Papers of John Adams, volume 7

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.

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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).

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to J. D. Schweighauser, 10 February 1779 Franklin, Benjamin JA Schweighauser, John Daniel

1779-02-10

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to J. D. Schweighauser, 10 February 1779 Franklin, Benjamin Adams, John Schweighauser, John Daniel

Benjamin Franklin and John Adams to J. D. Schweighauser

Sir Passy feby 10 1779

Capt. Jones has represented to us his Desire and Intention of returning to the Countess of Selkirk, some Plate which his People took from her house.1

We apprehend that Congress would not disapprove of this Measure, as far as it should depend upon them; and We therefore consent on the Part of the United States that this Plate should be return'd. This Consent is to be understood to extend no farther than to the share to which the U.S. may be suppos'd to have a Claim. The Claim of the Officers and Men, Cap. Jones must be responsible to them for. This Plate in the whole is represented to be worth about 100 Guineas.2

LbC in the hand of William Temple Franklin (Adams Papers).

The Selkirk plate had been taken on 23 April 1778, when Jones raided St. Mary's Isle on the coast of Scotland during the Ranger's expedition in the Irish Sea. For an account of the raid, see Jones to the Commissioners, 27 May 1778, and note 1 (vol. 6:159–167). Jones' offer to return the silver, made in a letter to the Countess of Selkirk, dated 8 May 1778, was rejected by the Earl of Selkirk in a letter of 9 June to Jones, which he never received (Morison, John Paul Jones , p. 148–150, 151–154). When Benjamin Franklin learned of the contents of the Earl's letter, he informed Jones, in a letter of 24 Feb., that the booty would not be accepted if it came from his hands (Wharton, ed., Dipl. Corr. Amer. Rev. , 3:61). The affair ended when, after the war and at considerable expense to himself, Jones successfully returned the plate (Morison, John Paul Jones , p. 154–155).

At the bottom of his letterbook copy of this letter, Arthur Lee wrote: “not signd by A. Lee” (PCC, No. 102, IV, f. 152).

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