Benjamin Franklin Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Jones, John Paul" AND Author="Jones, John Paul" AND Period="Revolutionary War"
sorted by: editorial placement
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-27-02-0399

To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 18 September 1778

From John Paul Jones

ALS: American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum

Brest Septr. 18th. 1778.

Honored and dear Sir,

The Fleet hath this day returned here, having been absent a Month and done nothing; for I call taking a small Tender and a small Privateer Nothing. A Frigate, the Juno, of 32 Guns 12 pounders is also Arrived and has brought in the English Frigate the Fox that was formerly taken by our Frigates the Hancock and Boston. This last Engagement lasted 2 hours and an half, in which time the Fox lost all her Masts.

The Fox mounts 24 Nine pounders, is Sheathed with Copper and said to sail pretty well. If the Minister will give me nothing better, I would rather accept that Ship with the Alert as a Tender than remain Idle: but I hope he has before this time determined to do more. I have shewed my letter of the 13th. to the Duke De Rochfaucault, who sets out in the Morning for Paris, but will not appear there ’till the first Ultimo. He commends the letter and thinks the Minister will be pleased with it.3 They say the Alert did not sail well, but I am persuaded it is because they did not know her Trim. I have yet received no letters. I will perhaps send a Duplicate of my letter to M. De Sartine by the Next Post; as the Count De Genleese,4 whom I have Just now seen at the Levee, tells me that the Duke De Chartres can make it servicable at Court. If I write to the Duke I will inclose the letter for Your inspection. I am with the truest Esteem and Respect Honored and dear Sir Your very Obedient and Obliged Servant

Jno P Jones

His Excellency Doctor Franklin

Addressed: His Excellency / Doctor Franklin / American Plenepotentiary at the Court of France. / à Passy.

Endorsed: Capt. Jones Brest Sept. 18. 78

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

3A copy of Jones’s letter to Sartine, Sept. 13, enclosed in his to BF above, Sept. 14. The due de la Rochefoucauld continued to help Jones communicate with Sartine throughout September and October.

4Charles-Alexis Brulart, comte de Genlis (1737–93) was a friend and travelling companion of the duc de Chartres. Lewis, Walpole Correspondence, XXV, 348 n.

Index Entries