31From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 8 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I wrote to you on the 15th past, since which I have not had the Pleasure of hearing from you. I have just received a Letter from M. De Sartine, of which the inclosed is a Copy. You will see in it that the Cruise is ended; and the Ship Alliance dismissed, with an Injunction that none of the King’s Subjects...
32From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 18 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L : National Archives; incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your Letter relating to the Bullets of the Engineer in Denmark, and shall write thither accordingly. I have also just received yours of the 13th. Mr Ross writes to me, that he finds a Difficulty in passing the Goods to you, from l’Isle Noirmoutier. I do therefore now desire you, if practicable, to call at or off that...
33The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 17 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress We have heard of your arrival at Brest with a prize, and are surprisd that you have not given us an Account of that and of your other proceedings. We desire you will not take any measures relative to the prizes and prisoners you may have made except in securing them, nor incur any considerable expence without our orders. Upon the receipt of this you will...
34From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 31 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L and copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 14th by Mr Dryburugh. I had also another from Mess. Gourlade and Moylan acquainting me that they had received the Ransom Money about 200£ sterling, as paid to me, agreable to the Bill of Ransom; and had given my Acct. Credit for that Sum. This lays me under a Difficulty, for I am thus become accountable for that Sum to the People of the...
35From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 21 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received a few Days since a Letter from M. De Sartine which I have mislaid, or would send you a Copy you have however the answer enclosed, by which you will perceive the purport of it. This Day the Captain of the Madame has been with me, and left an account of the Advances, which appeard to me very high, and I proposed to return the Men; but he seem’d not to desire...
36From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 16 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I last Night heard of your arrival at Groa, But have no Letter yet from you. I write this line to acquaint you that I propose to send the alliance out again as soon as Possible that she may be prepared accordingly. As to sheathing her with Copper, I have not the Cash necessary. I have now only time to add, that I am with great Esteem Dear sir, &c. Bancroft apparently...
37From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 14 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I yesterday recd. your favor of the 6th inst. I did not understand from M. Alexander that Lord Selkirk had any particular Objection to receiving the Plate from you. It was general, that tho’ he might not refuse it if offer’d him by a public Body, as the Congress, he cou’d not accept it from any private Person whatever. I know nothing of M. Alexander’s having any...
38From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 30 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress Being arrived at Grois, you are to make the best of your Way, with the Vessels under your Command, to the West of Ireland; and establish your Cruise on the Orcades, the Cape of Dirneus, and the Dogger Bank: in order to take the Ennimies Property in those Seas. The Prizes you may make, send to Dunkirk, Ostend, or Bergen in...
39From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones: Two Letters, 12 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : National Archives; (II) LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress You are hereby directed to proceed as soon as possible with the Ship under your Command, to the Port you can best make in North America, and deliver the Arms, Powder & other Stores, to such Officers of Congress as are appointed to take Care of such Matters, for which this shall be your Order. I am, Sir, Your...
40From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 6 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your Favours of the 24th and 31st of August. I am told by Mr. C. that Mr. S. is sorry you did not go with M. D’Orvilliers. He had sent Orders for that Purpose, and your staying at L’Orient occasion’d your missing the Opportunity. Your Letter was sent to the Prince de Nassau. I am confident something will be done for you, tho’ I don’t yet know what. Dr....
41From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 9 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress I wrote to you per last Post, under Cover to M. Moylan. With this you will receive another letter or two for America. I have just received yours of the 4th. I am sorry you waited for the Pacquets by Mr Gourlade as they only contained News Papers; but you could not know that. A Gentleman who says he is to sail with you sets off tomorrow, and...
42From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 27 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress I have this Minute received yours of the 23d. The Letter you mention having sent me by the last Post, inclosing the necessary Papers to explain Circumstances, is not come to Hand; so that I am much in the dark about your present Situation. I only learn by other means, that the Alliance is gone out of the Port, and that you are not likely to...
43The American Commissioners to [John Paul Jones], 15 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives Whereas we understand that Capt. Jones has in View to strike a Stroke upon the Enemy that may be greatly to their Damage, but in its nature not probably profitable to his Ship’s Company, unless some Reward be received from the Congress adequate to the Service done, And we being of Opinion that Rewards in such Cases are not only necessary for Encouragement, but are...
