Scanned Document - National Security Agency

prophetic message written in cipher by Lovell Lovell, dated 6 January 1781, that he found
was keyed to COR and reads as follows: impossible to decipher since he could not
Our affairs at the Southward are to be judged of by the Gazettes.
We 11. 14. 18. 12. 1. 27. 13. 11. 17. 6.
We have a very good Prospect that the late War between
m e r c h a n t & f a r m e
36. 18. 23. 3. 4. 13. 6. 14. 24. 18.13. 16. 26.4.
Dana reported from Paris in March 1781
to John Adams that he had received a copy of
the ciphers and would not trust sending them
by post. Rather, he would have a private
opportunity to send them in a week. Dana
also stated that the gentleman who delivered
them (presumably Franklin) said he had not
been able to comprehend them: Dana
wondered whether he himself would be able
to do so. "However," he wrote, "I will make
the attempt."Ig Dana also added that he had
received a letter on the previous day from
remember the person in the clue that Lovell
provided: "you begin your Alphabets by the
3 first letters of the name of that family
in Charlestown, whose Nephew rode in
Company with you from this City to Boston."
Dana wished Lovell had given a more recent
example as a clue; however, by 16 March,
Dana had discovered the key to "friend
Jimmy's ~yphers."'~ Though Dana did
not write it, the key was BRA. The enciphered
message to Dana from Lovell with
decipherments interpolated reads as follows:
The several Governments and the People at large give effectual support 19. 25. 14. 14. 23. 5.
27. 2. 21. 17. 15. 19. [to no measures] so that we have a most happy prospect for the coming
campaign. I think we are entitled to promise ourselves 12.4. 3.7. 23.4. 20. 8. 24. 25. [much
mutiny] from one of the most virtuous armies that ever fought 20. 24. 16.27.19.4. 20. 24. 3.
11. 25. 1. 19. 18. 5. 3. 4. 14. 5. 15. 4. [unpaid, unclothed, unfed] in a degree that will be
explained to you by Mr. Laurens. The Enemy will puff away, about a mutiny in the Line of
Pennsylvania, but you may be assured that we 5. 15. 1. 17. 23. 15. 17. 15. [fear more]. Such
things are very easily remedied when there is at command 23.7.11.20.8.2.4.20. 15. 6.1.14.
23.[whatisduefrom]theUnitedStates21. 13. 11. 2. 11. 15. 20. 14. 26. I. 24.[unable to pay] or at
least 24. 15. 19. 6. 9. 11. 22. 9. 13. 17. [not willing]. I think this happy situation of things must
make France and Holland exert themselves to cooperate ~4th our Plans now transmitted. It is
of importance that Mr. Adams shou'd know what I write to you; and you can easily explain my
figures by taking 3 regular alphabets of 27 letters j after i - v after u - and & making 27 with