[Brest]
The Officers and Men belonging to the Ranger, present their Respects to Captain Jones, and beg leave to inform him that they are acquainted, that the Seals on the Lord Chatham1 are to be broak this Afternoon, and that they desire their Agent Mr. Rion2 may be present
13th May 1778
L, DLC, Peter Force Collection, Papers of John Paul Jones, no. 6739. Addressed: “John Paul Jones, Esqr/Present.” Docketed: “39/Request from the Officers/and Men belonging to/the Ranger—/13th May 1778.”
1. On the capture of Lord Chatham, a British merchantman, by Ranger, see Jones to the American Commissioners in France, 27 May, below.
2. The reference here is to Pierre Rïou, the King’s interpreter at the port of Nantes, who had become agent for the officers and crew. The prize master for the Lord Chatham wrote Benjamin Franklin that the crew was pleased to have Rïou as their agent, but John Paul Jones later contended that Rïou was a scoundrel who had sowed discord and duped his men. John Steward to Benjamin Franklin, 4 May 1778, Benjamin Franklin Papers, 26: 397; Jones to the American Commissioners in France, 9 Dec. 1778. PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 12, fol. 183.
