Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 12 July 1781
From: Bache, Sarah Franklin
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear & Honoured Sir
Philadelphia July 12 1781
Major Franks, a young Gentleman who has been in the American Army since the beginning of the War, will deliver you this, I beg leave to introduce Him to your notice and Friendship, he can acquaint you all about the Children and Family, as he very frequently saw us all together— there is a Vesel to sail in a few days by which I shall write largely, remember me afectionately to Temple, any notice that he shall take of major Franks, I shall look upon myself obliged to him for.
I am as ever your Dutiful and Afectionate Daughter
S Bache
Major Franks

Addressed: His Excellency / Dr. Benjamin Franklin / Minister Plenipoy. from the United / States of No. America at the / Court of Versailles / Favored by Major Franks


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Benezet, 12 July 1781
From: Benezet, Anthony
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Philadelphia the 12th of 7th mo 1781
Having several times attempted to get intelligence by letter from my kindred at St Quentin, in Picardie, the place of my nativity I take the liberty to trouble thee, my kind Friend, with the inclosed Packet for M Debrissac, my near kinsman, one of the principal traders there; a person whose acquaintaince would, in several respects, be agreable to thee; requesting thy kind assistance in the conveyance to its destination. As also thy kind advice to him of the safest mode of making me an answer. I wrote to thee at large, by the ship Franklin, about seven months past, as also by our cousin John Benezet, in the Shillely, which we much fear is lost. I shall be very glad to hear from thee when time & occasion will permit. With love I remain thy affectionate friend
Anthony Benezet
Benjamin Franklin

Addressed: Mon Ami / Benjamin Franklin / a / Paris
Endorsed: A Benezet


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Honoré-Thomas Bligny: Receipt for Picture Frames, [12 July 1781]
From: Bligny, Honoré-Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[July 12, 1781]
Memoire des Bordures et verres fournis pour Son Excellence Monsieur de Francklin Ministre plenipotentiaire des Provinces unies de la Merique Septentrionnalle, fourni par Bligny pere Cour du Manége aux Thuilleries

Savoir

Le 12. Juillet 1781. deux Bordures pour les portrais de Washington de 2. pouces de profil a la grec à 2 ornemens apretté, dorée d’or Jaune et Brunis et Surles Epaisseurs, d’ensemble 14. pieds 6 pouces à 2 l.t. 10 s. le pied Vallent
36 l.t.
5

Plus deux Couronnemens en Laurier Sculptés en bois aprettés et dorés à 15l.t. chacun Vallent
30
″ - ″
-

Un verre pour une des dites Bordures Carton et monture
3.10

Un autre idem
4.
  ″-″
  -

73 l.t.
15
s.

[in another hand:]plus lestempe [illegible] par le mire
  12

85 l.t.
15
—

In William Temple Franklin’s hand:] Recu le montant a Passy le 12 Juillet 1781. pr mr(?) bligny

Notation: Bligny, Printseller his Acct 85. 15s. Pd. 12. July 81.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael, 13 July 1781
From: Carmichael, William
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Madrid July 13th. 1781
I send you the last Spanish Gazettes in this inclosure by a Courier which the French Ambassador dispatches this with the news of the arrival of Monsr. de Guichen at Cadiz. The United fleet by this Junction amts to 52 sail of the Line, besides 3 other Spanish ships which are in the vicinage of the above-mentioned Port. The General rumer & beleif is that Gibraltar is the principal Object of this important armament. I must own however that I am still an Infidel on this Subject, altho’ I do not pretend to say which way it will be directed— By an American vessel from Philadelphia Mr Galvez received a letter from the Governor of the Havanna advising the Capture of Pensacola. No Particulars of this affair have yet been Published, but it gives general Joy, & Particular satisfaction to the King. We are to have Te Deums & Illuminations, In the Latter of which Mr Jay will bear his part, a circumstance that will be pleasing to Mr Galvez as a Minister & as a Man, for you know that he has the honor of the Enterprise & his Nephew the glory of executing it, which is worth to him a Lieutenant Generals Commission— The same vessel brought Letters for Mr Jay & newspapers to the 6th of June— These contain a relation of the affair of the 25th of April in which General was worsted, but still kept his ground— His loss in men was not considerable, In many other Skirmishes it appears the advantage was on our side. In Virginia, The Enemy have lost General Philips by sickness & the Command by that means Devolved on Arnold who by the last advices was at Petersburg, in the neighbourhood of which place The Marquis de la Fayette commanded the Force assembled to oppose Him— There are flying reports that Ld. Cornwallis was at Halifax in North Carolina on his march to form a junction with the former— The Same papers contain a relation published at N. York of the Ct de Grasses engagement with Sir Samuel Hood, which is much the Same as that published in the English Papers— This is I think the Substance of what by a very cursory perusal of our Gazettes, I have been able to remember, for Mr Jay immediately sent them to the Minister, To whom he has lately made overtures, which with the Answer He will in due time Communicate— I beg you to have the goodness to mention me in the proper manner to the Family of the Marquis de la Fayette at the same time that you communicate to them that he was well in the middle of May & greatly respected & beloved by his Troops— Mr Jay will draw upon you probably next week for 16 or 20000 dollars & I much fear will be obliged to have recourse to you for future assistance. I am with sincere esteem & great respect Your Excellencys Most obliged & Most Humble Sert
Wm. Carmichael


