Abraham Whipple to the American Commissioners
ALS: American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives
<On board the Providence, Brest, August 19, 1778: I wrote you
from Paimboeuf on July 31; since then the Boston joined me
and on Aug. 8 we proceeded in company to Brest, delayed by
unfavorable winds until the 14th. I found here that Lt. Simpson
had obeyed my orders of July 24th in quickly preparing
for sea. But I was surprised to find that none of the Ranger’s
prizes had yet been sold, nor had the crew received a single
sou for all the time they had been in France; I allowed them a
day or two to try and settle the matter. This might have been
sufficient had not Capt. Jones interfered in an extraordinary
manner, blocking the sale and producing obstacles “as frivolous
in their natures as hurtful in their effects.” When a man
is blinded by self-interest and acts in opposition to the interests
of his country, it is my duty to represent his conduct with
candor and leave the determination of its pernicious tendency
to my superiors.
I enclose a copy of a letter Capt. Jones sent me yesterday,
along with my answer. Tomorrow I shall sail, wind and
weather permitting, with or without the Ranger, although I
shall try to settle her unhappy affairs as best I can.>
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