I do hereby certify, that the bearer, John Jackson of Hull, came on board the American Ship of war the Bonhomme Richard under my Command, off the Spurn on the Coast of England, on the morning of the 22d. Sept: last, he having mistaken the Bonhomme Richard for a British Ship of war. That I found It necessary to detain him on board while near the Banks on that Coast, and afterwards purposed to set himself, with his Companion and their Boat at Liberty, and reward them for the service that I had obliged them to perform; but on the day following, when I met with the Baltic fleet, as the Pilot-Boat was some incumbrance, the partner of the bearer was put on board to Keep the boat out of harms way during the Action between the Bonhomme Richard and Serapis; after which he was to return and take in the bearer, that they might return home together. The Boat however did not return; and the poor Man had in the Action the irreparable misfortune to loose an Arm.

Deeply impressed with a sense of his misfortune, and earnestly desiring to make this poor Man and his family what recompence lays in my power, I have given him in hand this day an hundred Ducats—And I do also promise, in behalf of the united States, that he shall receive half pay as a Pilot during the remainder of his Life, to commence from the date hereof, payable every six months by the American Ambassador at the Court of France, upon Certificate, at each payment, from two or more Magistrates, expressing the place where the bearer John Jackson is then living, and that he is really and truly the person in whose favour this obligation is granted. Given on board the Serapis at the Texel Nov. 15th. 1779