court martial being at this time inconvenient, if not impracticable, I would give him an earlier opportunity of 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 Čongress. 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 completed 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., who has a great regard for you. Pallas, Tuesday evening; October 19th, 1779. CAPTAIN JONES, Serapis, Captain Pearson presents his compliments to Captain Jones, and is sorry to find himself so little attended to in his present situation, as not to have been favored with either a Call or a line from Captain Jones since his return from Amsterdam. Captain Pis sorry to say that he cannot look upon such behaviour in any other light than as a breach of that Civility, which his Rank, as well as behaviour on all occasions entitles to, he at the same time wishes to be informed by Captain Jones whether any Steps has been taken towards the enlargement or exchange of him, his officers, and people, or what is intended to be done with, them. As he cannot help thinking it a very unprecedented circumstance their being keeped here as prisoners on board of ship, being so long in a neutral port. Serapis, Wednesday, October 20th, 1779. Captain PEARSON. SIR, As you have not been prevented from corresponding with your friends, and particularly with the English ambassador at the Hague, I could not suppose you to be unacquainted with his memorial, of the 8th, to the States General, and therefore I thought it fruitless to pursue the negotiation for the exchange of the prisoners of war, now in our hands. I wished to avoid any painful altercation with you on that subject;-I was persuaded that you had been in the highestdegree sensible, that my behaviour "towards you had been far from a breach of civility.' This charge is not, Sir, a civil return for the polite hospitality and disinterested attentions which you have hitherto experienced. I know not what difference of respect is due to "Rank," between your service and ours; I suppose, however, the difference must be thought very great in England, since I am informed that Captain Cunningham, of equal denomination, and who bears a senior rank in the service of America, than yours in the service of England, is now confined at Plymouth in a dungeon, and in fetters. Humanity, which has hitherto superseded the plea of retaliation in American breasts, has induced me, (notwithstanding the procedure of Sir Joseph Yorke,) to seek after permission to land the dangerously wounded, as well prisoners as Americans; to be supported and cured at the expense of our Continent. The permission of the government has been obtained, but the magistrates continue to make objections. I shall not discontinue my application. I am ready to adopt any means that you may propose for their preservation and recovery, and in the mean-time we shall continue to treat them with the utmost care and attention, equally, as you know, to the treatment of our people of the same rank. As it is possible that you have not yet seen the memorial of your ambassador to the States General, I enclose a paper which contains a copy,-and I believe he has since written Аа what, in the opinion of good men, will do still less honor to his pen. I cannot conclude, without informing you that unless Captain Cunningham, is immediately better treated in England, I expect orders in consequence, from His Excellency Dr. Franklin, therefore, I beseech you, Sir, to interfere. I am, Sir, &c. On board the Serapis, at the Texel, M. LE RAY DE CHAUMONT. I owed you my dear friend an earlier reply to your much esteemed favor of the 11th, from Passy. Although I am sensible that I have not yet merited the many compliments and generous praises that you have there bestowed on my past conduct, yet I should be very unworthy indeed, if I did not return you my most grateful and sincere thanks. There is a warmth of expression in your compliments which affords me the truest pleasure, as a proof that I still enjoy a share of your affection; and although Captain Landais has lately told me at Amsterdam that you proposed to him to displace me from the Bon homme Richard, yet I believe the assertion false, and calculated to serve a base and selfish purpose. I pity and despise his narrow and jealous mind, that could form an idea of my character so far beneath it, as to suppose that I sought to supplant him, in the command of the Alliance. It must be his punishment to be informed, as he will by his Excellency Dr. Franklin, that I have always written in his favor,-and you well know that I took every possible pains to establish him in that command, and to gain back to him the confidence of his people, which when he first came to serve under my orders he had entirely lost. I can now tell besides, that although my officers in the Bon homme Richard were the only persons blamed for the damage sustained when the two ships ran foul of each other, yet Captain Landais could, and should have prevented that accident. He was on deck, and it was his duty to make way for his senior officer and commander, instead of running below, as I am assured he did, with trepidation to load his pistols!