Jonathan Jr Williams to Benjamin Franklin, April 2, 1781

L’Orient April 2. 1781.

Dear & hond sir.

I informed you in my last that the Marquis de la Fayette would sail the next day, accordingly on thursday the 29 of March I saw her & the Alliance under Sail 8 and the Wind has since continued exceeding fair, so that I imagine they are now 150 Leagues of. I have the pleasure to assure you that the great ship sails remarkably well & I realy believe the alliance cannot go a head of her.— I have written a dozen times to Bordeaux to have the Certificate of the Jaugeage, in order to settle the Freight, as the money is already paid. I shall take care not to give any Bill on you that is negociable; but the Certificate is necessary for my Justification and I have written for it by this Post to M de Chaumont.

Your dispatches for the Active were forwarded on to me from Nantes, I shall therefore put them on board the Aurora which will sail this Week & which is an Opportunity 6 times as safe as the Active, the Brig is now at Nantes and I suppose will be there long enough for your other Dispatches some time hence. 9

I am ever most dutifully & affectionately Yours

Jona Williams J