330-PSA-98-60 (USN 710743):  Navy Secretary Receives Letter Written by John Paul Jones.  William B. Franke, Secretary of the Navy, (left), reads a 178-year old 11-page letter presented him by Commander Marsden J. Perry, USNR, (center), of New York, at the Pentagon, June 29.   Looking on is Admiral James B. Russell, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations.  The letter will be given to the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Annapolis, Maryland, for the inclusion in its collection of John Paul Jones material.  The letter, written by John Brown, Secretary of the Admiralty and a close friend of Jones, is dated April 21, 1782.  At that time, Jones was prospective Commanding Officer of the America, a 74- gun ship of the line under construction at Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Contents of the letter include a progress report on the America and description of difficulties associated with its construction.  Although Congress elected Jones to command America, he never served in that capacity, since the ship was presented to the French government.    Photograph released June 30, 1960.  (8/25/2015).
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