Drake, Brest June 6th. 1778.
Honored and dear Sir
Your much esteemed favor of the 1st. Current,1 which I received last Night lays me under a most singular Obligation:—I cannot but be deeply sensible of the Honor which is confered upon me by the proposition; and I really think it affords a very fair prospect of Success.
In a few days the return of a letter from Mr. Schweighauser will I hope enable me to leave Affairs here so as to Attend you at Paris.—2 I shall be happy in opportunities to prove by my Conduct, how much I wish to merit the continuance of your Confidence and that of the Prince.3
It gives me pleasure to hear of the Arrival of the Providence Frigate at Nantes—and as I believe the Boston is not yet departed from Bourdeaux, if you approve it they can Rendezvous here, which may enable us to regulate any disorders that may exist; and perhaps it may be more expedient that the Force4 should be United than kept separate. I have the Honor to be [&c.]
Jno P Jones
L, PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 10, fol. 17. Addressed below close: “His Excellency/Doctor Franklin.” Docketed, “P. Jones Brest 18 May 1778.”
1. See Franklin to Jones, 1 June, above.
2. See Jones to Jean-Daniel Schweighauser, 4 June, above.
3. Charles-Henri-Othon, Prince of Nassau-Siegen. In the margin of Jones’s draft of this letter is the sentence, “De Naussau who was to have imbarked under my Command.” DNA, PCC, item 168, vol. 1, p. 107 (M247, roll 185).
4. Continental Navy frigate Providence, Capt. Abraham Whipple, commander; Continental Navy frigate Boston, Capt. Samuel Tucker, commander; Continental Ship of War Ranger, Capt. John Paul Jones, commander. In the margin of the draft of this letter is written “On board the Ranger.” Ibid. As seen at Jones’s letter to Benjamin Franklin of 1 June, above, Jones wished to transfer disgruntled members of the crew of Ranger to Boston.
