Captain Jones, as appears by the accounts of Mr. Schweighauser, agent appointed by William Lee, amounted to which I paid. The disbursements on her refit in Holland were paid by the King, as were also those on her second refit after her return to L'Orient, as long as she was under the care of Captain Jones. But Captain Landais, when he resumed the command of her, thought fit to take what he wanted of Mr. Schweighauser's agent, to the amount of 31,668 livres 12s. 3d., for which, being contrary to my orders given to Mr. Schweighauser, on his asking them upon the occasion, I refused to pay, (my correspondence with him will show you my reasons,) and of those paid by the King I have no account. 66 Question 9th. Why the Alliance lay so long at Port L'Orient, after her arrival there from the Texel, and in general every information in your power respecting the Alliance, and the expedition referred to?" Answer. Her laying so long at L'Orient was first occasioned by the mutinous disposition of the officers and men, who refused to raise the anchors till they should receive wages and prize money. I did not conceive they had a right to demand payment of wages in a foreign country, or any where but at the port they came from, no one here knowing on what terms they were engaged, what they had received, or what was due to them. The prize money I wished them to have; but as that could not soon be obtained, I thought it wrong in them to detain the vessel on that account; and as I was informed many of them were in want of necessaries, I advanced twenty-four thousand livres on account, and put it into Captain Jones's hands to relieve and pacify them, that they might go more willingly. But they were encouraged by some meddling passengers to persist. The King would have taken the prizes, and paid for them at the rate per gun, &c., as he pays for warlike vessels taken by his ships; but they raised a clamor at this, it being put into their heads that it was a project for cheating them, and they demanded a sale by auction. The Minister, who usually gives more when ships are taken for the King than they will produce by auction, readily consented to this when I asked it of him; but then this method required time to have them inventoried, advertised in different ports to create a fuller concurrence of buyers, &c. Captain Jones came up to Paris to hasten the proceedings. In his absence, Captain Landais, by the advice of Mr. Lee and Commodore Gillon, took possession of the ship, and kept her long, writing up to Paris, waiting answers, &c. I have often mentioned to Congress the inconvenience of putting their vessels under the care of persons living, perhaps, one hundred leagues from the port they arrive at, which necessarily creates delays, and, of course, enormous expenses; and for a remedy I have as often recommended the appointment of consuls, being very sensible of my own insufficiency in maritime affairs, which have taken up a vast deal of my time, and given me abundance of trouble, to the hinderance sometimes of more important business. I hope these inconveniences will now be soon removed by the arrival of Mr. Palfrey. As the Ministry had reasons, if some of the first plans had been pursued, to wish the expedition might be understood as American, the instructions were to be given by me, and the outfit was committed to Monsieur de Chaumont, known to be one of our friends, and well acquainted with such affairs. Monsieur le Marquis de la Fayette, who was to have been concerned in the execution, can probably acquaint you with those reasons. If not, I shall do it hereafter. It afterwards continued in the hands of M. de Chaumont to the end. I never paid or received a farthing directly or indirectly on account of the expedition; and the captains having made him their trustee and agent, it is to him they are to apply for their proportions of the captures. There may be something, though I believe very little, coming to the United States from the Alliance's share of a small ransom made contrary to orders. No account has been rendered to me of that ransom, therefore I cannot say how much, but will inquire about it, and inform you hereafter. Most of the colliers taken were burnt or sunk. The ships of war taken, I understand belong wholly to the captors. If any particulars remain, on which you desire information, be pleased to mention them. I think it my duty to give you all the satisfaction in my power, and shall do it willingly. Being with great regard, gentlemen, &c., B. FRANKLIN. Agreement between Captain John Paul Jones and the Officers of the Squadron. Translation. Agreement between Messieurs. John Paul Jones, Captain of the Bon Homme Richard; Pierre Landais, Captain of the Alliance; Dennis Nicolas Cottineau, Captain of the Pallas; Joseph Varage, Captain of the Stag; and Philip Nicolas Ricot, Captain of the Vengeance; composing a squadron, that shall be commanded by the oldest officer of the highest grade, and so on in succession in case of death or retreat. None of the said commanders, whilst they are not separated from the said squadron, by order