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 13 July 1781
From: Jay, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir,
Madrid 13. July 1781.
I have received your Favor respecting the Pump at aldgate.
I have since (two Days Ago) recd. Letters from Congress assuring me that no further Bills shall be drawn upon me.
These Dispatches have given me so much Business that I am obliged to desire Mr. Carm to write you the News, and to assure you without further additions to this Letter that I am most sincerely, Your aff. obliged Friend & Servant.
(signed) John Jay.
His Excelly. Doctr. Franklin.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 13 July 1781
From: Morris, Robert
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Philada. July 13th. 1781
The unanimous appointment to the Superintendancy of our Finances with which the Congress have honoured me, and my Conviction of the necessity that some one Person should endeavour to introduce Method & Oeconomy into the administration of affairs have induced me tho with reluctance to accept that office. Mr. Jay will receive by this Conveyance and forward you Copies of those Resolutions and letters which may be necessary to explain my appointment & Powers—
I wish I could as readily effect as I most ardently desire the accomplishment of all proper arrangements; thoroughly convinced that no Country is truely independent untill with her own Credit and resources she is able to defend herself and correct her Enemies. It shall be my endeavour to establish our Credit and draw our Resources in such manner that we may be little burthensome and essentially usefull to our Friends.
I am sure I need not mention to you the importance of collecting a Revennue with ease & expending it with oeconomy as little need I detail, the time, the Authority the ability the favourable circumstances which must combine for these purposes, but I think I may assert that the situation of a Country just emerging from dependance and struggling for existence is peculiarly unfavourable and I may add that this Country by relying too much on Paper, is in a Condition of peculiar disorder and Debility. To rescue and restore her is an object equal to my warmest wishes, tho probably beyond the stretch of my abilities.
Success will greatly depend on the pecuniary aid we may obtain from abroad, because Money is necessary to introduce oeconomy while at the same time Oeconomy is necessary to obtain Money besides that a greater plenty of solid circulating medium is required to support those operations which must give Stability to our Credit, Fruitfulness to our Revennue & activity to our operations.
Among those things which after the experience and example of other Ages and nations, I have been induced to adopt, is that of a national Bank, the plan of which I enclose. I mean to render this a principal Pillar of American Credit so as to obtain the Money of Individuals for the benefit of the Union and thereby bind those individuals more strongly to the general cause, by the ties of private interest. To the efficacy of this plan as well as to the establishment of a Mint which would also be of use, a considerable Sum of Money is necessary, indeed it is indispensibly so, for many other purposes. Be not alarmed Sir from what I have said, with the apprehension that I am about to direct solicitations to the Court of Versailles, which after the repeated favours they have conferred must be peculiarly disagreable; On the contrary as I am convinced that the Monies of France will all be usefully employed in the vigorous prosecution of the war by her own Fleets & Armies I lament every Sum which is diverted from them— Our Necessities have indeed called for her aid and perhaps they may continue to do so. Those calls have hitherto been favourably attended to, and the pressure of our necessities has been generously alleviated nor do I at all doubt that future exigencies will excite the same dispositions in our favour and that those dispositions will be followed with Correspondant effects, but I again repeat my wish at once to render America independent of, and usefull to her Friends. With these views I have directed Mr Jay to ask a considerable Sum from the Court of Madrid to be advanced to us at Havannah and brought thence by us if it cannot conveniently be landed here from Spanish Men of War, I say a Considerable Sum because, as I have declared to him, I do not wish to labor under the weight of obligation without deriving from it any real benefit, and because I consider the advance of small Sums rather as a temporary palliative than a radical remedy, our disorder’s are such that the former can be of no use and it would be better to persist in a desultory defence than to put on the delusive appearances of a Vigor we do not feel, for this lulls the People into a dangerous security and fosters those hopes of the Enemy which give duration and extent to the War.
It is the disorder of our Finances which has prevented us from a powerfull Cooperation with our Allies and which has enabled the Enemy to linger on our Coasts with the Dregs of a Force once formidable, It is from this cause that they have been permitted to extend the Theatre of their Malice and multiply the victims of their Ambition. America alone will not derive benefit from the advances which Spain may make to her. All the associates in the War will feel the consequential advantages. The expence of the American War now hangs a heavy weight about the Neck of Britain and enfeebles her on that Element which she called her own, an encrease of that expence or the loss of her Posts here, must necessarily follow from additional Efforts on our part, and either of these must be a consequential benefit to those who are opposed to her. France will derive a small immediate benefit from it as she will thereby get more Money here for her bills of Exchange than she can at present procure, but it is not so much from any advantage which may be expected to that Kingdom or from any motives of Interest as from the Generosity and Magnanimity of the Prince, that we hope for Support, I will not doubt a moment that at Your instance his Majesty will make pressing representations in support of Mr. Jays application, and I will hope that the Authority of so great a Sovereign and the Arguments of his able Ministers will shed auspicious influence on our Negotiations at Madrid.

