Passy near Paris August 6th. 1778.
Honor’d Sir,
As the Scene of War by Sea is now changing from America to Europe I have been induced to give up the Command of the American Ship of War Ranger and to Continue for some time in Europe in Compliance with the request of the Minister of the French Marine in a letter to our Ministers Plenipotentiary at the Court of Versailles.-1
I will not intrude on your Excellencies time even by attempting to pay you therespect which you so Justly Command:-
The intention of this letter is only to beg your Acceptance of two Epaulettes with which it is accompanied, and which my Friend Mr. Williams of Nantes2 had undertaken to forward[.] I expected to have had the honor of delivering this little present into you own Hands—but not having that Satisfaction if in the meantime I can render you any Acceptable Services in France I hope you will Command me without reserve, being with Sentiments of perfect Esteem Honored Sir yours &c-
LB, MdAN, John Paul Jones Letterbook. Notation below close: “His Excellency/Genl Washington/Commander in Chief of the American Army/at his Head Quarters.-”
1. See Gabriel de Sartine to the American Commissioners in France, 5 July, and the American Commissioners in France to Sartine, 11 July, both above.
2. Jonathan Williams Jr.
