Beschreibung:

JONES, JOHN PAUL 1747-1792.Autograph Letter Signed ("Paul Jones") to his longtime friend Edward Bancroft, who was later discovered to have been an important British double agent entangling Jones throughout his life, 4to (228 x 188 mm), ink on paper, Paris, February 26, 1787, integral address leaf in Jones's autograph, both halves of seal still present, light toning in spots. JONES WRITES TO HIS FRIEND BANCROFT, LATER FOUND TO BE A BRITISH DOUBLE AGENT. Dr. Edward Bancroft is one of the most intriguing characters of the Revolutionary War. Born in Massachusetts, trained as a physician, and member of the Royal Society, Bancroft became the secretary to Benjamin Franklin and the American delegation in Paris as Franklin lobbied for French support. Unbeknownst to anyone, however, Bancroft was working as a double agent, revealing American secrets to his contact in London using a system of disappearing ink which could be reconstituted by the intended recipient, an ink he himself had invented. He was a close friend and confidante to Paul Jones throughout the war, and even until Jones's death in 1792. His perfidy and double-dealing was not revealed until long after his death, when British diplomatic papers were finally released in 1891. In February 1787 Jones was still in Paris trying to negotiate prize money from the Danish government for 3 ships he brought to them in 1779. Jones spent the last 10 years of his life, with the support of the American government, trying to recover the funds that he was denied. When he failed to make any headway, he appointed Dr. Bancroft as his agent to the courts of Denmark. During this time he was trying to arrange an appearance in Denmark, but running out of funds. He instead returned to America in April 1787 in order to set his affairs in order at home. Jones was also involved in a business scheme of Bancroft's who was importing black oak into Britain and France to be turned into a yellow dye called quercitron, for which he held the patent. Jones is arranging funds for Bancroft in this letter, but the reason is unspecified. He notes, "Any disappointment in that respect [the release of money] would determine Madame T__ to set off immediately for London, and in that Case, instead of sending you a Bill of 12,000 Livres, you will receive from her, for my Account, on her Arrival, One thousand pounds Sterling." Madame T___ is the mysterious Mrs. Townsend, a Jones paramour he believed to be the illegitimate daughter of King Henry XV, and who was the charge of the Marquise de Marsan.