From the best returns I have been able to collect and which are in some measure imperfect from the confusions and disasters of the Southern States, I find there is about 7,200,000. Dollars due on Certificates which bear an interest of six per Cent payable in France at the rate of five Livres for every Dollar. Many causes have conspired to depreciate these Certificates notwithstanding the interest is so well secured and has been punctually paid. This depreciation is so great that they are daily offered for Sale at a very considerable discount which is attended with two pernicious consequences, one that a considerable expence is unnecessarily incurred & the other that the Public Credit is unnecessarily impaired. If I had the means therefore I could remove this Evil by purchasing in the Certificates, and to procure the means I am to pray that you will state this matter fully to the Ministers of his Most Christian Majesty. The Interest being guaranteed by the Court of France they now pay for this purpose 2,160,000 Livres annually, a Sum which in less than ten years would pay a debt of Lrs 15,000,000. at five per Ct interest. With 15,000,000 Livrs. prudently managed the whole of these Certificates might be paid. I am sure it is unnecessary to dwell on the advantages which would result from making such Loan for this purpose and I trust that if this matter is stated to Mr. Necker that enlightened Minister will Cooperate in the plan to the utmost of his ability. I again repeat that I do not wish to lay any burthens on France but this proposal is calculated to relieve us both and in any case the expence to France will be the same— Should it be adopted I must request the earliest Notice that my operations may Commence and in any case I hope that Secrecy will be observed for the most evident reasons—
I am very sorry to inform you that we have as yet no satisfactory News of the Ship Fayette, but on the Contrary her long delay occasions the most alarming apprehensions. If as is but too probable that Ship is lost you will more easily conceive than I can describe what will be the situation of our Troops next Winter.
I could wish as soon as possible to have a State of all the Public Accounts transmitted to the end that Monies due to the United States may be paid and measures taken to provide for such Sums as they stand indebted in to others. Your Excelly will I dare say send them as soon as may be convenient and I hope the Public affairs will hereafter be conducted in such manner as to give you much less of that unnecessary trouble which you have hitherto experienced and which could not but have harrassed you exceedingly and perhaps taken up time which would otherwise have been devoted to more important objects.
I shall probably have frequent occasion to address You and shall always be happy to hear from you but the Mischiefs which arise from having letters intercepted are great and alarming. I have therefore enclosed you a Cypher and in the duplicate of my letters I shall enclose another, if both arrive you will use one and in case of your absence leave the other with such person as may supply your place, let me know however which Cypher you use, whether it be No 3. or No 4— The bearer of this letter Major Franks formerly an Aid de Camp to Genl. Arnold and honourably acquitted of all improper Connection with him after a full & impartial enquiry will be able to give you our Public News more particularly than I could relate them. He sails hence for Cadiz and on his arrival will proceed to Madrid where having delivered my letters to Mr Jay he will take his orders for you. He will then wait your orders and I hope will soon after meet a safe opportunity of Coming to America—
With the most perfect esteem & regard I have the honour to be Your Excellencys most Obedient & very humble Servant
Robt Morris.
His Excellency Benjn. Franklin Esqr Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States at the Court of Versailles

Endorsed: Mr. Morris July 13. 81


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Destouches, 14 July 1781
From: Destouches, ——
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Son Excellence
de Dunkerque le 14 Juillet 1781
J’ai l’honneur de vous adresser la lettre cy jointe du Cap Bennet Negus, dont la conduite dans la croisiere qu’il vient de faire avec le Corsaire qui portoit l’illustre nom de Votre excellence a merité vos eloges, et votre bienveillance pour lui. Je suis persuadé que vous voudrez bien lui en faire sentir les effets. Il honore la nouvelle republique qui doit regarder votre Excellence comme Son fondateur.
Je suis bien flatté d’avoir contribué à quelque chose qui vous ait été agreable, et le Serai toujours infiniment lorsque je pourrai vous prouver en quelque maniere l’admiration et le respect avec lesquels je Suis de Votre Excellence Le tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur
Destouches


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Jay, 14 July 1781
From: Jay, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir,
Madrid 14. July 1781.
I have this Day drawn. a Set of Bills of Exchange on your Excellency in Favour of the Marquis D’Yranda payable at Ninety Days after Date for forty thousand one hundred and twenty five Livres Tournois— I shall soon be obliged to draw also for the Residue of the Money for the two months Bills and for our Salaries.
I have the honour to be, Your Excellency’s most obedt. & humble. Servant
(signed) John Jay
His Exy. Dr. Franklin.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 14 July 1781
From: Morris, Robert
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Philada. July 14th. 1781
If Major Franks had departed yesterday as was expected, he would have left the enclosed Cypher behind, it was supposed to have been enclosed with the plans of the intended Bank, but was left out by accident—
I wish you would when leisure & opportunity will permit, converse with some of the Eminent Bankers in Paris on this plan and ask whether a Correspondance & Connection with the Directors would be agreable and whether they wou’d establish a Credit for this Bank and to what Amount, permitting the Managers to draw as occasion may require not exceeding that Amount, to be replaced again by remittances in other bills within such time as they may limit, or if they decline giving such Credit, then the terms on which they will receive Remittances and pay the drafts of the Bank— An American Bank must deal largely in Bills of Excha.—it will thereby rule the price of bills so as to keep it pretty steady, by passing most of the bills drawn on the Continent through their Channell, so as to leave a certain moderate Profit, and the use of a Credit in Europe will be to have paid for their honour such bills as may be protested on Account of the drawers by which means the Bank will secure the damages of 20 per Ct and pay only interest for advance & Commission for negotiating. Occasions may also offer when the Bank by drawing on Europe shall get a high price for bills and in a few Months replace them much cheaper. I do not wish to give you trouble on this occasion but if opportunities offer you can mention the subject, and if any of the Bankers will write me proposals I will lay them before the Directors.
You will tell them that altho the very moderate Sum of 400,000 Dollrs. is proposed as the first capital I intend to encrease it gradually to ten times that Sum, the only difficulty is to get it into Action now that People have but little Money & less Confidence.
I should be glad to see your name in the list of Subscribers to an institution I believe will be permanent. I ever am Dear Sir Your devoted humble servt.
Robt Morris
His Excy Doctr B. Franklin Minister &c &c

Addressed: His Excellency / Benjn Franklin Esqr. / Minister Plenipo. from / the United States of No America / at Paris
Endorsed: Mr Morris July 14 81


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Rhoads, 14 July 1781
From: Rhoads, Samuel
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Friend
Philada: July the 14th 1781
The Bearer hereof Samuel Griffitts (Son of our late fellow Citizen William Griffitts decd.) is a virtuous youth in pursuit of Medical, & Chirurgical Knowledge to Attain which, he hath serv’d an Apprenticeship with an eminent professor in this City, And now intends to visit the proper places in Europe in order to Acquire such further Knowledge, & Improvements in Physick, & Surgery, as may Quallify him for the Service of his Country in those usefull Branches of Science—
He is in high Esteem amongst his Acquaintance here & he is my Kinsman— As he is an utter Stranger in Europe, thy friendly Notice, & advice will be very Obliging—& any Service done for him will be deemd as done to thy affectionate, & Constant Friend
Saml Rhoads
Doctr: Franklin

