1To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 13 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot, my dear & honored friend, better employ a part of this Day, of public Thanksgiving, than in writing to you. In the overflowing of my heart I congratulate you, on the glorious capture of Lord Cornwallis and his whole Army. That conquest sets the Friendship of our illustrious Ally in the noblest light, endears France to every true American, does the...
2To John Adams from John Paul Jones, 10 December 1781 (Adams Papers)
After the command of the Alliance was usurped at L’orient, I received on board the Ariel, the two packages from Mr. Moylan, containing the articles you directed him to send to your Family. On my arrival at Philadelphia, I delivered them to Mr. Lovell, agreeable to your request. I had, last Summer, the honor to be unanimously elected by Congress to the command of the America, and am now...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 8 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Though I have nothing to communicate to your Excellency of a Public nature, yet I cannot refuse myself the pleasure of repeating to you the grateful Sense I shall ever retain of the kind attention you shewed me while I remained in Europe.— Mr. Barclay, whom Congress have appointed Consul General for the United States in France, will have the honor of...
4To George Washington from John Paul Jones, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
As I understand it has been insinuated to your Excellency that I have been to blame for the detention in France of the military Stores and Clothing for the American Armies under your Command; I beg leave to refer you to Mr Duane, who carries with him a copy of my Examination for your Perusal. My conduct from the first has been strictly examined, and meets with the Unanimous approbation and...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I have duly received your Excellencies dispatches of the 4th and 9th Current.— The Wind is Fair, the Pilot on Board, and the Ship will be under Sail at day Break.— Mr. Gourlade nor M. de La Grave have not yet appeared.— I will Steer as directly as possible for our Ports.— Enclosed is a receipt from Messrs. Gourlade and Moylan...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 8 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): National Archives I am this day honored with your Dispatches of the 4. of which I will be particularly careful. I had the honor to Write you the 4. that M. Gourlade had informed me by Letter of your having confided three Large Packets of Publick dispatches to his care to remit to me; and I am very Sorry & Surprised that he has neither yet appeared here nor sent me these...
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 4 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL : National Archives The 30 Ult. I recd. a Letter from M. Gourlade, in which he says “l’honorable M. Franklin m’a remis ses depeches en trois Paquets que Je vous remetrai”— I have Understood he is on the Road, and his People expect him here every hour.— For these Five Days past I have been ready for Sea, notwithstanding the preceeding Rains, and have...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 24 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives I this day received a Letter from M. Gourlade of which the enclosed is an Extract. In consequence I have written the within Letters to the new Minister of the Marine and to M. de Chaumont reclaiming Payment of Prize Money &c. for the Ships Bon Homme Richard and Alliance, while Under my Command last Year.— If you think these Letters...
9To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 17 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives Since my unfortunate return here I have not been honored with any Letter from your Excellency which gives me very great concern as I impute your silence to the Bad State of your Health.— Mr. Gourlade has written me two Letters representing that you have blamed me on account of three Articles, the Slops, Shot, and Medicines...
10To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 20 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives It being represented to me by Saml. Wharton Esqr. & Captain Hall of Philadelphia, Mr. Robt. Mease Merchant of Virginia and Mr. Mathew Mease Purser of the Ariel that Five persons lately arrived here directly from Maryland and Pensylvania were Under the following circumstances Vizt. Mr. Cheston from Maryland confesses he has...
11To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 13 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): National Archives When I had the honor of writing to your Excellency the 23. Ult. I hoped about the end of this Month to have set foot on the Continent beyond the Atlantic. The prospect changed however, immediately after I had sent away my dispatches, and Prudence bid me again drop Anchor at Groix.— The within Declaration of my Officers...
12To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 23 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I duely received your Excellencies Letter, Orders, and Publick dispatches by Count De Vauban. I received also the Letter you did me the honor to write me the 21st. Ult. containing a list of Men who had Served in the Privateer Madame &c.; Upon receipt of which, I immediately made a proper inquiry, and found that my Officer...
13To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 7 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and transcript: National Archives I am honored in due Course with your esteemed favor of the 22d. Ult.— I send this by an Express that has given me no warning, but sets out immediately; so that I have not time to be very particular— The Ariel is in the Road, nearly ready for the Sea— I have taken on Board 146 Chests of Arms and 400 Barrels of...
14To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 12 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress Your Letter of the 5th Currt. gives me more pleasure than any other I have had the Honor to receive from you; because it affords me the Strongest proof of your affection. I observe however with regret that my Letter to Doctor Bancroft has given you offence: It was a private Letter, and as far as I can remember, is the only...
