed that Your Excellency would have returned to Amsterdam before the Ship sailed, I should certainly have done myself the honor and agreeable satisfaction of waiting upon you before I left this Country—but this pleasure is denied me—and I am scarce allowed time by Mr. Thaxter’s immediate departure to bid Your Excellency farewell in this abrupt manner —but I lean with...
6William Jackson to John Adams, 26 September 1781 (Adams Papers)
Lest the date of my letter should alarm your Excellency, I am happy in prefacing it with an assurance that your dear little Boy, who is now at my elbow, is perfectly well. Mr. Gillon (to the baseness of whose character no term of reproach is equal) has, after adding insult to injury landed us in Spain. I would enter into the detail of his unparalleled villainies—but the late hour at which I...
7To Benjamin Franklin from William Jackson, 26 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Columbia University Library I am sorry to inform your Excellency that the event has fully verified your prediction— Mr. Gillon, with a degree of baseness which would sully the blackest character on record, has violated his contract with Colonel Laurens in every instance— the circumstance of his having left Holland...
8William Jackson to John Adams, 26 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to address your Excellency from Corunna on the 26 of last month, in which letter I promised myself the pleasure of writing you more fully in a few days—but an opportunity offering unexpectedly for this place, from whence I propose embarking for America I embraced it. Our passage from Corunna has been uncommonly long owing to a continued contrary wind, which obliged us to make a...
9To John Adams from William Jackson, 12 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I had the honor to address your Excellency by the last post, in which letter I informed you that we should probably sail the 16. instant—but a sudden fresh in the river, which impedes the ship’s loading, will oblige us to wait for the next spring-tide. By a Vessel belonging to Mr. Tracy which arrived here yesterday in four weeks from America we have received very important intelligence. Mr....
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Jackson, 12 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the honor to address your Excellency from Corunna in which letters I gave you a detail of Mr. Gillon’s baseness: farther particulars I will do myself the pleasure to transmit you by the next post, and enclose you copy of a letter which I wrote to his Excellency Mr. Jay on that subject. By a Vessel which arrived here yesterday we have received...