ceptable to Congress.

February 27, 1781.

_____

_The United States to the King of France._

IN CONGRESS, October 19, 1787.

The Secretary for Foreign Affairs reports that agreeably to the
order of the 16th, he hath prepared the following letter to His
Most Christian Majesty, which having been duly signed and
countersigned, was delivered to the Chevalier John Paul Jones.

GREAT AND BELOVED FRIEND:

We, the United States in Congress assembled, in consideration of
the distinguished marks of approbation with which Your Majesty
has been pleased to honour the Chevalier John Paul Jones, as (p. 111)
well as from a sense of his merit, have unanimously directed
a medal of gold to be struck and presented to him, in
commemoration of his valour and brilliant services, while
commanding a squadron of French and American ships under our flag
and commission, off the coast of Great Britain, in the late war.

As it is his earnest desire to acquire greater knowledge in his
profession, we cannot forbear requesting of Your Majesty to
permit him to embark in your fleets of evolution, where only it
will be probably in his power to acquire that degree of knowledge
which may hereafter render him more extensively useful.

Permit us to repeat to Your Majesty our sincere assurances that
the various and important benefits for which we are indebted to
your friendship will never cease to interest us in whatever may
concern the happiness of Your Majesty, your family, and people.

We pray God to keep you, our great and beloved friend, under his
holy protection.

Done at the city of New York, the nineteenth day of October, in
the year of our Lord 1787, and of our sovereignty and
independence the 12th.

_____

_Thomas Jefferson to General Washington._

To General WASHINGTON. Paris, May 2, 1788.

Dear Sir: The war between the Russians and Turks has made an
opening for Commodore Paul Jones. The Empress has invited him
into her service. She insures to him the rank of a Rear Admiral
and will give him a separate command, and it is understood that
he is never to be commanded. I think she means to oppose him to
the Captain Pasha on the Black Sea. He is, by this time, probably
at St. Petersburg