prisoners should be exchanged in Europe, I believe it would be possible to man that ship with Americans. I could have manned two such with French volunteers since I arrived.

The Ranger is crank, sails slow, and is of a trifling force. Most of the enemy's cruizers are more than a match, yet I mean not to complain.-I demand nothing; and although I know that it was the intention of Congress to give me that ship, I am now ready to go wherever the service calls me.

If two or three fast sailing ships could be collected, there is a great choice of private enterprises, some of which might succeed, and add more to the interest and honor of America, than cruizing with twice the force. It appears to me to be the province of our infant navy to surprise, and spread alarms with fast sailing ships.-When we grow stronger, we can meet their fleets, and dispute with them the sovereignty of the ocean. These are my private sentiments, and are therefore submitted with the utmost diffidence to your superior understanding.

I have the honor to be, &c.

Extract of a letter from Com. John Paul Jones to the American commissioners at the Court of France, dated Brest, .June 3d, 1778.

"I hope you do not mean to impute to me a desire to receive presents of the public money, or even to touch a dollar of it for my own private use; on the contrary, I need not now assert, that I stepped forth at the beginning, from nobler motives.

My accounts, before I left America, testify that I am more than 1500l. in advance for the public service, exclusive of any concern with the sloop of war Ranger; and as for wages, I have never received any.

The Rules whereby Congress have been pleased to command me to regulate my conduct in the navy, authorize me to issue my warrant to the agent, &c., and I humbly conceive that it is his province to furnish me with an estimate of the amount of expenses. A space of sixteen months is now elapsed, since Congress thought of me, and placed under my command seven times my present force, leaving me at full liberty, how, and where to apply it.-And if I am not now capable of supporting the internal government of a single sloop of war, I wish that some person more deserving had my place, and I in America to answer for my miscon

duct. I have "well considered," and yet shall persist in justifying the steps which I have taken, and to which you allude.

I am happy in having it in my power to furnish you with the enclosed resolution of Congress, respecting the capture of the enemy's ships of war, agreeably to your desire, and if you are in possession of any resolution of Congress, which will authorise me to **** send to America, I should be obliged to you for a copy of it."

Passy, June 5th, 1778. Plan for expeditions submitted by Com. Jones to the American Plenipotentiaries, and to the French minister of Marine.

As the first proposed will be impeded for some time, in the interval a great variety of projects present themselves, some of which might prove of great utility to France and America by distressing the common enemy at a small

expense.

Three very fast sailing frigates, with one or two tenders, might enter the Irish channel and burn at Whitehaven from two to three hundred ships, besides the town, which contains 50,000 inhabitants; this would render it difficult, if not impossible to supply Ireland with coal the ensuing winter.

The same force would be sufficient to take the bank of Ayr in Scotland, and to destroy the town:-or perhaps, the whole shipping in the Clyde, with the towns and stores of Greenock and Port-Glasgow, provided no alarm was first given at other places. The fishery at Cambletown is an object worthy attention, and in some of the ports of Ireland ships may perhaps be found worth from 150,000 to 200,000l. sterling each.

It might, perhaps, be equally expedient to alarm Britain on the east side, which might be effected with equal and perhaps inferior force, by destroying the coal shipping of Newcastle &c. which would occasion the utmost distress for fuel in London: and there are many towns of consequence on the east and north coasts of England and Scotland which are defenceless, and might be either burnt or laid under contribution.

The success of either of these, or the like enterprises, will depend on surprising well, and on despatch both in the attack and in the retreat, therefore it is necessary the ships should sail fast, and that their force should be sufficient to

repel any of the enemy's cruizing frigates, two of which may perhaps be met at a time.

It is scarcely conceivable how great a panic the_success in any one of these projects, would occasion in England. It would convince the world that their coasts are vulnerable, and would, consequently, hurt their public credit.

If alarming the coast of Britain should be thought inexpedient, to intercept the enemy's West-India, or Baltic fleets, or their Hudson Bay ships, or to destroy their Greenland fishery are capital objects, which promise success if well adopted, and any one of them might be finished before the first can take place."

M. DE SARTine.

MY LORD,

Passy, July 17th, 1778.

I should be ungrateful, did I not return my thanks for your kind and generous intentions in my favor. My greatest ambition would be to merit your future approbation, by my services against the common enemy of France and America. Had your first plan taken effect, the most pleasing prospect of success would have been before me. But that now seems a distant object.

