JONES, John Paul (1747-1792). Autograph letter signed ("JPaulJones") to Dr. Edward Bancroft (1744-1821) in London; Paris, 26 February 1787. 1 full page, 4to, integral address leaf with panel in Jones's hand, part of original wax seal intact, small seal tear, otherwise in very fine condition. JONES TO THE BRITISH DOUBLE AGENT, EDWARD BANCROFT John Paul Jones had met Bancroft, a Massachusetts-born physician, scientist and a member of the Royal Society, some years earlier in Paris, when Bancroft was ostensibly acting as a secretary and intelligence-gatherer for Franklin and the American Commission in Paris. Unknown to the Americans, though, Bancroft, was an extremely clever double agent, communicating important news regarding the impending Anglo-French alliance to the British ministry. His secret communiques were usually written in invisible ink and left hidden in an empty bottle in the hollow trunk of a tree in the Tuileries Gardens, where they were easily recovered by British agents. In 1778, Bancroft had betrayed to the British admiralty Jones's bold plans for naval strikes against Britain's coast. (Those plans, fortunately were cancelled, or Jones would likely have been entrapped). After the Revolution, Jones remained ignorant of Bancroft's perfidy and counted him as a trusted friend. Bancroft's double-dealing was only revealed long after his death (by historian Paul Leicester Ford, in 1891). The persuasive Bancroft convinced Jones to invest considerable sums in a new dying process he had invented, and the present letter evidently relates to this venture: "Yesterday on receiving yours...an express was immediately dispatched to Versailles. The Notary (Mr. Arnouts) who has engaged to furnish the 24,000 Livres to the Marquise de Marsan had gone to Versailles in the Morning. I send you the Answer just received from Madame the Marquise. The Act will surely be executed before the next Post. Any disappointment in that respect would determine Madame T[ownsend] 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. If you blame me for any thing, you wrong my Friendship, which can bear proof. You will make what use you please of this Letter, and the enclosed [not present], till I write you by the next Post, or by the Lady above mentioned..." Mrs. Townsend, the proposed messenger, was a mistress of Jones (on her identity, see Evan Thomas, John Paul Jones , p. 264).
JONES, John Paul (1747-1792). Autograph letter signed ("JPaulJones") to Dr. Edward Bancroft (1744-1821) in London; Paris, 26 February 1787. 1 full page, 4to, integral address leaf with panel in Jones's hand, part of original wax seal intact, small seal tear, otherwise in very fine condition. JONES TO THE BRITISH DOUBLE AGENT, EDWARD BANCROFT John Paul Jones had met Bancroft, a Massachusetts-born physician, scientist and a member of the Royal Society, some years earlier in Paris, when Bancroft was ostensibly acting as a secretary and intelligence-gatherer for Franklin and the American Commission in Paris. Unknown to the Americans, though, Bancroft, was an extremely clever double agent, communicating important news regarding the impending Anglo-French alliance to the British ministry. His secret communiques were usually written in invisible ink and left hidden in an empty bottle in the hollow trunk of a tree in the Tuileries Gardens, where they were easily recovered by British agents. In 1778, Bancroft had betrayed to the British admiralty Jones's bold plans for naval strikes against Britain's coast. (Those plans, fortunately were cancelled, or Jones would likely have been entrapped). After the Revolution, Jones remained ignorant of Bancroft's perfidy and counted him as a trusted friend. Bancroft's double-dealing was only revealed long after his death (by historian Paul Leicester Ford, in 1891). The persuasive Bancroft convinced Jones to invest considerable sums in a new dying process he had invented, and the present letter evidently relates to this venture: "Yesterday on receiving yours...an express was immediately dispatched to Versailles. The Notary (Mr. Arnouts) who has engaged to furnish the 24,000 Livres to the Marquise de Marsan had gone to Versailles in the Morning. I send you the Answer just received from Madame the Marquise. The Act will surely be executed before the next Post. Any disappointment in that respect would determine Madame T[ownsend] 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. If you blame me for any thing, you wrong my Friendship, which can bear proof. You will make what use you please of this Letter, and the enclosed [not present], till I write you by the next Post, or by the Lady above mentioned..." Mrs. Townsend, the proposed messenger, was a mistress of Jones (on her identity, see Evan Thomas, John Paul Jones , p. 264).
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
