Autographs
Thomas Jefferson Sends John Paul Jones "I have not yet begun to fight!" a.k.a. the "Father of the American Navy" to Denmark to Settle United States' Demands Regarding Revolutionary War Period Captured American Ships
THOMAS JEFFERSON (1743-1826). Third President of the United States(1801-1809), an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776). Jefferson served in the Continental Congress representing Virginia, and then served as a Revolutionary Wartime Governor of Virginia (1779"1781), served as a Diplomat at Paris (May 1785) as United States Minister to France (Transmitting this current Letter of Instructions to John Paul Jones).
January 24, 1788-Dated, Federal Period Manuscript Document Letter Signed, "Th: Jefferson" as Minister to France, 1 page, measuring 12.5" x 7.75" on clean laid D&C Blauw watermarked period paper, at Paris, Very Fine. Thomas Jefferson writes to Commodore John Paul Jones, requesting that he go to the Court of Denmark to settle the demands of the United States relative to American ships captured during the American Revolutionary War. This historic Letter reads, in full:
"To John Paul Jones Esqr. --- Commodore in the service of the United States of America. /
Sir -- The United States of America in Congress assembled having thought proper by their resolution of the 25th of October 1787, to authorize & instruct me finally to settle & conclude the demands of the United States against His Majesty the King of Denmark, on account of their prizes delivered to Great Britain during the late war, & to dispatch yourself or any other agent to the court of Denmark with such powers & instructions relative there to as I might think proper, provided the ultimate conclusion of the business be not made by the said agent without my previous approbation, I hereby authorize you to proceed to the court of Denmark for the purpose of making the necessary representations on the subject aforesaid, for conferring thereon with such persons as shall be appointed on that behalf by the said Court, & for agreeing provisionally on the arrangements to be taken, transmitting the same to me at Paris for final approbation. Given under my hand & seal at Paris this 24th day of January in the year of our Lord 1788, & of the independence of the United States of America the Twelfth. --- (notation in French at left) (Signed) Th: Jefferson". (A large 1.5" round red wax seal to the right of Jefferson's signature).
Boldly Signed "Th: Jefferson" measuring 2.5" long in deep brown ink at the letters conclusion, his red wax seal at right is partially torn across its center, apparently caused when this letter was opened. One horizontal fold and one vertical old affect Jefferson's signature, but only minimally. Housed in a red leatherette folio, gilt-lettered reading "THOMAS JEFFERSON / LETTER TO JOHN PAUL JONES / PARIS, JANUARY 24, 1788".
See: The Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States of America: From the United States, Department of State, page 714.
*A response To Thomas Jefferson at Paris from John Paul Jones, was sent 25 March 1788, with the negotiations not complete and Jones was soon departing for Petersburg, Russia. (2 items)
Provenance: Collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II. Ex: Sotheby's - Highly Important American Historical Documents Autograph Letters & Manuscripts / The Property of the Estate of the Elsie O. and Phillip D. Sang Foundation - Part One / Auction April 28, 1978, lot 142.
*(A Summary Reply) : To Thomas Jefferson from John Paul Jones, 25 March 1788
From John Paul Jones:
"Copenhagen, 25 Mch. 1788. -- Is sending the present letter in care of the Van Staphorsts at Amsterdam. My mission here is not yet at an end, but the minister has promised to determine soon and I have wrote to claim that promise. Before receiving this letter TJ (Thomas Jefferson) will have been informed by Simolin that TJ's "proposal to him, and his application on that Idea, have been well received."
John Paul Jones has received a flattering letter from Baron de Krudener on this matter; there "seems, however, to remain some difficulty respecting the letter of Monsieur de Simolin's proposal though it is accepted, in Substance, with an appearance of great Satisfaction."
John Paul Jones finds it necessary to depart directly for Petersburg (Russia), through Sweden; future letters should be sent to the French minister there or given to Simolin, whom he thanks for his good offices; is also grateful to Littlepage.
From: "To Thomas Jefferson from John Paul Jones, 25 March 1788," Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-12-02-0755.
[Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 12, 7 August 1787"31 March 1788, ed. Julian P. Boyd. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1955, p. 690.]
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John Paul Jones is famous in the United States as the "Father of the American Navy". He was born in poverty and through his skills became a distinguished naval officer fighting for both the American Continental Congress / the United States, and Russia. In Britain he is rather remembered as a Pirate.
Indeed, Benjamin Disraeli, an early biographer, wrote that the nurses of Scotland hushed their crying charges by the whisper of his name. In Holland a Dutch song "Here comes John Paul Jones", that fine fellow is still su.
n. He was awa mMedal and a gold sword for his exploits but he was buried in an unmarked grave for over a century. The following explains a little about the life of this talented, charming but often prickly man.Later he received a gold sword and the Order of Military Merit from Louis XVI. He became the toast of Paris and a bust of him was commissioned. Jones had another 20 made to send to his friends. In 1781 he returned to America in the Ariel and Congress passed a vote of thanks to him for the way he had sustained the honour of the American fleet and in 1787 awarded him a gold medal. He was to be given command of the "America" which was still under construction and was to be the largest ship in the American navy but eventually this was denied him and he spent the remaining years of the war advising on the establishment of the navy and the training of naval officers.