Ranger Brest 10th. June 1778
Gentlemen
One of the Prizes taken last Winter by the Ranger1 Arrived at Bordeaux and was I understand Sold by Messrs. S & J. H Delap.—2 On my return to Nantes from Paris I wrote to that House requesting that the Captors part of that Prize might be Immediately remitted to Mr Williams of Nantes So that a division might be made before the departure of the Ranger—that House hath paid no Attention to my request nor even Condescended to Answer my letter—therefore to remove the Uneasiness of my Officers and Men I beg the favor of you to give Orders that the Captors part may be forthwith remitted agreeable to my first Intentions.—3 I have the Honor [&c.]
Jno P Jones
L, PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 10, fol. 25. Addressed below close: “Their Excellencies/the American Plenipotentiaries/at the Court of France.” Docketed, “Captn. Jones./10 June 78—.”
1. Brigantine George, bound from Malaga to England with a cargo of fruit.
2. The merchant firm of Samuel and Jean-Hans Delap.
3. The commissioners wrote the Delaps on 24 June requesting an accounting and enclosed a copy of Jones’s letter. Their letter produced results. On 16 July, Jonathan Williams Jr., informed the commissioners that he had received the prize money from the firm and had so informed the officers and crew of the Ranger. PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 37, no. 158. In an August entry in his accounts, Williams gave the prize money amount as 11,845 livres. Benjamin Franklin Papers 26: 678n.