Well acquainted as I am with your sentiments of Philanthropy and Benevolence from the testimony of those friends of Yours whom I have the pleasure of being acquainted with, I deem an apology unnecessary for the liberty I take of intruding on Your time, as it is to lay before You a case of real distress. A friend of mine has shewn me the originals of the inclosed Papers, and tells me the poor Man has placed his whole dependence on the Allowance mentioned in them. He has waited for some time the Arrival of the American Ambassador at this Court, to whom he has shewn his Claim, but been referred by him to Mr. Jefferson at Paris. If You would be so kind as to inform me what are the Proper Measures to be taken for assisting this poor Man, and Your opinion on his Case, You will exceedingly oblige me, and increase the Veneration and respect which Your illustrious Character has excited in me.

I beg leave to congratulate You as well in my Name, as in that of my Father Mr. Wm. Blunt, and [all] [our] Family on Your safe return to his Country, and with sincerest Wishes for Your Health, and Enjoyment I remain with great regard, Sir, Your faithful humble servant

I do hereby certify that the Bearer John Jackson of Hull, came on boeard the American Ship of War the Bon Homme Richard under my Command, off the Spurn on the Coast of England on the Morning of the 22d. September last. He having mistaken the Bon Homme Richard for a British Sip of War; that I found it necessary to detain Him on boeard 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 Marn’s way during the Action between the Bon Homme 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 lose 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 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 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 favor this Oligation is granted.

Given on board the Serapis at the Texel