44From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 17 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Archives Nationales, Library of Congress To the Honorable Captain John Paul-Jones Commodore in the service of the United-States of America. In pursuance of a Resolution of Congress of the first of November 1783. a Copy wereof is hereunto annexed, I do hereby authorize and direct you to solicit as Agent for payment and satisfaction to the officers and crews citizens or subjects of the...
45From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 2 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I know no more than you the Reasons of the Change respecting the Marquis But suppose they are good ones. I have no new Instructions to give. Perhaps you will receive some Instruction of the King’s Pleasure. I can only wish you Health and success, being ever, with great and Sincere Esteem Dear sir y. &c. In response to Jones’s May 26 letter. New plans for Jones’s...
46From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 7 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress 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. You will do your utmost to render the Service therein mentioned effectual, which will in the present...
47From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress; transcript: American Philosophical Society Enclosed is the Order from the Prince de Montbarey, for the Delivery to you of the Arms and Gun powder mentioned in Mine of Yesterday, which you will receive per Post.— This Courier carries also from me a Pacquet directed to you from Mr. Dumas, enclosing one for Congress to your Care.— By the Post M. de Chaumont has...
48From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 23 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me this Morning respecting the Settlement of Charges incurred in Holland, &c. Be so good as to send me a Copy of the Letter written by Mr. de Sartine, which you mention. On Sight of that I shall immediately give you an explicit Answer. With great Esteem, I am, Sir, Your most obedient & most huml Servt Addressed: A...
49The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 10 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) <Passy, June 10, 1778: Please send us a return of your prisoners, with ranks and names, for an exchange proposed by the British court. We have your account of the disagreement among your crew, and will shortly give you our opinion.> Published in Butterfield, John Adams Diary , IV , 135; for the...
50From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 24 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Library of Congress Mr Alexander call’d here this Morning to deliver a little Message, to be communicated to you, from Lord Selkirk. The Purport was, that his Lordship had written an Answer to your Letter, which Answer, after having been detain’d many Months in the Post Office, had been sent back to him. That as to the Proposition of returning the Plate, if it was made by Order...
51From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 10 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; draft: Library of Congress I received yours of the first Inst. with the Papers enclosed, which I have shewn to the other Commissioners, but have not yet had their Opinion of them. I only know that they had before, (in Consideration of the Disposition and Uneasiness of your People) expressed an Inclination to order your Ship directly back to America. You will judge from...
52The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 3 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, June 3, 1778: We have had numerous letters from Lieut. Simpson, and certificates from officers and others about him; although we do not wish to judge him, the certificates are most favorable to his character. Confining him anywhere except on the Ranger seems to us unjustifiably severe. We desire you to release him on...
53From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 27 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress I received yours of the 18th. inclosing one for the Countess of Selkirk which I forward this Day via Holland as you desire. It is a gallant Letter, and must give her Ladyship a high and just Opinion of your Generosity and Nobleness of Mind. The Dirty Insinuation you mention is of a Piece with many others...
54From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 28 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress (two) I have just received yours of the 25th. I was Yesterday with M. De Sartine at Versailles who appear’d uneasy at some Accts. he had received of a mutinous Disposition in your Crew. He desired me to acquaint M. De Chaumont that he wished to see him that Evening. This Morning M. De Chaumont sent me a Note, of which I enclose a Copy: I...
55From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 25 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress I received the honour of yours of the 17th. Instant. I was dissatisfied with Mr. Moylan’s Proceedings in going on with so great & unexpected an Expence for the Ariel, & never giving me the last Notice of it, till he drew upon me for the Amount, near 100,000 Livres, drawing too before sending the Account; and when the Account on my demanding it...
56From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 27 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Archives de la Marine I have at the Request of M. De Sartine postponed the Sending the Alliance to America, and have order’d her to proceed immediately from Nantes to L’Orient, where she is to be furnished with her Complement of Men, join your little Squadron and act under your Command. The Marquis de la Fayette will be with you soon. It has...