1046. TO JOHN PAUL JONES1 (L. C.)

DEAR SIR,

Passy, Oct. 15, 1779.

I received the Account of your Cruize and Engagement with the Serapis, which you did me the honour to send me from the Texel. I have since received your Favor of the 8th, from Amsterdam. For some Days after the Arrival of your Express, scarce any thing was talked of at Paris and Versailles, but your cool Conduct and persevering Bravery during that terrible Conflict. You may believe, that the Impression on my Mind was not less strong than on that of others; but I do not chuse to say in a letter to yourself all I think on such an Occasion.

The Ministry are much dissatisfied with Captain Landais, and M. de Sartine has signified to me in writing that it is expected that I should send for him to Paris, and call him to Account for his Conduct particularly for deferring so long his coming to your Assistance, by which Means, it is supposed, the States lost some of their valuable Citizens, and the King lost many of his Subjects, Volunteers in your Ship, together with the Ship itself.

I have, accordingly, written to him this Day, acquainting him that he is charged with Disobedience of Orders in the Cruize, and Neglect of his Duty in the Engagement; that, a Court-Martial being at this Time inconvenient, if not impracticable, I would give him an earlier Opportunity of 1 This letter is in the Jones Papers (L. C.) endorsed: "A true copy taken at L'Orient in August 1780,

Joseph Wharton Junior."- ED.

offering what he has to say in his Justification, and for that Purpose direct him to render himself immediately here, bringing with him such Papers or Testimonies, as he may think useful in his Defence. I know not whether he will obey my orders, nor what the Ministry will do with him, if he comes; but I suspect that they may by some of their concise Operations save the Trouble of a Court-Martial. It will be well, however, for you to furnish me with what you may judge proper to support the Charges against him, that I may be able to give a just and clear Account of the Affair to Congress. In the mean time it will be necessary, if he should refuse to come, that you should put him under an Arrest, and in that Case, as well as if he comes, that you should either appoint some Person to command his Ship or take it upon yourself; for I know of no Person to recommend to you as fit for that Station.

I am uneasy about your Prisoners; I wish they were safe in France. You will then have compleated the glorious work of giving Liberty to all the Americans that have so long languished for it in the British Prisons; for there are not so many there, as you have now taken.

I have the Pleasure to inform you, that the two Prizes sent to Norway are safely arrived at Berghen. With the highest Esteem, I am, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

P.S. I am sorry for your Misunderstanding with M. de C[haumont], who has a great Regard for you.

1 The number of prisoners was five hundred and four.-S.

1047. TO CAPTAIN PETER LANDAIS (D. S. W.)

Passy Oct. 15, 1779

SIR, I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing me, the 4th Instant,1 with an Abstract of your journal. I thank you for your Care in sending it so early, and I congratulate you on the Success of your Cruize.

But I am sorry to find there are Charges against you for disobedience of orders, and also that the ministry here think the great loss among the king's subjects, viz., the French Volunteers on board the Bon Homme Richard, was owing to your not coming up sooner to her assistance, as it is supposed you might have done. M. de Sartine has in consequence written to me that it is expected I should cause an immediate Enquiry to be made into your Conduct. A Court-martial is the regular way, if you choose it: But as that may occasion a long Discussion, and be in many respects at this time inconvenient to the Service, I have (with the advice, too, of your friend M. de Chaumont) thought it better to give you an opportunity of justifying yourself, both to the Ministry and to me, coming directly to Paris, which I do hereby accordingly desire (or, to use a stronger Expression, as you may think such necessary to justify your leaving your ship, I do require) that you render yourself here as soon as possible. I need not advise you to bring with you such papers and testimonies as you may think proper for your Justification, and will only add that you

1 In A. P. S.- ED.

may be sure of finding in me every disposition to do that justice of your Character which it shall appear to merit. I have the honour to be, sir, etc.,

B. FRANKLIN.

1048. TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE NAVY FOR THE EASTERN DEPARTMENT, BOSTON

(D. S. W.)

Passy, October 17, 1779,

GENTLEMEN, I received the Letters you did me the honour of writing to me the 30th of July and 18th of August last, by the Mercury Packet-Boat and by a French Cutter, the other Dispatches Capt. Samson was entrusted with, came all safe to hand; and I should have dispatched him sooner if I had not found it necessary to detain him in order to send by him to Congress some Advices of Importance which could not be sooner obtained.

The Cruise of our little American Squadron, under Commodore Jones, intended partly to intercept the Baltic Trade, has had some Success, tho' not all that was hoped for. The Coasts of Britain and Ireland have been greatly alarmed, apprehending Descents, it being supposed that he had land forces with him. This has put the Enemy to much Expence in marching Troops from place to place. Several valuable Prizes have been made of Merchant-Ships, particularly two, one from London 300 Tons and 84 men, with 22 Guns, laden with naval Stores for Quebec; the other from Liverpool bound to New York and Jamaica, of 22 Guns and 87 men, laden with provisions and Bale Goods. These two

are safely arrived at Bergen, in Norway; two smaller Prizes are arrived in France, and a Number of Colliers have been burnt or ransomed. The Baltic fleet was met with, and the two Men-of-War who convoyed them, viz., the Serapis, a new ship of 44 Guns, and the Countess of Scarborough, of 20 Guns are taken after a long and bloody engagement, and are brought into the Texel. But the merchant-Ships escaped during the conflict, for which the Alliance and one of the other Ships are blamed, whether justly or not may be enquired into. Our Commodore's ship was so shatter'd that she could not be kept afloat, and the People being all taken out of her, she sank the Second Day after the Engagement. The rest of the Squadron are refitting in the Texel, from which neutral Place they will be obliged soon to depart with their prizes and Prisoners, near 400. I wish they may arrive safe in France, for I suppose the English will endeavour to intercept them. Jones's Bravery and Conduct in the Action has gain'd him great honour.

I condole with you on the Loss of our Armament against Penobscot, but I suppose the Sugar Ships since taken and brought into your Port have more than compensated the Expence, tho' not the disappointment of the well intended Expedition. The Congress write for Naval Stores. I have acquainted them that I have lately been informed that Stores for fitting out two 36 Gun frigates, which we bought here and sent out two Years ago are still lying in the Warehouses of M. Carrabas, at Cape François, having been forgotten there or never sent for. Perhaps you may obtain them. The Quebec Ship, if we can get her safe home, will afford large supply.

I am much oblig'd to you for the Newspapers. I shall