1From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 21 August 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson’s compliments to Commodore Jones. His memory had deceived him as to the sum offered by the court of Denmark to Doctr. Franklin. He has accordingly corrected it in his letter to Baron Blome. He is of opinion, that according to the instructions of Congress, any sum, however small, must be accepted, which shall be offered by that court. He does not apprehend however they will offer...
2Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 February 1779: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) <Passy, February 10, 1779: As the change in command of the Ranger might be subject to misinterpretation, we hereby certify that your leaving that ship was with our consent and at the express request of M. de Sartine, who desired to employ you in some public service. That Lt. Simpson...
We do not think ourselves authorized to give any Orders concerning the Deductions to be made from the Seamen’s Price money or Wages, of what was advanced to them. The Resolutions of Congress must be complied with as to your Stores and Furniture, we suppose there can be no Difficulty, but that M. Simpson will as he ought to deliver you your private Property upon Request. We are not informed...
4From John Adams to John Paul Jones, 22 February 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have the Pleasure to congratulate you, on your glorious success Since I left you at L’orient, and upon your Return to that Place, from whence I wish you safe to America. I obtained Permission from the Navy Board to send some small Matters home by an American Frigate now and then, and I have mentioned it to Dr. Franklin who has no Objection. We married men who run away from our Wives and...
As your Separation from the Ranger, and the Appointment of Lieutenant Simpson to the Command of her, will be liable to Misinterpretations and Misrepresentations by Persons who are unacquainted with the real Causes of those Facts. We hereby certify, that your leaving the Ranger was by our Consent, at the express Request of his Excellency Monsieur De Sartine, who informed Us that he had occasion...
6From John Adams to John Paul Jones, 12 August 1782 (Adams Papers)
I had Yesterday the Pleasure of receiving your Favour of the 10th of December last, and am much obliged to you for your Care of the Articles which Mr Moylan, at my desire Sent to my Family. The Command of the America could not have been more judiciously bestowed, and it is with Impatience that I wish her at Sea, where She will do honour to her Name. Nothing gives me So much Surprize, or so...
7From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 27 June 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
Since I had the honour of seeing you the other evening a letter from the board of treasury is come to hand,1 instructing me to receive the monies which you have collected here for the prizes, with an order justifying your paiment of them to me. There is a paragraph in the letter which looks as if they meant I should settle with you your proportion of these monies. It is not quite explicit, and...
8From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 19 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress I have before me your Letters of the 5th. 9th. & 12th of this Month. I received all the Papers relating to Capt. Landais Prize. That Matter is now under Consideration. I am sorry for the Communication of Plans that you mention, but hope no ill Consequences will attend it. I think the Instruction of Congress which you mention should be observed;...
9From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 6 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives As the Arrangements that M. Le Duc de la Vauguyon, Ambassador of the King in Holland, must make with the States General, for the free Departure from the Texel of the French and American Vessels assembled there, may require that the English Prisoners taken in Merchant Ships, and at present on board the Alliance,...
10From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 5 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of June 21. with the Papers it inclosed from M. Genet, who had kept them a Day or Two to translate them for the Minister. I approve much of your humanity and Prudence. But am sorry in the Letter to Dr. Bancroft, you Complain of your friends who are in no fault. They spare you, and have not even hinted that if you had staid on board where your Duty lay...
11From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 29 August 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I receive this moment a letter from the Marechal de Castries of which the inclosed is a copy. Having engaged to him to sollicit orders for the paiment of any parts of this money due to French subjects to be made here, and moreover engaged that in the mean time I will order paiment should any such claimants offer themselves, I pray you to furnish me with all the evidence you can as to what...
12The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 17 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress We received your several Letters from Nantes and Portsmouth. We shall be glad to see you here, as soon as is consistent with your Affairs, in order to consult with you on the Matters mention’d in your Instructions from the Congress, &c. We are, with Esteem Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servants Addressed: To / John Paul Jones Esqr / Nantes Endorsed: Paris...
13The Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 22 August 1778 (Adams Papers)
Your Letter from Brest of August the 15th is before us, and We are very sorry to hear that Reports so groundless are circulated to your Disadvantage. However We trust they will do you no lasting Injury, as Insinuations so grossly false seldom hurt any but the Maker and Propagator. We write this Letter that you may have it in your Powers to assure any Body you think proper, that, so far from...
14From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 8 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress (two) I received your Favours of the second and 4th Inst. I am sorry for the Accidents that have obliged your little Squadron to return & refit; but hope all may be for the best. Some Days since, Mr Chaumont handed to me the Substance of a Letter in French, which contained heads of the Instructions that M. De Sartine wish’d me to give you. I...