-On our late expedition he left off to chase a ship, thought to be an English East-Indiaman, without my orders, having first bore away several times, while he could easily have overtaken her. And to his fears and remonstrances on the coast of Ireland, is owing the escape of the eight EastIndia ships that arrived at Limerick, three days after I had gratified him by leaving sight of the entrance of that harbor. His separation from the squadron afterward, is owing, as the officers of the Alliance inform me, to his altering the course both times in the night. Captain Landais has told me at Amsterdam that he saw the Countess of Scarborough rake the Bon homme Richard, early in the engagement. He ought to be ashamed to confess that he lay to windward, and permitted this! It is certain that the Bonne homme Richard then was raked by a full broadside, besides sustaining the whole fire of the Serapis. Many people are of opinion that Captain Landais also about that time raked the Bon homme Richard :-however that was, I verily believe that in firing the two last broadsides upon the Bon homme Richard, he did not wish all the shot to miss Captain Jones, and also that the worst shot which the Bon homme Richard received under water came from the Alliance. He has since our arrival here, told Col. de Weibert and others of my officers, that "he was in no haste to come to our assistance, because there would have been no harm if we had been taken, to give him an opportunity of retaking the Bon homme Richard." None but a fool, a mad-man, or a villain would have raked at that distance, while a friend and an enemy were made fast along side of each other. If he had wished to act the part of an officer or a man he would have come to my assistance long before the two ships were in a situation that to rake the one at the range of grape shot, he must necessarily rake the other. But why should I dwell on a subject which can afford neither you nor me pleasure. I am now convinced that I now enjoy your friendship and affectionate wishes; therefore I beseech you to pardon the freedom of my letters, that I forwarded by M. de Chamillard; which though a proof of the honest pride which will ever attend an independent and disinterested spirit, is also I hope a proof that my mind is far above the little arts of falsehood and double dealing. It shall be my pride to acknowledge every where how much I owe to the attentions of France, and to the personal friendship of M. de Chaumont, for furnishing me with the means of giving liberty to all the American prisoners now in Europe-for that is the greatest triumph which a good man can boast, and is therefore a thousand times more flattering to me than victory. I ardently wish for future opportunities to render_real services to our common cause; which is the only way I can hope to prove my gratitude to France, to America, and to my much loved friend M. de Chaumont, and his amiable family, with whom I sincerely desire to live henceforth in the fullest confidence and affection. In the fullness of my heart, I am with the highest respect, my dear Chaumont, your truly obliged friend, &c. New-York, December, 1824. I certify that the original of the preceding letter, was duly received by my father, LE RAY DE CHAUMONT. The determinations of the French Court, which appear to have been too tardy for Jones's ardent wish for active employment at this period of his history, seem to have occasioned him some uneasiness. He had, moreover, as every celebrated man will have, rivals and enemies, who felt rebuked beneath his superior genius, instilled suspicions into the minds of the French ministry, and contested his claim to an independent command, where the cost of a cruize or expedition was to be defrayed by the treasury of France. Jones did not conceal his sensations. He refused to accept of any other commission than one from the Congress, or to fight under any other flag than that of the United States. He expressed his sentiments freely, and began to think of returning to America. The Duke de la Vauguyon was apprised of the Commodore's dissatisfaction and wrote to him a soothing letter, of which the following is a correct translation : Hague, December 21st, 1779. Commodore JONES, in the road of the Texel. I have received, my dear Commodore, the letter which you have addressed to me. I perceive with pain, that you do not view your situation in the right light; and I can assure you that the ministers of the king have no intention to cause you the least disagreeable feelings, as the honorable testimonials of the esteem of His Majesty which I send you, ought to convince you. I hope you will not doubt the sincere desire with which you have inspired me, to procure you every satisfaction you may merit. It cannot fail to be precious to you, and to incite you to give new proofs of your |