Brest 4th July 1778.
Captain Niles
On your arrival at Paris you may perhaps have an opportunity of being in company with their Honors the Commissioners, when if convenient I shou’d be much Obliged to you, if consistent, to inform them of what you may have heard of the ill treatment I have unjustly received of Ca. Jones, that nevertheless for the sake of peace, and that such scandalous behaviour of a Continental Captain shou’d not be made public in a foreign country;1 when Captain Jones after my release appeared desirous to withdraw, and Settle matters, I wou’d have gladly done it, and proposed it in this manner Viz. That if he (Captn. Jones) wou’d give me liberty to return to America and a letter for that purpose, there to go into the Service of my country I shou’d drop all that had passed—But he ungerously2 desired on the other hand a letter from me acknowledging that my behaviour had given him reason to treat me in the manner he had, done, and to induce me to such a base act as to lie again myself even promised me a command, on my refusal declared that he wou’d do every thing possible against me, his utmost efforts for that purpose I despise
Thom Simpson
L, PPAmP, Benjamin Franklin Papers, vol. 47, fol. 124. Docketed: “Lieut Simpson.” Niles commanded the Connecticut Navy schooner Spy.
1. See also, Simpson to the American Commissioners in France, 3 July, above.
2. That is, ungenerously.