From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 April 1780
To John Paul Jones
Two copies: Library of Congress;6 transcript: American Philosophical Society
Versailles, April 1. 1780
Dear Sir,
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.—7 This Courier carries also from me a Pacquet directed to you from Mr. Dumas, enclosing one for Congress to your Care.—8 By the Post M. de Chaumont has written to his Correspondent M. Monplaisir at L’Orient, to advance 100,000 Livres for the Americans of the Alliance & Bonhomme Richard on Account.— My best Wishes ever attend you.
Your most obedient humble Servant
(Signed) B Franklin
A True Copy taken at L’Orient in August 1780 by Tho: Hutchins
Notation: (No. 3) From his Excellency Dr. Franklin Versailles April 1st. 1780— No. 45. Copd.
6. One copy, made by L’Air de Lamotte, is in BF’s letterbook. The other, from which we print, is in Thomas Hutchins’ hand and is located in the Peter Force Collection.
7. Both copies include a marginal note: “15000 Fusils / 100,000 lb. Gunpowder.” The enclosure probably was Montbarey’s letter to BF of this date (Library of Congress) saying that he had given orders for the artillery arsenal at Port Louis to deliver to Captain Jones 100,000 lbs. of powder and 15,000 new fusils. He asked BF to tell Jones to give a full receipt to the director of artillery there, M. Minard Désaleux (for whom see Etat militaire for 1779, p. 261). In a postscript Montbarey added that he was enclosing a letter to Désaleux and asked BF to forward it.
8. The packet Dumas mentioned in his March 17 and 23 letters, above.