Brest August 15th. 1778
Gentlemen
I have now been five days in this place since my Arrival from Passy—during which time neither seen nor heard from Lieutenant Simpson1—But Mr. Hill,2 who was last Winter at Passy and who sailed with me from Nantes, informs me truly—that it is generally reported in the Ranger and of course throughout the French Fleet and on Shore—That I am turned out of the Service—and that you Gentlemen, have Mr. Simpson my place with a Captains Commission.— That my letter of the 16th of July3 to you was Involuntary on my part, And in Obedience only to your Orders, to avert dreadful consequences to myself. These, Gentlemen are not idle illgrounded conjectures, but melancholy Facts.— Therefore I beseech you, I conjure you, I demand of you to afford me Redress—Redress by a Court-Martial—to form which we have now a Sufficient number of Officers in France with the assistance of Captain Hinman exclusive of myself—The Providence and the Boston are expected here very Soon from Nantes and I am certain that they neither can nor will depart again before my friend Captain Hinman can come down here—and it is his unquestioned Right to Succeed me in the Command of the Ranger.4
I have faithfully and personally supported and Fought the Dignified Cause of Human Nature ever since the American Banner first waved on the Delaware and on the Ocean. This I did when that Man did not call himself a Republican but left the Continent and served its Enemies—and this I did when that Man Appeared Dastardly Backward and did not Support me as he ought.5
I conclude by requesting you to call before you and examin for your own satisfaction Mr. Edwd. Meyrs6 who is now at the House of the Sweeish Ambassador and who having been with me as a Volunteer can and will I am persuaded represent to you the conduct of the officers and Men towards me both before I left Brest & afterwards in the Irish Channell as well as my conduct towards them. I have the honor to be [&c]
Jno P Jones
L, PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 9, no. 49. Addressed below close: “Their Excellencies/The American Plenipotentiaries.” Docketed on a separate sheet: “Capt Jones—/Brest Augt 15—/1778—.”
1. Lt. Thomas Simpson of Continental Navy ship Ranger.
2. Midn. Benjamin Hill.
3. See Jones to American Commissioners, 16 July, above.
4. Capt. Elisha Hinman, former commander of the Continental Navy ship Alfred and a recent escapee from Forton Prison in England, refused to serve on a court-martial. Abraham Whipple to Jones, 18 August, MiU-C, Abraham Whipple Letter Book. As seen at American Commissioners to Whipple, 16 July 1778, and American Commissioners to Simpson, 16 July 1778, Simpson had been placed in command of Ranger and was ordered to go to sea in company of Continental frigate Providence, commanded by Capt. Whipple, and Continental frigate Boston, commanded by Capt. Samuel Tucker.
5. There is no evidence Simpson had done anything “Dastardly” or inimical to the United States.
6. On the Swedish volunteer Lt. Jean Meÿer and his relationship with Jones, see note at Jones to Edward Bancroft, 14 Aug., above.
