61From George Washington to John Paul Jones, 22 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
I avail myself of the liberty you have been so obliging as to give me, to trouble you with the care of the enclosed packet. It was my intention to have added to this trouble by encreasing the number of my letters, but business has prevented; let me pray therefore that you will do me the honor to present me, in affectionate terms to the Marqs de la Fayette, and assure him, that though hurried,...
62From 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...
63From 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...
64From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 5 January 178[6] (Jefferson Papers)
I take the liberty of inclosing to you a letter with which I am honoured from his Excellency the Marechal de Castries and a Memorial accompanying it, by which it appears that a certain Françoise Rippert claims to be paid 675₶ out of the portions of prize-money due to one Robinson, garde-marine and John Francfort pilot of the squadron which was under your command which sum she says they are...
65From 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...
66From 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...
67The 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...
68From 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...
69To Thomas Jefferson from John Paul Jones, 11 March 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been so much indisposed, since my arrival here the 4th. from the fatigue and excessive cold I suffered on the Road, that I have been obliged to confine myself almost constantly to my Chamber. I have kept my Bed for several Days; but I now feel myself better, and hope the danger is over. On my arrival I paid my respects to the minister of France. He received me with great kindness. We...
70The 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...
71From 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...
72From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 24 June 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I had prepared a letter for you to the Count de Vergennes but I think it rather better before we resort to him that the Marechal de Castries should be again applied to and the resolution of Congress and certificate of Mr. Morris presented to his view. I therefore return you the papers left with me yesterday, and your draught of a letter inclosed this morning which is perfectly proper in all...
73From 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...
74From 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...
75From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 10 July 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
An opportunity having occurred of writing to America and to England by a person leaving Paris to-day , I have been unable sooner to answer the letter with which you honoured me two days ago. On recurring to the letter of the Board of treasury it becomes more evident to me that it does not empower me to settle the sum to which you are entitled; and that their meaning as to the arrangement they...
76From John Adams to John Paul Jones, 17 July 1786 (Adams Papers)
I have received the Letter you did me the honour to write me, on the 10 th. of this month, and embrace the oppertunity by Colonel Trumbull to answer it, The Comte de Reventlow, complaisantly enough, inclosed my Letter to the Baron D e. Waltersdorf, in his dispatch to the Danish Ministry, and informed him that it related to a public affair so that there is no room to doubt, that the Letter went...
77From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me the 25. & 28th past. I am glad to learn that you can take a Quantity of the Cloathing and Arms: and that you can accommodate the 4 Gentlemen I had mentiond to you. M. De Sartine desires also a Place for a Passenger that goes on some Business from him: I make no doubt of your...
78From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 1 June 1792 (Jefferson Papers)
The President of the United States having thought proper to appoint you Commissioner for treating with the Dey and government of Algiers on the subjects of peace and ransom of our captives, I have the honour to inclose you the Commissions, of which Mr. Thomas Pinkney now on his way to London as our Minister Plenipotentiary there, will be the bearer. Supposing that there exists a disposition to...
79The American Commissioners to John Paul Jones, with Arthur Lee’s Dissent and Their Rejoinder: Three Documents, 16[–18] … (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library; (II) ALS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library; (III) ALS : National Archives; ALS (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Harvard University Library As it is not in our Power to procure you such a Ship as you expected, we advise you after equipping the Ranger in the best...
80From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 15 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress (two), National Archives (two); extract: National Archives I received the Account of your Cruize & Engagement with the Serapis, which you did me the honour to send me from the Texel. I have since received your Favour of the 8th from Amsterdam. For some Days after the Arrival of your Express scarce any thing was talked of at Paris and...
81From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 19 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; two copies: Library of Congress I received yours from Corogne of the 16th past, and from L’Orient of the 13th Inst. I rejoice that you are safely arrived in France, malgré all the Pains taken to intercept you. As to Refitting of your Ship at the Expence of this Court, I must acquaint you that there is not the least probability of obtaining it, and therefore I cannot ask...
82From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly yours of Oct. 13 & 20th. I am extreamly sorry for your Misfortune. The Storm was a terrible one, it was well you escaped with your Lives. Since your Departure I have received the Acct. of Messrs. Gourlade & Moylan, and I am astonished to find that I am charged with so heavy a Sum as near 100,000 Livres for the Expences of the Ariel. After having twice...
83From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 12 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress Saturday Morning last, I received a Letter Signed by about 115 of the Sailors of the Alliance, declaring that they would not raise the Anchor nor Depart from L’orient, till they had six Months Wages paid them, and the utmost farthing of their Prize money, including the Ships sent into Norway, and until their legal Captain P. Landais is restored...
84The Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 25 May 1778 (Adams Papers)
Passy, 25 May 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 4:112–114 . Responding to Jones’ letters of 9 and 16 May (both above), the Commissioners’ letter, drafted by Adams, congratulated him on his arrival at Brest, requested an account of his voyage, and advised him of their preference that...
85From 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...
86From 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...
87From 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...
88From Thomas Jefferson to John Paul Jones, 23 March 1789 (Jefferson Papers)
Your favor of Jan. 20/31 from Petersburg came safe to hand, and is the only proof we have received of your existence since you left Copenhagen. I mention this that, reflecting how and what you have written heretofore, you may know how and what you may write hereafter. I shall put nothing into this letter but what is important to you, and unimportant to any government thro which it may pass. To...
89From 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...
90From 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...