Addressed: To / Doctr: Franklin / American Minister / at the Court / of / Versailles
Notation: S. Rhoads July 14 1781


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Temple, 15 July 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Temple, John

Passy July 15. 1781
I received my old Friend’s Letter with Pleasure, as it inform’d me of his Welfare and safe Arrival on the Continent, and of the Welfare & continued Regard of my Friends in England.— Thanks to God I still enjoy Health and good Spirits, tho’ the English News writers have thought fit to kill me several times in their Prints. It must at last be true that I am dead; but that Article hitherto has been, as their Papers phrase it, premature.
You mention your Intention of going home by the first good Opportunity that offers, either from France Spain or Holland, and desire some Information from me on the Subject. To the nearest Port in Spain, Bilbao, you will have a Land Journey of more than 800 Miles; to Cadiz, where there are the most frequent Opportunities, more than 1200; thro’ France and Spain; which will be the more unpleasant as you do not understand either of the Languages. In France there are at present no American Vessels but what will probably be gone before you can reach the Ports. And there being a good Ship now in Holland bound to Philadelphia, I imagine you will chuse that Conveyance. The rather as I cannot ask a Passport for you, to come hither having lately been refus’d one for M. David Hartley; and indeed, whatever Pleasure I might propose to myself by seeing and conversing with you, I know not how to advise your coming here at all; where your having been consider’d for some time as a doubtful Character, & to have possibly a secret Connection with the English Ministers, must occasion your passing your time disagreably among your Country-folks besides that you may be suspected as a Spy by the Government. I have a better Opinion of you, but I think it right to acquaint you with these Circumstances.— When I last heard from Boston, Mr Bowdoin was well, and I imagine the whole aimiable Family were so as late as the 24th of May, because I have the Papers down to that day, & see nothing in them to the contrary. I am glad to hear that Mr Turnbull is at Liberty, and hope no more young Americans will throw themselves in the way of the Mortifications he has suffer’d. I heartily wish you a good Voyage, & am, Dear Sir,
J. Temple Esqr


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from George Logan, 15 July 1781
From: Logan, George
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Philada: July 15t: 1781
I had the pleasure of writing to you last pr: Mr: Benezet: since that time no occurrence has taken place particularly meriting your attention. You however must be so well acquainted with every public transaction as to render my intruding on you with such accounts unnecessary. Thus much I may say, that the Brittish Arms are still sullied with the greatest barbarity & cruelty. The Southern States have suffered greatly for some months past, but we flatter ourselves, that our affairs in that quarter bear a better aspect at present. And a greater degree of cordiality appears among us, than on my first arrival.
With respect to private affairs, your Friends are in general well. Mr: H Roberts Mr: S: Rhodes & Dr: Bond frequently relate the pleasing anecdotes which occurred in your Company some twenty or thirty years ago: and long to see that day when after the fatigues of your Embassy they may welcome your safe return to your grateful Country.
When at leisure from the more important business of the Public; you will oblige me by giving me some directions respecting the Loganian Library. I wish it to answer the purpose of its institution, and should think no labour of mine too great to accomplish it. There are no other Trustees at present living but yourself, & my Uncle Logan.
Pray what is become of that very worthy & ingenious Gentleman Dr. Ingenhouse? Should he be in Paris, please to remember my best Comps: to him & tell him that his publication on Air, is very much admired in this Country.
I might farther intrude on your time at present, but am much engaged in procuring the means for the genteelest reception of those worthy few who have been banished from Charlestown. I have made an offer to accommodate two Families at Stenton and am just returned from waiting on Mr: J: Pemberton and some of the leading Men in the Quaker Society on this occasion. They will meet tomorrow, & I hope will do something worthy the profession [torn: they] make of universal charity to mankind—
A general subscription is also opened at the Coffee-house by the Citizens in general.
I am with great respect Your much obliged Friend
George Logan

Addressed: A Son Excellence / Dr: Franklin / a / Paris
Endorsed: Geo Logan


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Haine, 16 July 1781
From: Haine, Mary
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
July the 16. 1781
Your Excellency will be so kind is to Excuse the Liberty of my troubling your honr. in Ragard of my Sitttion which as oblidged me to take the Liberty of Writing to you. Sir I am a Stranger Whome is married to an amaricn Belonging to new Berry naetief of that Country in the State of Masituseds Bay in new England Who Sailed out of This Pourt & as had the Misfourtune to be taken twrice with thin this 9 Months Which as Drove me to grate distress Being Left With 2 Small chilldren in my armes to Mintene & Likewise being a Stranger in the Country & not being a queinted With any one for to Put me in the Leaste State for gitting Lively hood which makes my State a Vaste dale more Deplorable then it would be.
And With the Prottiction of your Excellency to be So kind as to assist me in Some way of gitting a Place as en house keeper or any outher Place that Your Excellency thinks most Proper to asist me in. I would have Dun me Self the honour of Waighting upon your Excellency if Surcumstancs would aLowe me.
I hope Your Excellency Will for give me for my takeing this Liberty.
Sir I remaine in Duty Bound and will for Ever Pray I am Sir your Exellencys most Obedent & Verry humble Servent
Mary haine.
rue Des gallions mrs. Paris Pres Legrand quai

Notation: Mary Haine July 16. 1781


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 17 July 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Hodgson, William

