e honor to send me from his Excellency the American
Ambassador in France.

I will also, with great pleasure, not only permit a part of my seamen
to go on board the ships under your Excellency's orders, but I will
also do my utmost to prevail with them to embark freely; and if I can
now or hereafter, by any other honorable means facilitate the success
or the honor of his Majesty's arms, I pledge myself to you as his
Ambassador, that none of his own subjects would bleed in his cause
with greater freedom than myself, an American.

It gives me the more pain, Sir, to write this letter, as the Court has
enjoined you to propose what would destroy my peace of mind, and my
future veracity in the opinion of the world.

When _with the consent of Court_, and by order of the American
Ambassador, I gave American commissions to French officers, I did not
fill up those commissions to command privateers! nor even for a rank
_equal_ to that of their commissions in the marine of France. They
were promoted to a rank _far superior_; and why! not from personal
friendship, nor from my knowledge of their personal abilities, the men
and their characters being entire strangers to me, but from the
respect which I believed America would wish to show for the service of
France. While I remained eight months at Brest, seemingly forgotten by
the Court, many commissions, such as that in question, were offered to
me; and I believe, (when I am in pursuit of plunder,) I can still
obtain such a one without application to Court.

I hope, Sir, that my behavior through life will ever entitle me to the
continuance of your good wishes and opinion, and that you will take
occasion to make mention of the warm and personal affection, with
which my heart is impressed towards his Majesty.

I have the honor to be, &c.

JOHN PAUL JONES.

* * * * *

JOHN PAUL JONES TO B. FRANKLIN.

Alliance, Texel, December 13th, 1779.

Sir,

I have this day had the honor to receive your Excellency's orders of
the 6th current, respecting the prisoners taken in merchant ships,
and, at present, on board the Alliance. And I hope that the within
copy of my letter to the Duc de la Vauguyon will meet your
approbation; for I am persuaded, that it could never be your intention
or wish, that I should be made the fool of any great R---- whatsoever