[AMERICAN REVOLUTION -- JOHN PAUL JONES]. HOPKINS, Esek (1718-1802), Commodore, Continental Navy. Letter signed ("Esek Hopkins") to Joseph Olney (Captain of the Cabot), "Onboard the Warren," [docked at Providence, R.I.], 28 February, 1777. 1 page, 4to, integral blank, slight browning along left-hand edge, otherwise fine. THE ASCENDANCY OF JOHN PAUL JONES A revealing letter written two years after Hopkins had been named first Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Navy, during which time it had seen few successes and many notable failures. Ranked only 18th on the list of officers named by Congress, Jones was given command of the Providence when her original captain was court-martialed and dismissed. With that vessel, Jones obtained a number of valuable prizes. Robert Morris, Vice-President of the Marine Committee, was impressed by Jones' aggressive seamanship and convinced the Committee to assign him four vessels to patrol the North Carolina coast. Here, Hopkins writes the captain of one of the ships supposed to be assigned Jones, telling him the transfer would not be for another six weeks: "I have this day receiv'd Orders from the Hon Robert Morris Esq....to put the Alfred, Columbus(?), Cabot, Sloop Providence and the Hamden under Captn. [John Paul] Jones's Command to execute a private Expedition...after you have Cruized [sic] Six weeks as your former Orders...return to Boston, and put the Cabot under his Command." In the end, the ineffectual Hopkins refused Jones the vessels ordered by Congress. Jones went to Philadelphia, delivered his own plan for a revamped naval establishment, and was offered independent command of the Ranger. His subsequent triumphs with that vessel, later renamed the BonHomme Richard in honor of Benjamin Franklin, are very well-known. Hopkins' naval career was virtually at an end. After hearing testimony from his disgruntled officers, the Committee suspended him from command a month after this letter was written.