Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 9

To the President of Congress, No. 26

To the President of Congress, No. 27
From Arthur Lee, 26 March 1780 Lee, Arthur JA From Arthur Lee, 26 March 1780 Lee, Arthur Adams, John
From Arthur Lee
Dear Sir L'Orient March 26th. 1780

I have but one moment to thank you, for your favor1 with one from London enclosd which I received on my return from Brest. We are likely to be detaind here by the prize-money for the Serapis &c. not being paid, without which the Crew of the Alliance threaten a Mutiny.2

If, as I apprehend it may, the application I requested you to make to Mr. Grand 3 should at all interfere with your plan, which I think very prudent, of keeping as free as possible from these disputes, which indeed are a reproach to us, I beg you will think no more of it. What has been Gerards conduct since his arrival and what his reception. He is a man to be observd narrowly. I dont mean on any account but on that of the public to which I think he will yet do much mischief, if he is listend to.

Farewell

RC (Adams Papers.)

1.

Of 15 March (above).

 2.

The Alliance's officers and men had not received their prize money from the Bonhomme Richard expedition because of delays in the sale of the prizes and the refusal of the prize agent, Le Ray de Chaumont, to advance the money. Not until April did Benjamin Franklin provide them with one month's pay, the first they had received since sailing from America. The crew placed the blame for their situation squarely on John Paul Jones' shoulders. Ultimately Arthur Lee was able to use that discontent to displace Jones and put Pierre Landais in command (Morison, John Paul Jones , p. 274, 294–295; see also John Bondfield to JA, 12 April, below).

 3.

In Lee's letter of 15 March (above).