Sir
You Undoubtedly must have heard of the Unfortunate Sene that happen'd to me the Very hour you had Appointed me to wait Upon you yester Evening, but I Doubt whether You are yet Inform'd of my Es[ca]pe, I therefore take this Method to lett you know that I am in Place of Safety, and waiting for Orders from you to March to Any Place you will Please to Appoint me. Captain hinman: was the Means of my getting away, his Boat was a Shore the Officer that was in the Boat knowd m[y] Case and on my Desire he lett the Boat Draw Under Our Stern and I got out of the Gun room Port and Slid down by the Rudder Shoe & got Safe a Board the Alfred,Captain hinman happen'd to be ther[e] he was kind anough as to lend me his Paniss [pinnace] who Carry'd me to Charlestown ferry where I had a horse waiting. I directly Mounted, and thanks. to God and to the kind [illegible] hinman, got Soon out of Reach of the Lions Claws.
And Am Now Sir Intirely at your Commands therefore I Beg you would honor me with them. If I am to Go at Any Distance from here I Shall be Obliged to Make Use of your kind Offer, and Desire you would furnish me with as much Cash as you'l.l think I Shall want in my Journey, for horshiring and Other Expences. I have A long Silve[r] Spoon and fork and a Mathematical Instrument case and Many other little things which I Shall remit you honor Me I beg of you with a few lines by the return of the Bearer who will wait your leasure I remain with Respect [&c.]
Louis Daniel Charrier2
Bedford the 10th June 1777
1. Papers of John Paul Jones, 6583, 6584, LC.
2. What Louis Charrier had escaped from is unknown. Jones seems to have engaged him to recruit for l'Amphitrite, and in July was ordered by Jones to recruit in Salem and Marblehead for the Ranger. Charrier sailed to France with Jones in Ranger, Papers of John Paul Jones, 6600, 6688, LC.
