himself to make an acknowledgment, if, on the contrary, he
has injured you. In my opinion, this is giving up his parole in the
most ample manner, as it does not appear to me that you made, by
letter or otherwise, any compact or agreement with Lieutenant Simpson,
that he should make any concessions on his part, or any thing of that
nature, neither that he was to be answerable to a Court Martial when
the supposed crime was blotted out, for which he was at first
responsible.

I believe that the honorable Commissioners accepted it in the same
light, as by their letter of the same date it would seem you gave them
the greatest satisfaction in affording them an opportunity to
reinstate Lieutenant Simpson on board the Ranger. The Commissioners
further order him to take the command of the Ranger, as her first
Lieutenant, and to join me and to obey my orders, all which
sufficiently evinces that Lieutenant Simpson is no longer considered
as under suspension, and consequently cannot be responsible to a Court
Martial for disobedience to written orders from you, from which he is
amply released by your voluntary surrender of his parole. However, if
this explanation, attempted to be made in the most candid manner,
should not prove agreeable, I beg leave to refer you to the absolute
impossibility of calling a Court Martial, agreeable to the resolves of
Congress, and flatter myself that you will believe me to be, with due
respect, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

ABRAHAM WHIPPLE.

* * * * *

TO JOHN PAUL JONES.

Passy, August 22d, 1778.

Sir,

We have received your letter of the 15th, and have written to Captain
Whipple to appoint a Court Martial for the trial of Lieutenant
Simpson, provided there is a sufficient number of officers to
constitute one. This, however, is not to make any change in his
command of the Ranger until the trial is over; nor then, unless the
judgment of that Court is against him.

We are, sir, &c.

B. FRANKLIN,
ARTHUR LEE,
JOHN ADAMS.

* * * * *

TO COUNT DE VERGENNES.