Dear Sir
Passy, July 17. 1781
In my last of the 8th Inst. I mention’d my ordering a Remittance to be made to you of 110£ Sterling, which I hope you have receiv’d.
I am oblig’d to you for your Goodwill in the Hint you gave me by yours of the 8 May, concerning Money of Digges’s in the Hands of Bouffé & Co. here. The Attaching of it would have been an easy Way of recovering what He has wrong’d us of, if he had really such a Sum in their Hands & if they had been solvent; but it was probably a Lie, and they are long since Bankrupts.
We have lately a few more Prisoners brought in to Nantes, which I shall send by the first Cartel, and continue to do so till our Account is ballanc’d.— I have written to Congress, advising that as Englishmen taken by the French will not be accepted in England in Exchange for Americans, it may be well to set apart 500 of their English Prisoners, keep them on the same Allowance that is given to our People in England, and not exchange them there nor any where, but for those People; and I wish our Prisoners could be inform’d that it is probable this Step will be taken for their Relief.—
Be pleased to present my affectionate Respects to the Club, and my hearty Wishes for their Prosperity. I could wish too, but can hardly say I hope, that I may once more be happy in their Company. My Age & the obstinate Continuance of the War, cuts off that Hope: But I am ever, with great Esteem, Dear Sir,
Mr Hodgson


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to the Baron de Thun, 17 July 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Thun, Ulrich, baron de

Sir,
Passy, July 17. 1781
I am really ashamed to have been so long without answering the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 6th Instant. I had receiv’d one at the same time from the same Mr Auer, and it being in the German Writing which I cannot read, I sent it to a Friend requesting a Translation of it. I have waited for that, in order to be able to answer yours more particularly; and I have not yet been able to obtain it. I will therefore no longer delay making as good an Answer as I can; which is, that since his Letters to Pensilvania have produced no Effect, I would advise that a Power of Attorney, be sent to Mr Holker, or in his Absence, to the Consul General of France at Philadelphia for the Time being, enabling him to sue for the Money; which may so be easily obtain’d by the Laws of the Country, tho’ the Person in whose hands it is should not be honest enough to pay it willingly. Four Copies of the Power of Attorney, and of the Letter to accompany it, should be made and sent to me, that I may forward them by different Ships, for the greater Certainty of their getting to hand. With great and sincere Respect, I have the honour to be
M. le Baron de Thun.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache: Two Letters, 17 July 1781
From: Bache, Richard
To: Franklin, Benjamin

I.
Dear & Hond. Sir
Philadelphia July 17th. 1781
I had the pleasure of writing to you very fully under date of the 19h. & 22d: Ulto. by the Captains Josiah & Proule— when I sent you two more of the Indian spelling Books, & Newspapers, both Dutch & English, up to the latter date; I now commit to the care of Mr. Saml. Griffiths, the son of your old Friend Mr. Wm. Griffiths another bundle of Newspapers; this young Gentleman I have taken the Liberty to introduce to you; you will find him deserving your attentions; Temple I suppose will recollect him, as he went to School with him; I must beg Temple’s particular notice of him—
I have the pleasure to tell you the Family is well, we expect an increase of it in two or three Months, Sally writes to you & Benny by this opportunity, I have therefore little else to add, than to repeat a hint I gave in one of my late Letters, that your French Friends whom you do me the honor to introduce to me, like Vin rouge, better than Madeira— I am Dear & Hond. Sir Your ever affectionate son
Rich. Bache
Dr. Franklin

Addressed: Dr. Franklin

II.
Dear & Hond: Sir
Philadelphia July 17th. 1781.
I hope this will be handed you by Mr. Samuel Griffiths, Son of your old Friend Mr. William Griffith’s decd.; who goes to France with a view of improving himself in the Study of Physick; As a deserving young Gentleman, of good Character, I recommend him to your Notice & Patronage;— Temple’s Attentions will not be wanting, I am sure—I am ever Dear & Hond. Sir Your Affectionate Son
Rich. Bache
Dr. Franklin

Addressed: His Excelly: / Dr. Benjamin Franklin / Minister Plenepoy. at the Court / of / Versailles / Favored by Mr. Griffiths


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 17 July 1781
From: Bache, Sarah Franklin
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear & Honoured Sir
Philadelphia July 17. 1781
I wrote you lately by the Ship Delaware Capt Prowl, and by Major Franks, which letters I hope may get safe to hand, this will be delivered to you by the Son of an Old Friend by whom Mr Bache has wrote, his Fathers kindness to me in your Absence when I was ill of the Measles, and afterwards in sending his Carriage every day for me to ride I shall never forget— As we have great reason to think the Shelaly lost I will send you a Copy of the letter I sent you in that Vessel if I can read my own short hand, for the copies I keep are sad scribbles— you will see by that letter that I had a severe fit of the Bilious Colic; I was ill again at the time of Mr Whartons arrival, and have had another attack lately, and am but just recovering, the last fit was followed by an Obstruction in my Breast, a violent pain from it through to my shoulder, and the same little hecking cough I had so long after the Measles, and an intire loss of Apetite and digestion, there is nothing I dread more than a return of it, and shall be particularly careful of what I eat and drink, I find salt and dried meats of every kind very bad— The present you sent me by Capt Smith came safe and was particularly acceptable, give me leave to repeat my thanks to you again—
Mr Marbois called on us the other day to congratulate us on your being chosen one of the Comissioners for setling the Peace, I now shall not fear its being a good one, he tells me Congress will not accept your resignation, and that they mean to take notice of Temple, which last gave me great pleasure, as I cannot but think it just, but I must own I was much disapointed in the hopes I had formed of your returning home, and our living altogether—
The two youngest Children Mrs Duffield took home with her last week, I heard yesterday they were well, we were a good deal loth to trouble the good Family with them again, but they insisted on it, and I am a great coward about keeping such young Children in this hot town during the warm weather, I should think myself very happy to be Mistress of two or three acres in a healthy place, just enough for the little runabouts to range in for the three hot months, at present there has been so many houses destroy’d by the british allround the Country, that there is no such thing as hiring a small place, Willy is grown very thin and been indisposed these three or four days, owing I imagine to his constantly racing down to Schoolkill in the Sun and sitting too long in the water at a time, his Papa has concluded he shall go to France when Mr Barckly goes, that he may be educated at Geneva with his Brother, the thoughts of which delights him much, this afternoon he is to take a ride with me to drink tea with Mr Holker, Will joins with me in Love, Mr Bache has wrote to You by this Opportunity— I am as ever Your Dutifull Daughter
S Bache