15To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 5 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since the 23d. ult. I have been doing my best to bring our Affairs here back again to Order; or at least to be able to proceed for Philadelphia with the Ariel. The enclosed papers will best explain the circumstances of Landais’ beheaviour and of my endeavours to counteract him and his Advisers in thier schemes to defeat the Plan that you had Adopted in...
16To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 23 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives; copy: United States Naval Academy Museum I by the last post gave you an account of the events here respecting Captain Landais and the Alliance, and inclosed all the necessary papers to explain circumstances.— Yesterday the Serapis was publicly sold for I think 240,000 livres.— Mr. Williams and myself have been looking after a...
17To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 21 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I was detained at Versailles forty hours from the time of my arrival, and was then informed by M de Genet that an express had been sent from Court with the necessary orders to the Kings Officers at L’Orient respecting Captain Landais and the Alliance. I found myself here early yesterday morning fifty four hours after leaving...
18John Paul Jones: Memorandum on Landais, 17 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress When the Treaty of Alliance with France arrived in America Congress feeling the most lively Sentiments of Gratitude towards France, thought how they might manifest the Satisfaction of the Continent by some public Act. The finest Frigate in the Service was on the stocks ready to be Launched and it was Resolved to call her the Alliance. M. Landais a french subject who...
19To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 13 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives On my arrival here I found that Captain Landais, encouraged as I believe by Mr. Lee & Mr. Gillan, had raised a party Spirit on board the Alliance:— I have been however on board a considerable part of the time since my return and have always been well received and duely Obeyed.— As I found that my Commission and Authority had been...
20To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society In the Letter that I wrote you from Corogna, in Spain, I remember to have been particular respecting the Brigantine that I had met with off Cape finistere Under Dutch Colours. She appeared to be from Liverpool, having been taken from the Subjects of America by a Liverpool Privater, and sent in a short time before.— The Alliance has very much the appearance...
21To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 20 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: American Philosophical Society It is now near two Years since I was honored by an invitation from the Court of Versailles to continue in Europe, accompanied with a promise of being thereby the more usefully employed against the common Enemy. This invitation I accepted with your and your Colleagues approbation, and my best endeavours...
22To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 18 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Before I sailed from the Isle of Groa on my late expedition I gave written Orders to every Captain under my command, with proper signals of Reconnoissance and three points of Rendezvous in letters sealed up one within another, to be Opened only in case of necessity.— After every necessary arrangement had been made for the departure of my proper...
23To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 4 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I have received yesterday yours of the 1st by Express from Versailles and went immediately down to Port Louis where I was told that the powder is ready but that a considerable part of the Small Arms are not expected there before the 15th.— The necessary Arrangement to receive them will in the meantime be made on board the...
24To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 28 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and transcript: National Archives I have received your Orders of the 18th. and have written to Nantes for particular information respecting the Anchorage off Noirmontier that I may take measures accordingly.— I am very glad that Doctor Bancroft who has been an Eye and Ear witness to the Situation of Affairs onboard the Alliance can explain to...
25To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones: Two Letters, 14 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress; (II) ALS : New Hampshire Historical Society Inclosed is a Copy of the Only Bill of Ransom with which I have ever been concerned. I have this day given Mr. Dryburugh a letter for you and I believe he embarks this Evening in the dilligence for Paris.— That Poor Man was of Singular Use to me as a Pilot on the British Coast...
26To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 13 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and transcript: National Archives I am honored with your letter of the 8th.— I hope to send on board some of the Cannon tomorrow.— As we have no Assistance from the Port our repairs do not advance as fast as I could wish: In making the new Sails we are much at a loss for hands.— Mr: Lee arrived here the Evening before last, and Mr: Lockyer...
27To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 6 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I inclose for your Excellencies approbation an extract of a letter that I have received from Sir R Finlay respecting an invention of Bombs that are Calculated to set fire to any Object against which they are discharged from a Cannon.— If they answer the description that I have had they will be an Acquisition of some...
28To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and transcript: National Archives I had the Honor to write to your Excellency the 21st: & 25th: Ulto.— We have hitherto had no Assistance from the Port and I now hope to get the Alliance ready with out them.— The Arms for the Continent if I am to take them on board the Alliance will be wanted soon as they cannot so well be Stowed after we begin...
29To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 25 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress I am honored with your Excellencies letter of the 19th.— I feel your reasons for Urging frugallity, and as I have not hitherto been among the most extravagant Servants of America so you may depend on it my regard for you will make me particularly Nice in my present situation. It will give me very great pleasure to be able to...
30To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 23 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives; transcript: National Archives I have the pleasure to inform your Excellency that I this day had M. Secondat the Kings Constructor to examine the Situation of the Alliance, and find him of Opinion that the Head and Cutwater can be Secured without bringing the Ship into port.— I shall not therefore think of heaving down, and...