To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 5 July 1779
From John Paul Jones
ALS: Princeton University Library
L’Orient July 5th. 1779
Honored & dear Sir,
I embraced the Opportunity which presented itself to write to you by the Captain of the Epervier who arrived here the day before, it is believed, from Martinico and as he went off express Undertook to deliver my letter to you at Passy on his way to Paris.—3
I have now the honor to forward a letter from Captn. Landais with Copies of the Papers that respect the Prize &c. for your particular information.—4 The Admiralty will this day put their Seals on the Hatches.— Yesterday being very stormy the Alliance touched the Ground a short while before High water but I think recd. no Damage.
I have the honor to be with real Esteem & Greatful Affection. Dear Sir Your very Obliged Friend and very humble Servant.
Jno P Jones
N.B. I have only this moment recd. the within
His Excellency Doctor Franklin.
3. The Epervier was a 16-gun corvette, commanded by the comte de Capellis, which had just returned from Senegal and Gambia: Asa Bird Gardiner, The Order of the Cincinnati in France … (Providence, 1905), p. 145; E. Chevalier, Histoire de la marine française pendant la guerre de l’indépendance américaine … (Paris, 1877), p. 133n. The preceding summer Jones had attempted to obtain her for the squadron he hoped to command: Bradford, Jones Papers, reel 2, nos. 359, 366, 379, 383–4, 386, 401.
4. Landais’ letter of July 2 reporting the capture of the Three Friends (ibid., reel 4, no. 663).