Addressed: Dr. Franklin
Endorsed: Bache


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 17 July 1781
From: Hopkinson, Francis
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My dear Sir.
Philada. July 17th. 1781
I have wrote you many Letters, but fear very few ever reached your Hand. In particular I wrote fully by the unfortunate President Laurens enclosing some of my Labours in the Cause (such as they were). They fell into the Hands of the British & were probably handed up to Court with great Solemnity, along with Papers of more Consequence—they are heartily wellcome to any Performance of mine in that Way. I wish the Dose was stronger & better for their Sake. The only Disappointment I have is that my Squibbs would probably have afforded a Laugh to you, which is a very wholesome Exercise, but will do them no Good.
This serves to cover a Letter for Amsterdam, which I have left open for your Perusal: requesting you would be so good as to seal & forward it as directed.
I shall not enter upon the large Field of News & Politics— nor discuss the Subject of your Enemies & Friends— To be without Enemies would be to be of no Consequence in the World, which never will be your Case; & to enjoy the Love and Esteem of a respectable Number in almost all the civilised Parts of the World, whose Friendship it is an honour & a gratification to possess, will I doubt not be your Happiness to the latest hour of Life— Amongst your friends I claim a Place, & shall be ever proud of an Opportunity of assuring you again & again that I am Your sincerely affectionate
F: Hopkinson
I need not say I wish to hear from youDr. Franklin

Endorsed: F. Hopkinson July 17. 1781


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Deacon M. Auer, 18 July 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Auer, Deacon M.

Reverend Sir,
Passy, July 18. 1781
I received the Letter you did me the Honour of Writing to me the 23d past, containing a Request that I would advance to the Widow Hockterin of Ebingen, the Sum of 1450 fl. which is said to be due to her from a Mr. Christian Schneider at Germantown in Pennsylvania. As I have no Knowledge of M. Schneider, nor of Mrs Hockterin, nor of the Justice of the Demand upon him, I hope you will excuse my not chusing to hazard the Payment of his Debts for him to her without his Orders. But if he will pay the Money into the Hands of Mr Richard Bache, of Philadelphia, my Son in law, I will upon Sight of his Receipt for the same, remit the Value directly to Mrs Hockterin. And my Advice is, that you would make this Proposition to Mr Schneider, in 4 Letters which I may send by different Ships, and direct him to take 4 different Receipts for the Money when he pays it, and transmit three of them also to me by different Ships, keeping one for his own Security. If M. Schneider refuses to pay the Money, and a Lawsuit should be necessary to compell him, then the Method I have had the Honour to mention to his Excey. le Baron de Thun should be taken, of sending a Procuration to Mr Holker. I have the honour to be Reverend Sir, Your &c.
Mr Auer Ministre d’Eglise dans le Wirtemberg


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to J.F. Frin & Co., 18 July 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: J.F. Frin & Co.

Passy le 18. Juillet 1781.
Je reçois dans l’Instant, Messrs. votre Lettre d’hier. J’ai examiné mes Livres de noveau et je trouve qu’effectivement la 4me. de la Traite en Question a été acceptée le 12. May 81. presentée par M. Le Ray de Chaumont.
Comme vous avèz entre vos Mains, Messieurs, la premiere de la dite Traite que j’ai refusé d’accepter, ayant dejà rempli cette formalité à l’Egard de la 4me. et que vos Recherches pour trouver cette 4me. ont été infructueuses, Je pense que vous verrèz fort bien de former l’Opposition que vous projettèz chez mon Banquier, afin de decouvrir la Fraude, s’il y en a.
J’ai l’honneur d’être tres parfaittement, Messrs. Votre &c.
Mess. J f Frin & Co.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Rush, 18 July 1781
From: Rush, Benjamin
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My much honoured friend & father/
Philada July 18th: 1781
I profitted so much by your kindness and conversation while I was abroad that I cannot refuse an Application from a young Student for a letter of introduction to you in order that he may assist in obtaining your Mantle and transporting it to your Native country before you leave our world.— The bearer Dr Saml Griffitts has genius and an insatiable desire for knowledge.— Nothing will be lost upon him.— Your Attention to him will add to the many—very many Obligations conferr’d in this way upon your much Obliged—most dutiful Child in philosophy and most humble Servant
Benja. Rush

Addressed: The Honble. / Benjamin Franklin Esqr. / Minister Plenipotentiary / from the united States / to the Court of / Versailles
Endorsed: B Rush


