1To Thomas Jefferson from Pierre Landais, 10 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
To permit me begging as a favour to have a Committee composed of three Members, acquainted each, with the principles of Geometry and Mathematics; the principles of Phisics; the diffirent situations and cases of Vessels, either, sailing, or laying to at Sea, or at Anchor in harbour; and the requisites qualities they must have for to be as perfect as possible. That I may first demonstrate before...
2To Thomas Jefferson from Pierre Landais, 10 January 1806 (Jefferson Papers)
Notes. I Peter Landais, formerly Capt. of the Frigate Alliance, wrote to the Honble. T. Paine Esqr., three years ago, my opinion against having the Men of War of the United States’s Military Arsenals and Harbours either at Brook-lyn, near New York; or at Washington’s City; and T. Paine told me he had given that letter to his Excellency T. Jefferson President of the United States. I have a...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 7 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have waited ’till now for your Order for Sailing as you announced me another letter in yours of the 24th. June, to Come by the next Post—but since you have wrote me nothing and that you charged me in that letter with the prejudicial delay of the Sailing of the Alliance, and given no hopes of having my People righted, I have prevailed upon them to go to our...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Landais, 2 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I write you in Answer to yours of June 24th. as in the former, thinking it was nothing but right in Demanding my people Should be righted. And indeed if there is any time Lost it is by the delay of there payment, my two first prizes, Sweedish Ships, were bro’t in on account of the Masters’ not furnishing Sufficient proofs of their Neutrality having sent you...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 16 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society, University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: National Archives My last to you was of the 14 Instant in which I informed your Excellency that I had retaken the Command of the Ship Alliance, which I left in the charge of my Lieutenant. There are on board this Ship sixty seven cases containing small arms and two hundred & sixteen barrells of powder, which are...
6To John Adams from Pierre Landais, 14 June 1780 (Adams Papers)
I think it my duty to inform you that I have wrote several Letters to his Excellency Dr. Franklin desiring to know by what authority I was Kept from my Ship, I inclosed him an order from the Secretary of the Honble. Navy board Philadelphia the purport of which was, to take in a few goods for his use As the Ship was Ordred home by Congress, My Officers and Crew Inform me that they have also...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 14 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives I wrote a Letter of the 29th. May & Duplicates and have received no answer. I beg’d your Excellency would inform me by what authority, I was kept from my Ship, I inclosed a Copy of a Letter from the Secretary of the Honble. Navy board, at Philadelphia the purport of which was, to take in a few goods for his use as the Ship was...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, [29 May 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been waiting ever Since I came to L’Orient for your order to me to Retake the Command of the frigate Alliance, thinking you would reflet how She was taken from me. I Should look upon my Self culpable to remain a tame Spectator, while my athority on board her is usurped by another, Since I have been placed to that Command by a resolve of the...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 11 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You Called me by your Order from the Commend of the American Frigate Alliance which The Honorable Congress had Confided the Commend off, to me; upon Some Accusations that none but a Court Martial Can judge, and you have given the Said Commend to my accuser, You have kept me here these four months past I d’ont know what for as it Could be Said in America,...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 10 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received the letter you did me the Honour of writing to me The 1st Inst. and the inclosed Certificate, it might have been upon your table When I was at your house but I d’ont recollect of having Seen it at all. I must observe that long before that time I had ask your Excellency for Some money, having Spent what remained of the 50 Louis d’or I first...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 28 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In the answer you favoured me with dated feby 12, you Say that I am pleased to blame you. I beg you Pardon, it dont became me to blame, but I may Say that I have been detained here by Your Excy Order, and ask for a passage for America. I ask at the Same time your order for my Staying here all that time, Since you have in your hand the first order you gave...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 10 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been ever Since, January 15th, waiting for the favour of your answer, to the letter I had the Honour to Send you the Same day; and for the Copy of the letter from Monsieur de Sartine to you, in Consequence of which, you Ordered me to come to Paris, which you was so obliging to tell me you would Sent me, as I do want it for to write my justification...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 13 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Received your letter of the 10th Inst, which you did me the honour to write to me the Same day, I am very Sorry that I cannot have Sooner than next week, those extracts which I beg of your Excellency by my letter of the 9 Inst; but Since Your business require to postpone till that time, I will be Satisfy’d of that new favour. According to your Order I...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Landais: résumé, 9 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, January 9, 1780, in French: Please certify to be a true copy the following extracts of J.P. Jones’s letter to you dated the Texel, Oct. 3, 1779. I am sorry to trouble your excellency again but thinking it necessary, I hope it will be granted.> Landais gives a French translation of several sections of Jones’s letter, beginning with “When the Fleet...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre Landais: Response to the Officers’ Affidavit, [after 26 November 1779] (Franklin Papers)
