Papers of John Adams, volume 7

398 John Julius Pringle to the Commissioners, 9 February 1779 Pringle, John Julius Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur JA First Joint Commission at Paris

1779-02-09

John Julius Pringle to the Commissioners, 9 February 1779 Pringle, John Julius Franklin, Benjamin Lee, Arthur Adams, John First Joint Commission at Paris

John Julius Pringle to the Commissioners

Gentlemen Paris 9 Feby. 1779

Having heard that it is your intention to dispatch some person to England to negotiate an Exchange of Prisoners,1 I presume to offer you my services on that occasion. Having ever professed the purest attachment to the Cause and Interests of my Country, and ready to embrace every opportunity within my power of demonstrating it, the present will be extremely agreeable to me. If therefore no person should offer more able or likely to give entire satisfaction in the discharge of this commission, I shall think myself highly honoured and obliged if you will be pleased to intrust it to me, pledging myself for the prompt and faithful discharge of it, and shall be happy to defray myself the Expences I may incur on account of it.

I have the honour to be Gentlemen, Your most obedt. hble. Servt.

J. J. Pringle

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “To The Honourable, B. Franklin A. Lee J. Adams Esquires American Plenipotentiaries at Passy.”

Pringle presumably had heard of the Commissioners' “intention” from Arthur Lee, who saw him as an alternative to Edward Bancroft, the original choice of Franklin and JA (Lee to Franklin and JA, 7 Feb., above). Lee forwarded Pringle's letter with his own to Franklin and JA of 9 Feb., endorsed Pringle as a gentleman “unexceptionable as to character and ability,” and hoped he would meet with Franklin's and JA's approval (PPAmP: Franklin Papers). Although Pringle's offer was accepted by Lee and JA on 12 Feb. (below), it is not known whether he went to England.

At the outbreak of the Revolution, John Julius Pringle of South Carolina was a member of the Middle Temple in London, but soon went to France, where he served as Ralph Izard's secretary in 1778 and 1779. In 1781 he returned to South Carolina, where he became active in state politics ( DAB ).

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 February 1779 Franklin, Benjamin JA Jones, John Paul

1779-02-10

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones, 10 February 1779 Franklin, Benjamin Adams, John Jones, John Paul

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to John Paul Jones

Sir Passy, Feb. 10th. 1779

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 to employ you in some public Service. That Lieut. Simpson, was appointed to the Command of the Ranger with your Consent, after having consented to release him from an Arrest, under which you had put him.

399

That your leaving the Ranger in our Opinion ought not and cannot be any Injury to your Rank or Character, in the Service of the United States; and that your Commission in their Navy continues in full Force.1

We have the honor to be Sir, Your most obedient humble Servants

B Franklin John Adams2

RC (PCC, No. 168, f. 229–231); docketed: “Certificate letter from their Excellencies B. Franklin & J. Adams Esqrs. dated Passy Feby. 10th. 1779. No. 5.”

For Jones' earlier complaint of false reports about his replacement by Thomas Simpson as captain of the Ranger, see his letter to the Commissioners of 15 Aug. (vol. 6:372–373). This letter, intended to put to rest those damaging reports that had persisted during the fall and winter as Jones awaited a new command, may have received its immediate impetus from Sartine's appointment of Jones to command the Duc de Duras, i.e. Bonhomme Richard, on 4 Feb. (PCC, No. 168, f. 279–281).

For the absence of Arthur Lee's signature, see his letter to Benjamin Franklin and JA, 10 Feb. (below).