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 19 July 1781
From: Morris, Robert
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Philadelphia 19 July 1781.
The foregoing are Duplicates of my Letters of the several Dates there mentioned, by Major Franks who has sailed for Cadiz. I now enclose to you Duplicate Copies of the Letters and Resolutions referred to in mine of the thirteenth.—
I do not write to Colo. Laurens, because I know not whether he is still in France, and because I am confident you will make to him all necessary Communications. I pray you, if he is still with you, to present my Compliments to him, and inform him of the Reasons of my Silence.
Colo. Laurens’s Letter of the ninth of April last from Versailles has been received, and I am induced to hope that the 10,000,000 Livres mentioned in it to be borrowed in Holland, will be, as he says he shall request, advanced from the Treasury of France.
He mentions also, a Promise of the Marquis de Castres to make immediate Arrangements for the safe Transportation of the pecuniary and other Succors destined hither. It would be well that the Money or as much of it as possible were in heavy half Johanneses. Whether this Letter may arrive in Time I know not, but if it should, you will, I hope, be able to effect my Views. If the 15,000,000 Livres mentioned in my Letter of the thirteenth can be obtained, it will be best that it be retained in France provided the 10,000,000 be sent to America; for, in that Case, the Exchange may, I beleive, be put upon such a footing as to answer very valuable Purposes. Of Consequence the Risque will be saved to America, and France will not suffer, as she otherwise might, by the Exportation of so much Coin. To this it may be added, that a Loan will probably be easier obtained if the Days of Payment of the Money by the Subscribers to it be somewhat distant, which will answer very well for Bills of Exchange, tho not quite so well for the Exportation of Money.


Title: Excerpt of Alexander Small’s Memorandum on Ventilation, [before 20 July 1781]
From: Small, Alexander
To:

In volume 23 we published the first section of Alexander Small’s memorandum on ventilation, setting forth what he understood were Franklin’s views on the subject. He had written that portion in 1777, while stationed on Minorca. By 1781 Small had expanded the paper considerably, adding what were primarily observations of his own, bolstered by quotations from other authors. We publish here the only paragraph from that second section which directly reflected Franklin’s thinking.
Franklin’s views may not have dominated this second section, but the inclusion of that paragraph indicates to us that the two men must have discussed these issues again when Small stopped in Paris in 1780, on his return to England. The lengthy addition to the memorandum (nearly twice as long as the original) cautioned against inadequate ventilation in medical facilities, and described hospitals Small had visited in Philadelphia, Lyon, Gibraltar, and Minorca with respect to how their construction either did or did not allow for free circulation of air, and the medical consequences. Just as important as proper ventilation, he continued, was the degree of moisture inside a building and around its foundation. He addressed the problems of excessive humidity (which had been shown to inhibit the healing process) and poor land drainage. Finally, he evaluated sewage ditches in various cities. With regard to drainage, Small quoted Franklin’s views on how to site buildings constructed near marshy areas, the paragraph we quote below.
With the sketchy manuscript evidence that survives it is impossible to reconstruct the full history of collaboration between the two men. Franklin may well have encouraged Small to write this second section. He certainly insisted that Small provide him with a copy, which he would get translated into French and submit for publication. And there is no doubt that Franklin was vigorously involved with the final preparation of the text. He distilled a paragraph from an extract on contagion that Small had sent him from London, and incorporated it. He urged Small to write a more detailed description of his visit to the Lyon hospital. And he composed a brief editorial note on one particular paragraph that he later decided to delete from the manuscript altogether.
The results of this effort were disappointing. After conferring with Le Roy on the translation (for which see the following two documents), Franklin submitted the French version to the Société de médecine along with his letter of July 20–24 (below). They read it with interest, but declined publication. Years later, in 1788, Small had the opportunity to submit it to the Royal Society of Edinburgh. That Society likewise rejected it on the grounds that it contained little that was new. Franklin then insisted that Small send it to him in Philadelphia, and promised that it would be inserted in the next volume of the American Philosophical Society Transactions. He died before that volume was assembled. William Temple Franklin finally honored his grandfather’s wishes by publishing it in in his Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin.

[before July 20, 1781]
An Observation of Dr. Franklin’s deserves a Place here; especially as it is not generally attended to. The common opinion is indeed against it. The Banks of Rivers which have a quick motion & run on a clean sandy bottom, are very agreeable & healthy situations: but the sides of rivers which have ouzy bottoms, or marshy banks, or which are in the neighbourhood of extensive marshes, are to be avoided. When necessity or any particular advantage obliges people to build near such bad neighbours, the South side, says the Doctor, is the most eligible; because the warm southerly winds, which promote a tendency to putrefaction, & are the most frequent, blow the noxious vapours from the buildings, whereas the northerly winds, which blow but seldom, compared with the former, & which generally blow strongly, check Putrefaction, & speedily carry off the noxious vapours.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Le Roy, [before 20 July 1781]
From: Le Roy, Jean-Baptiste
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Wednesday morning [before July 20, 1781]
Soit fait ainsi qu’il est requis is my Dear Doctor and Old french saying to declare that orders will be punctually and Quikly obeyed so will be what your desire as to this Translation I shall add it by way of a Postscript. It seems by what M. Small says of our hospitals at Lyons That the air be there very pure and sweet. Nevertheless by notices that have been sent me by the Gentleman that are at the head of that hospital at [illegible] that mortality is still there in the proportion of 1/11 or 1/12th at least of the sick that are received in it. I am my Dear Doctor for ever your most obedience and sincere friend
John Le Roy

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin
Notation: Le Roy


Title: Le Roy’s Remarks on Alexander Small’s Memorandum on Ventilation: Three Extracts, [before 20 July 1781]
From: Le Roy, Jean-Baptiste
To:

