service, and that you, gentlemen, gave Mr Simpson my
place with a Captain's commission; that my letter of the 16th of July
to you was involuntary on my part, and in obedience only to your
orders to avert dreadful consequences to myself. These, gentlemen, are
not idle, ill-grounded conjectures, but melancholy facts; therefore, I
beseech you, I conjure you, I demand of you, to afford me
redress--redress by a Court Martial, to form which we have now a
sufficient number of officers in France, with the assistance of
Captain Hinman, exclusive of myself. The Providence and the Boston are
expected here very soon from Nantes, and I am certain that they
neither can nor will depart again, before my friend, Captain Hinman,
can come down here, and it is his unquestioned right to succeed me in
the command of the Ranger.

I have faithfully and personally supported and fought for the
dignified cause of human nature, ever since the American banner first
waved on the Delaware, and on the ocean. This I did when that man did
not call himself a Republican, but left the Continent, and served its
enemies; and this I did, when that man appeared dastardly backward,
and did not support me as he ought.

I conclude, by requesting you to call before you, and examine for your
own satisfaction, Mr Edward Meyers, who is now at the house of the
Swedish Ambassador, and who, having been with me as a volunteer, can
and will, I am persuaded, represent to you the conduct of the officers
and men towards me, both before I left Brest, and afterwards in the
Irish channel, as well as my conduct towards them.

I have the honor to be, with sentiments of due respect and esteem,
your very obliged and very humble servant,

JOHN PAUL JONES.

* * * * *

M. DE SARTINE TO THE COMMISSIONERS.

Translation.

Versailles, 16th August, 1778.

Gentlemen,

I take the earliest opportunity to answer the observations addressed
to me in the letter, which you did me the honor to write me the 13th
instant, on the project of a regulation for the prizes and prisoners
of the respective United States. I conceive that I have fulfilled the
object by digesting anew the 2d and 14th articles, of which I annex
another text, with copies of the different laws that have been lately
published respecting prizes. Moreo