Paris Jany. 17th. 1778
To Capt. Jones.
Tho I approve in general of the precedeing Instructions,1 yet I cannot sign them because they contain an order to put the sale of prizes into other hands than those of the commercial Agents, which I have always thought unjust; & recommend Mr. Goulard, tho' that Gentleman & his Company, have forfeited our confidence in the business already entrusted to them.
Arthur Lee
As Mr William Lee, one of the Commercial Agents in whom we could have placed a Confidence, has quitted that Service, (and we can have none in the prudent Conduct of the other, Mr Thomas Morris,) we did not think it convenient to recommend your consigning your Prizes to their Care[;] And as we know of nothing done by Mr Gourlade, whereby he ought to forfeit our Confidence, we see no reason to change the Advice within given. Paris Jan. 18. 1778
B Franklin Silas Deane
L, DNA, PCC, item 168, vol. 1, p. 22 (M247, roll 185). Addressed at foot: "To Capt. Jones."
1. American Commissioners in France to Captain John Paul Jones, 16 Jan., above.
