From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Nesbitt, 17 June 1780
To Jonathan Nesbitt
Copy: Library of Congress
Passy, June 17. 1780
Sir
I thank you for the information contained in your favour of the 13th. Instant. Orders are gone down from the Government to secure Capt. Landais, and assist Capt. Jones in recovering the Command of his Ship.3 I am sensible the Officers and Men must have been misled most probably by the Person you suspect, as much as by Capt Landais, and I doubt not their returning to their Duty; and that your Ship will have the Benefit of being under the Care and Convoy of that brave Commander. With great Regard I have the honour to be Sir, &c.
Mr. Jonathan Nesbit.
3. On June 20 Port Commandant Thévenard issued orders to have arrested any officer or seaman of the Alliance whom Jones designated: Charles H. Lincoln, ed., A Calendar of John Paul Jones Manuscripts in the Library of Congress (Washington, D.C., 1903), p. 154.