Philada. [Pa.] July 27 1778
My dear Sir
Capt Manly1 has obligd me with your favor of the 5th.2 He and McNeil3 are here with different Views. The one to obtain another Ship, and the other to get the Sentence of a Court Martial reversd—Perhaps both may be disappointed. I have receivd a Number of Letters by both. To yours I shall pay a particular Regard, because I am well satisfied you never suffer Prejudices to divert your Attention from the great Object—the publick Good. — “Manly is a blunt, honest, and I believe brave Officer." I observe your Caution, and am pleasd with it; for I think it is a fresh Proof of your Integrity. Manlys Bravery is an Article of your Belief. His Bluntness & Honesty are Matters of Certainty. I have not yet lookd into the Papers; but I recollect to have heard, when they were read, the Want of Experience imputed to him, and some thing that had the Appearance of blaming him for not giving any Signals for the Direction of the Ships under his Command. This it must be ownd, strongly implys a Want of Discretion. Does the Character of a blunt & honest Officer intitle him to the Command of a capital Ship if he is deficient in Point of Experience & Discretion? Especially if he has had the Misfortune of losing one already.— “McNeils Address is insinuating—His Assurance great—He will tell you fine Storys.” &c. I should think he had taken his Lessons out of Hutchinsons4 political Book, if I had not Reason to believe that he used to despise him most heartily.—When I advert to a Letter from another of my Friends, I find him “open & sincere” “His Temper naturally warm, which he has sometimes indulgd in speaking his Mind freely of Persons in office."— This you know has always been deemd an unpardonable Sin, and I am affraid it always will be. To be sure it always will be so deemd by that Kind of Men in office, who meet with none to hinder them from persisting in the most egregious and expensive Blunders, but the open, sincere & warm Friends of the Country.- We all know, says my Correspondent, his Zeal & Sufferings for our glorious Cause.” Such a Character, I must confess, commands my Friendship; but it has no Consideration in the present Appeal. Has he had a fair Trial? I pay a proper Regard to the Decisions of Courts Martiall, and shall not give my Voice for altering them, but when Error, Partiality or Injustice shall appear plainly to my own Satisfaction.5
Our Navy officers must not expect to pick & chuse for themselves. They ought to be content with such Appointments as are given to them. Indeed Appointments should be made with more Judgment than I think they can be by any Set of Men at three or four hundred Miles Distance. For this Reason I movd that they not be made by the Navy Board,6 which obtaind in a certain Degree, as you will see by a Letter from the Marine Committee.7 Had this been the Case before, Olney8 would have remaind in the Resistance,9 and Burk10 must have waited for another. If the Queen of France11 is a better Vessel, it will turn out not to the Disadvantage of Olney. While we have more Captains in Commission than we have ships to give them, there must be Disappointments, Envy, and Suspicions (oftentimes unreasonable) of each other. This is the Make of Man, and we may as well think of stopping the Tide as altering it. “The Appointment of Cap Landais12 affords an ample Subject for the Observations of Speculatists, & the Resentment of Navy officers.” I think he is, as you observe, an ingenuous & well behavd Man; and if he is an able & experiencd officer, as we are assured he is by those who ought to give us the best Information, it is a Pity that two very good Lieutenants should leave the Ship & the Service on that Account. I hope others may be found to fill their Places. “It is an opinion that I was Landais chief Patron." This is a mistaken Opinion. You discover your self on this occasion, as you are disposd to do at all Times, partial in my Favor. If I was in any Degree instrumental in the Promotion of Landais, it was because I really thought him a considerable Acquisition & that he would be eminently useful to our Navy. And I am apt to believe it would have been thought a judicious Appointment, if there had not been a fanciful Predilection in favor of another. Even the Name of the Ship13 may have given Disgust to some Men. I hope when Manly is provided with such a Ship as will please him, the Difficulties or Obstructions in the Way of getting the Alliance manned will be removed. I am sure your Exertions will not be wanting to forward the Service.
July 29
Yesterday I sent you a fresh News paper by the Post which I intended as an Apology for not writing to you. I kept this Letter open, knowing that Mr Dod the Express was to set off soon, and designing to say a few things in Addition to what I just hinted to you in my last. But I must defer it till another opportunity. I shall be obligd to you if you will give my Respects to Mr Story & tell him that his Petition with a Number of others was put into the Hands of Mr Lovel14 when Mr H [ancock] left this City. We will take the first oppty to present it, and endeavor to get his Wishes answerd.15 Adieu my Friend