15From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 5 November 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
The resolution of Congress of Oct. 29. 1783. is the only one I have seen on the subject of the Danish business. That is directed expressly to ‘the Ministers plenipotentiary of the U.S. at the court of Versailles empowered to negociate a peace.’ It is true that I had the honour of being named in that commission and was preparing to come when we received news of the signature of the preliminary...
16From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 31 August 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
I am to acknolege the receipt of your favor of Mar. 20 with the several papers it inclosed, which were duly communicated to the President. No proof was necessary to satisfy us here of your good conduct every where. In answer to your request to obtain and transmit the proper authority of the U.S. for your retaining the order of St. Anne conferred on you by the Empress, I can only say that the...
17From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: National Archives; two copies: Library of Congress I have received a Letter from the Board of Admiralty, containing their Orders for the Return of the Alliance, a Copy of which is annex’d for your Government; and I hereby direct that you carry the same into Execution with all possible Expedition. With great Regard, I am, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Sert. Notation: From...
18From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 3 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This is to authorize & require you to receive & accomodate in your Ship as Passengers the honourable Arthur Lee & Ralph Izard, Esquires, late Ministers of the Congress at the Courts of France & Toscany. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Notations in different hands: Dr. Franklin’s order for our Passage / March 3d. 1780 Two weeks earlier BF had agreed to...
19The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 23 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives A pilote being wanted to conduct an Advice Boat to America, if you have in your Ship a suitable Person that can be spared, the Commissioners request, that you would permit him to go on that Service. We have the Honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servants. Endorsed: from the American...
20The Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 16 June 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 16 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:137–138 . Jones was ordered to prepare for a voyage to America on which he would harass the British as much as possible, specific mention being made of the vulnerability of the Newfoundland fishery and the transports passing back and...
21From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): National Archives 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...
22From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 22 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 12th. and one preceding. I am glad you took mine of the 5th as it was intended in friendship— It had appeared to me, that you hurt your own Views, and weaken’d your own hands by a censorious [quarellous?] Disposition that obstructed your Acquisition of … … at your Request and to prevent Mischief, the orders were not caried into Execution, I...
23From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 8 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I think the method you propose for applying to the court of Denmark for the compensation due for the prizes taken by the squadron you commanded in Europe, is a proper one: therefore I will undertake to write to Mr. Adams on the subject, and have no doubt he will support Doctr. Bancroft in his sollicitations to the Danish minister at London for this purpose. I have the honour to be with the...
24The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 16 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, June 16, 1778: You will return to America as soon as possible, meanwhile keeping your destination secret. Embrace any opportunity to take prizes or harass the enemy, even if it means going out of your way; the Newfoundland fisheries are one objective, and another is transports on the coast or returning to...
25From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 24 January 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
The United States of America in Congress assembled having thought proper by their resolve of the 25th of October 1787 to authorize and instruct me finally to settle and conclude all demands of the United States against His Majesty the King of Denmark, on account of their prizes delivered to Great Britain during the late war, and to dispatch yourself or any other agent to the court of Denmark...
26From George Washington to John Paul Jones, 2 September 1787 (Washington Papers)
Should this letter reach you in time, the purport of it is, to beg your care of the enclosed to the Marqs de la Fayette; and to inform you that all the letters, Memorials, and Papers of every kind which had been transmitted to me as President General of the Society of the Cincinnati, were forwarded (not expecting to attend it myself) to the last General meeting holden in this City but how they...
27The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 25 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Library of Congress; AL (draft) and copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, May 25, 1778: We congratulate you on your success and safe return. Until we hear about an exchange of prisoners we advise you to keep yours securely confined. If we can get an equal number of American seamen to man the Drake she will add to your strength, whereas sending...
28From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 14 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Delaware In compliance with the within Recommendation of M. de Sartine, I do hereby desire you to admit M. Chamillard de Varville to the Command en second of the French Voluntiers on board the Bonhomme Richard. Wishing you every kind of Success and Prosperity, I have the Honour to be, Dear Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant
29From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 26 December 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Jefferson’s compliments to Commodore Jones and returns him the book he was so good as to give him the perusal of. He incloses him a letter he has just received, and asks his information as to the justice of the claim. He will be obliged now to occupy himself some two or three days about commercial arrangements just now made at Versailles and which he must translate, have printed, and...
30From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 9 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 1st Instant, I have made the Application you desire in behalf of the Officer who wishes to have leave to go with you, and for the Americans who are come from Senegal, and I hope for a favourable Answer. I need not tell you that I wish you a good Voyage, and all the Success that I am sure you...