I have no doubt but that many projects, which would promise success, might be formed from the hints I had the honor of sending, lately, for your inspection. Had I been entrusted with the chief command, I would have been responsible for the consequences.

I am bound, in honor, to communicate faithfully to Congress the generous offer which the king now makes, of lending the Epervier in the mean time, to be employed under my command, and under the flag of the United States of America. I would thankfully have accepted this offer, the moment it was communicated to me, had no difficulties occurred on account of the situation of the American funds. I have now under my command a ship bound to America. On my arrival there, from the former confidence of Congress, I have reason to expect an immediate removal into one of their best ships. I have reason, also, to expect the chief command of the first squadron destined for an expedition. I have in my possession several similar appointments; and when Congress sees fit to appoint admirals, I have assurances that my name will not be forgot.

These are flattering prospects to a man who has drawn his sword only from motives of philanthropy, and in support of the dignity of human nature. But as I prefer a solid, to a shining reputation-a useful, to a splendid command-I hold myself ready, with the approbation of the American commissioners at Paris, to be governed by you in any measures that may tend to distress and humble the common enemy.

I have the honor to be, &c.

J. P. JONES.

Brest, August 24th, 1778.

His Highness the Prince DE NASSAU.

MY PRINCE,

The honor which you propose to do me, by accompanying me on the ocean, fills my heart with the warmest sentiments of gratitude.

When your intentions were communicated to me, I had under my command a ship bound in company with two fine frigates for America, where there are now two new ships of eighty guns each, and eight frigates of forty guns each, nearly ready for sea.

On my arrival there, from the former confidence of Congress, I had assurance of an immediate removal into one of their best ships, and to have been appointed to command the first squadron which they thought fit to destine for any private expedition. Before I came to Europe, Congress honored me with several such appointments; and I had assurance, that when admirals were appointed, my name would be remembered.

These, my Prince, were flattering prospects to a man who drew his sword only from principles of philanthropy, and in support of the dignity of human nature;-and these are the prospects I have voluntarily laid aside, that I may pursue glory in your company.

Suffer me not, therefore, I beseech you, to continue longer in this shameful inactivity: such dishonor is worse to me than a thousand deaths. I have already lost the golden season, the summer, which, in war, is of more value than all the rest of the year. I appear here as a person cast off and useless; and when any one asks me what I purpose to do? I am unable to answer.

Had this been my first or second disappointment, I should have said nothing concerning it. After various other objects had misgiven before I left Passy, which M. de Sartine had thought of, to keep me employed, until the scheme wherein you were concerned could take place, I was ordered down here at so short a notice, that I had not time, before my departure, to take leave of you; yet, on my arrival here, I found that what had been proposed for me, was bestowed on others. I then offered to follow Count D'Orvilliers as a volunteer, agreeably to his kind invitation; but M. de la Prévalaye will not permit this, it not being mentioned in his orders.

I have, my Prince, been unaccustomed to ask any favors, even from Congress, for I am not in pursuit of interest;yet, let me beseech you to represent my situation to the best of kings, that I may, with you, be forthwith enabled to pursue glory, and humble the common enemy of humanity.

If the ship that was at first proposed, cannot with certainty be got ready for sea next month, you, my Prince, can obtain another, with the Epervier and the Alert, tenders. There is a fine frigate at L'Orient, built on the same construction with the ship at first proposed, and mounted with eighteen-pounders. This ship has been at India, is known to sail fast, and may, perhaps, be obtained, till it is seen whether the other can be got out.

If this ship is refused, there are many other fine frigates newly built at St. Maloes, and other places, to which I hear of no commanders being appointed. I have the greatest dependance on the generous intentions of that great minister, M. de Sartine, but I cannot every day intrude on him with letters, and, in the multiplicity and importance of his affairs, my concerns may escape his memory.

I wish for the honor of a letter from your own hand;though I cannot write in French, yet I understand letters which are written in that language; and I have with me now a lieutenant that speaks it well.

My Prince, yours, &c.

Brest, August 24th, 1778.

His Excellency BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

HONORED AND DEAR SIR,

Had I indulged my inclination since my return, I should have already troubled you with sundry letters. I must not.

K