Papers of John Adams, volume 6

Abraham Whipple to the Commissioners, 15 June 1778 Whipple, Abraham First Joint Commission at Paris JA

1778-06-15

Abraham Whipple to the Commissioners, 15 June 1778 Whipple, Abraham First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John

Abraham Whipple to the Commissioners

Gentlemen On board Ship Providence Paimbeuf June 15t. 1778

Had the honour of Recieving your Letter1 per Capt. Jones, beg leave to mention there are no Orders relative to my Prisoners, which should be glad to Recieve. Am Repairing my Masts and will make the Old Ones serve, New Ones being very expensive. Shall be as frugal as possible. Capt. Jones acquaints me you have some Cloathing and Arms for the United States it is in my Power to Carry considerable, if I know timely the Quantity and Largeness of Bales; that I may stow the Ship Accordingly. The Ship will be graved and in readiness to take in in twelve Days. My Midshipmen are Arrived having made their escape to St. Maloes. The Prize Brigantine is safe at the Isle of Rea.2 I have Ordered her round here, and shall deliver her to Charge of Mr. Schweighaser on Arrival at Nantes. Have the Honour to be Your most Obedt. very Humble Servt.

Abraham Whipple

NB My Masts are now on shore a Repairing with all possible Expedition.

210

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); docketed: “Captn. Ab. Whipples Letter. Paimbeuf 15 June 1778.”

That of 6 June (calendared above).

Presumably the He de Ré, located off La Rochelle in the Bay of Biscay southeast of Paimboeuf. The brigantine captured by the Providence had been recaptured by the British and was in turn recaptured by a French vessel (Allen, Naval Hist. of the Amer. Revolution , 1:356). The returned midshipmen may have been members of the prize crew put aboard the brigantine by Whipple, who had managed to escape from the British ship that made the initial recapture.

The Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 16 June 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris JA Jones, John Paul

1778-06-16

The Commissioners to John Paul Jones, 16 June 1778 First Joint Commission at Paris Adams, John Jones, John Paul

The Commissioners to John Paul Jones

Passy, 16 June 1778. printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography , 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 forth between England and America. The Commissioners also directed Jones to carry, but not to await, whatever dispatches might reach him from the Commissioners or the French government and to put on board whatever cargo he could, so long as it did not impair the fighting and sailing qualities of the Ranger.

These orders could not have reached Jones at Brest, for he had already left that place and must have been nearing Paris (Jones to the Commissioners, 3 June, note 2, above). They are curious in view of the correspondence that had passed between Jones and Franklin. The text, together with Arthur Lee's surprise at Jones' arrival (to JA, 5 July, below), indicates that the Commissioners, on the 16th at least, believed that Jones would remain at Brest and thus be able to leave for America immediately (see also Commissioners to Jones, 22 Aug. [1st], below).This is another indication that JA and Arthur Lee were acting without full information and that an effort was being made to conceal Franklin's dealings with Jones. Lee's letter of 5 July indicates that Jones received his orders after his arrival, perhaps on 23 June, the date on which very similar instructions were sent to Capt. Abraham Whipple of the Providence ( Diary and Autobiography , 4:140–141).

printed: (JA, Diary and Autobiography , 4:137–138).