D : University of Pennsylvania Library The following articles, are the Answers to the five & twenty Articles made by some American Officers [ in the margin: not sign] the 30th. Day of Oct 1779 at Texel, respecting the Conduct of Peter Landais Capt of the American Frigate Alliance brought to him Novr. 26th. 1779. Art. 1. has been answered in a Court Martial Kept at L’orient for which the first...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 30 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society I Receiv’d only the 15th Decemr. the copy of a letter from Capt Jones to your Excellency, dated on board the ship of War Serapis, at anchor without the Texel Octor. 3d. 1779 (but not certifyed by your Excellency, as you did me the honor to tell me you wou’d do) of which letter you told me the copy was in a newspaper. I beg to know in which, for I had never...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 24 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Harvard University Library I received the 22d Inst the letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 15th It. and would have complye’d with Your order inclose’d in it immediatly had I not been detain’d aboard one day to over hauld my papers, and when I came ashore I thought I wanted but half an our of time for to have a Certificate from under the...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 9 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour to write & transmitt some extracts of my Journal to you the 4th. Instant, & now inclose a plan of the engagement with the Serapis & Countess of Scarborough in the night of the 23 September. With respect to the present condition of this Ship, I am to inform your excellency that we have occasion for many Articles for Rigging & Stores, an...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 4 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I now embrace the First Oppertunity to transmitt the material parts of my Journal of our late Cruize which ended Yesterday. On Saturday the 14 August we were the Ships Bon homme Richard, Alliance, Monsieur & Pallas, arm’d briggs Vengeance & Grandville & the Cerf Cutter in Company under Groa. We all weyed Anchor & put to Sea early in the Morning. the 19th. A...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 13 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I could not answer your favour of the 28 July before, having had no occasion for an express, & not being willing to trust the Letter to the post: and I could not comply with your orders to go out upon a cruise, not being ready before this time, by reason of our Prize Brigg’s sinking, which happen’d the 27th. Instant; having employ’d our crew to save her...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 30 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have to inform your Excellency that the brigantine three friends, our prize, has lately sunk down in this harbour, and we have obtain’d permission from the Admiralty to unload her, and we are discharging her Cargo with all expedition. Her late Captain, his crew, my prize master & some of my men were on board her when she sunk, but we have not yet...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 15 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I tooke the Command of the frigate Alliance My officers have join together against me, Even before I left Boston, I was promissed that I Should have another Set, but being ready to Sail the Hounble Navy board thought they woold behave better when at Sea, but to the Contrary it has been gradualy worse and worse to a peack that I am Compel to acquaint...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 12 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Sailed from the River of Nantes the 10th. Instt. Came at anchor at Groay Island the 12th and into the harbour of L’Orient today, where Monsieur Ray De Chaumond Delivered me the Letter Your Excellency honnoured me with the 28th Ult. Containing Your Order to put my Self and Ship under Capt Jones Command accordinly I went Directly to Seek him and ask’d his...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 8 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Since I received your orders to Sail for Port L’Orient, I have been Waiting in this River for a boat Loaded with provisions, and fear wind; but now having all aboard and the Wind S E. I am getting under Sail and Expect to be to-morrow at Port-Louis. I have at présent theerten passengers beside the honble. John Adams, his Son and Servant. Please to Write me...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 1 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Received Your Favour of the 24 ult. and went directly down the River to the Ship to aquaint the Honnble John Adam with the order you geve me. The wind is So high that no loaded buts can go aboard, I’ll do my utmost to fullfil your order as Soon as possible— I have recruted already fourty three fore mast men among the american Prisonners besides the...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 19 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: University of Virginia Library I left the Harbour of Brest the 11th in Compagny of the French frigate called the Egrette bound to this River but the wind being Contrary we could Sail no farther than the conquet where we staied till the 15th, that the wind came SE, then we get under Sail but I Soon found out we could out Sail all the french frigate or...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 6 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received Your favour of the 27th ult. It is true I would Chuse rather all Americains for the Ship’s crew than part of it french for that mixture has ever since the begining of the war brought trouble and discontent on board the Ships have had it beside they Should be of litle use having no officers that tock french, However I would prefer to have Some of...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 28 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I landed the day Before yesterday the Eight and thirty mutiners, I am getting Ready for to Sail for Nantes as fast as Possible and Expect to be ready in Eight days thence. I have had here all the Iron work repair’d and nothing but the most necessary things have been done or had. I shall wait for your orders at Nantes in a forteen night if the wind Permits....
29To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 17 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I received your favours of the 4th. 6th. & 8th. Instants. In answer to the first, Doctr. Windship has made you a plan for acting, out of his own head: telling you that we were enough to fight the Ship. I send you the list inclosed of the Ships company, out of which number, three are missing; by which your Excellency will judge what I can do with so few...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Landais, 10 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Your Letter of the 2d. Instant, came safe to hand, yesterday, the first article of which, respecting the tryal or dismission of our Sweedish prize, I transmitt to Monsr. Pitot, coms. agent at Morlaix, where she is; leaving it to him & [ to ] act as his wisdom shall direct, he having all her papers. Your Exy. desires to hear, how my refitt goes on? I had the...