From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 June 1778
To John Paul Jones
ALS (draft): National Archives
Passy, June 1. 1778
Dear Sir
I have the Pleasure of informing you that it is propos’d to give you the Command of the great Ship we have built at Amsterdam. By what you wrote to us formerly, I have ventur’d to say in your Behalf, that this Proposition would be agreable to you. You will immediately let me know your Resolution: which that you may be more clear in taking, I must inform you of some Circumstances. She is at present the Property of the King, but as there is no War yet declar’d, you will have the Commission and Flag of the States, and act under their Orders and Laws. The Prince de Nassau will make the cruize with you.2 She is to be brought here under Cover as a French Merchantman; to be equipp’d and mann’d in France. We hope to exchange your Prisoners for as many American Sailors: but if that fails, you have your present Crew, to be made up here with other Nations and French. The other Commissioners are not acquainted with this Proposition as yet, and you see by the Nature of it that it is necessary to be kept a Secret till we have got the Vessel here, for fear of Difficulties in Holland, and Interception. You will therefore direct your Answer to me alone. [In the margin: It being desired that at present the Affair should rest between you and me.3] Perhaps it may be best for you to take a Trip up here to concert Matters, if in general you approve the Idea.
I was much pleas’d with reading your Journal, which we receiv’d yesterday. I have the honour to be with Sentiments of great Esteem, Dear Sir Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Private
Honble Capt. Jones
Addressed: To / The honble. John Paul Jones Esqr / Commander of the Ranger / Ship of War of the United States / of America, now at / Brest
Endorsed: from His Excllency Dr. Franklin Passy June 1st. 1778 Recd Brest June 5th 1778
2. Charles-Henri-Nicolas-Othon, prince de Nassau-Siegen, was a famous adventurer who was distantly related to the French royal house and to William V, Prince of Orange, the Stadholder. The latter connection may have been what induced Versailles to send him to the Netherlands to negotiate for release of Boux’s ship, now named the Indien; she had been sold to the French government but was not yet ready for sea. The Prince was promised a U.S. naval commission if he succeeded, which he did not. He had no diplomatic talent, the Dutch authorities were unwilling to allow the ship to be used against Britain, and the whole scheme died aborning. See Larousse for the Prince and, for his mission, Mrs. Reginald de Koven, The Life and Letters of John Paul Jones (2 vols., New York, 1913), I, 347; Morison, Jones, pp. 174–5.
3. BF was somewhat more explicit about this desire in his letter to Jones below, June 10.