of the Minister, shall act but by virtue of the brevet, which they shall have obtained from the United States of America, and it is agreed that the flag of the United States shall be displayed. The division of prizes to the superior officers and crews of the said squadron, shall be made agreeably to the American laws; but it is agreed, that the proportion of the whole, coming to each vessel in the squadron, shall be regulated by the Minister of the Marine Department of France, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America. A copy of the American laws shall be annexed to the present agreement, after having been certified by the commander of the Bon Homme Richard; but as the said laws cannot foresee nor determine as to what may concern the vessels and subjects of other nations, it is expressly agreed, that whatever may be contrary to them shall be regulated by the Minister of the French Marine, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America. It is likewise agreed, that the orders given by the Minister of the French Marine, and the Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America, shall be executed. Considering the necessity there is of preserving the interests of each individual, the prizes that shall be taken shall be remitted to the orders of Monsieur le Ray de Chaumont, Honorary Intendant of the Royal Hotel of Invalids, who has furnished the expenses of the armament of the said squadron. It has been agreed, that M. le Ray de Chaumont be requested not to give up the part of the prizes coming to all the crews, and to each individual of the said squadron, but to their order, and to be responsible for the same in his own proper name. Whereas the said squadron has been formed for the purpose of injuring the common enemies of France and America, it has been agreed that such armed vessels, whether French or American, may be associated therewith, as by common consent shall be found suitable for the purpose, and that they shall have such proportion of the prizes, which shall be taken, as the laws of their respective countries allow them. In case of the death of any one of the beforementioned commanders of vessels, he shall be replaced agreeably to the order of the tariff, with liberty, however, to choose whether he will remain on board his own vessel, and give up to the next in order the command of the vacant ship. It has moreover been agreed, that the commander of the Stag shall be excepted from the last article of this present agreement, because, in case of a disaster to M. de Varage, he shall be replaced by his second in command, and so on by the other officers of his cutter, the Stag. J. P. JONES, P. LANDAIS, DE COTTINEAU, P. RICOT, LE RAY DE CHAUMONT. JAMES LOVELL TO B. FRANKLIN. Sir, March 31st, 1781. I send you a few newspapers, and the last monthly journals which have come from the press. The enemy will tell their own story of the naval engagement on the 16th. They have ventured nearer to truth in Rivington's Royal Gazette than almost at any one time before since the very commencement of hostilities. Our allies conducted most gallantly, and the enemy are so convinced of the activity of the French commander that they have not ventured to remain in the Chesapeake Bay, to do all the damage which the event of the battle had put in their power. I send you General Greene's account of an affair between him and Cornwallis, on the 15th. It differs but little from the prints. I will endeavor to have it struck at the press. You shall have it, at least, with our good Secretary's attestation, which is in the best credit, even with the enemy. The opportunity of sending is too precarious to admit of my enlarging. Your most humble servant, JAMES LOVELL, For the Committee of Foreign Affairs. JAMES LOVELL TO B. FRANKLIN. Philadelphia, May 9th, 1781. Sir, Mr. Samuel Curson and Mr. Isaac Gouverneur, Jr., of St. Eustatia, after that place was taken, were sent to England in the Vengeance man of war, Commodore Hotham, stripped of every thing but their wearing apparel; their books, papers, and slaves, having been taken from them, and Mrs. Gouverneur, with a young infant, turned out of doors. Special severity, it is supposed, has been shown to them in consequence of their acting as agents to Congress. Doctor John Witherspoon, Jr., also, who was surgeon of the De Graaf letter of marque, taken at St. Eustatia, is sent to England in the Alimena man of war, and very hardly treated, on account of his father being a member of Congress, as is supposed. Your particular attention to the exchange of these persons will tend to give confidence to all who, being connected specially with Congress, are exposed to captivity, and will also very particularly oblige the relations of these unfortunates, who have requested Congress to mention these circumstances to you. Your most humble servant, JAMES LOVELL, For the Committee of Foreign Affairs. TO M. DE LA FAYETTE. Passy, May 14th, 1781. Dear Sir, You are a very good correspondent, which I do not deserve, as I am a bad one. The truth is, I have too much business upon my |