In preparation for submitting Alexander Small’s memorandum on ventilation to the Société royale de médecine, Franklin turned to Le Roy for help with the translation. The present document is the only extant evidence of their dialogue, which concerned not only points of language, but also matters of substance. Consisting of eight manuscript pages, many of which are corrections of individual words or phrases, these translator’s remarks are keyed to pages of a text that has not survived. The corrections suggest that Le Roy was reviewing either a French translation prepared by another (unknown) person, or a copyist’s version of his own translation that contained errors of transcription, or perhaps a combination of both. We do not reproduce here Le Roy’s lists of word substitutions.
Interspersed with those lists, however, are three narrative passages. The first (I) is a translation of Small’s description of his visit to the hospital in Lyon, a late addition to the memorandum. The English original has not survived. In the absence of the version submitted to the Société (or indeed, any of the versions of the memorandum submitted to scientific societies), we can only assume that Le Roy did incorporate this passage into what Franklin sent to Vicq d’Azyr. It does not appear in the only published text of this paper, William Temple Franklin’s edition, and we therefore include it here.
The second and third narrative passages address a single subject: a pair of questions that Franklin intended to append as an editorial note (what Le Roy calls a “note du lecteur”) concerning a passage in Small’s text. Le Roy formulated the questions in French. He then offered his own commentary on the points Franklin raised (II). Several pages later, he returned to the questions (III). This time, their phrasing was considerably tightened (undoubtedly reflecting Franklin’s influence) and Le Roy added a new set of remarks that had occurred to him in the meantime.

The passage under discussion, from the first section of the memorandum, is not in William Temple Franklin’s text, and does not appear in our volume 23. The reason is this: as a result of this discussion with Le Roy, Franklin dropped his own note and silently deleted the paragraph. His working copy of the memorandum, which formed the basis of Temple Franklin’s text, shows the paragraph crossed out with a large X. It immediately preceded the paragraph beginning “An attentive observer,” and reads as follows:
Vaulted rooms may be considered in this light; because the materials of which the arch is built must generally be solid. If the arch is built of stones, & these are exposed to the air; as they cannot so soon as wood or brick become of the temperature of the air, as to heat & cold, the vault must become wet on every change of the air, from cold to warm: as every one may observe in the walls & furniture of rooms in which fire is not kept. The vault may thus become a frequent source of moisture, which, mixing with the air, may gradually descend into the room, & become very prejudicial to the health of persons of weak constitutions, who may inhabit such rooms.

[before July 20, 1781]
I.
Comme nous avons cru qu’on ne Seroit pas fâché de voir ce que M. Small manda a M. Franklin Sur Lhopital de Lyon qu’il avoit vu en passant par la france pour retourner en Angleterre nous l’avons joint ici par forme d’addition.
Lorsqu’en venant du midy On entre dans Lyon en passant Le Rhône un des premiers bâtimens qui frappe la vûe c’est Le grand hopital de cette Ville. Je formai aussitot Le dessein de le voir et J’y allai avec M. Le Colonel Pringle fort curieux de tout ce que la nature et les arts peuvent offrir d’Intèressant: M. Son Neveu nous accompagnoit ainsi que M. Taylor chirurgien major d’un regiment de dragons legers. On nous y reçut très poliment et une personne qui nous parut par Son ton et par Ses manieres au dessus du commun Se chargea de nous mener dans toute la maison. L’apoticairerie et les autres salles où l’on conserve et on distribuë les remedes nous parurent on ne peut pas plus propres et tenuës dans un Si bon ordre qu’elles mèritent de très grands éloges. Cette personne nous mena ensuite dans les differentes Salles de l’hopital elles sont grandes elevèes et bien Aërées. Les croisées montent par leur hauteur assez près du plat fond et on en tient la partie Supèrieure constamment ouverte il y a par ce moyen un courant d’air constant qui emporte continuellement les miasmes volatiles et putrides qui emanent des malades. Je suis faché cependant de dire que nous y trouvâmes les lits trop entassés les uns sur les autre et dans plusieurs deux malades aulieu d’un Seul. Mais vrai semblablement cet abus tenoit à la quantité de malades qu’on avoit eté obligé d’y recevoir. Il y en avoit alors dans cet hopital plus de 1500. On nous dit que quelque fois il y en avoit jusqu’a 2000. Les bâtes des lits sont en fer, et Les couchettes les draps et les couvertures nous en parurent de la plus grande propreté. En tout il m’a Semblé qu’au moyen de la circulation d’air entretenue dans cet hopital et de l’attention Infinie qu’on a pour y maintenir la propreté; L’air en est assez pur au moins Les officiers qui m’accompagnoient et qui n’étoient point accoutumés au Séjour des hopitaux ne s’appercevoient que très foiblement d’aucune odeur désagréable.

Endorsed: Translation of Mr Small’s Papers—

II.
Je remarquerai Sur la note du Lecteur qu’il faudroit Linprimer ainsi—il y a deux choses ici dont il Semble qu’on pourroit douter 1° Si Lhumidité dans l’air Sans mélange d’aucune autre substance est nuisible à la santé des hommes dont les corps sont si pénétrés dhumidité. 2° Si l’air d’une chambre n’est d’autant plus humide qu’il se dèpose plus dhumidité sur ses murs. Ne Seroit il pas au contraire plus Sec?

Quoique Je sois toujours de l’avis de mon Illustre docteur et que je me fasse gloire d’adopter Ses Sentimens Je ne puis m’empecher cependant de lui observer Sur ces deux points 1° Que tous les médecins et les chirurgiens des hopitaux disent et conviennent généralement que lhumidité des salles est tres contraire aux malades. Je l’ai entendu dire nombre de fois à M. Tenon et encore dernierement à un Médecin de merite (M. Meltié) qui a été long-temps Médecin d’armée et me raconta que Lorsqu’il visitoit nos casernes Sil trouvoit 5 malades au rez de chaussée il etoit comme sur de n’en trouver que quatre au premier, que trois au second et souvent point au dessus. M. Tenon m’a souvent dit que quand on lave les salles à lhopital appellé La Salpètriere on peut ètre assuré que le lendemain il y a beaucoup plus de malades. Enfin L’Illustre Boyle remarque en parlant des Hygrométres qu’il avoit observé que toutes les fois qu’on lavoit les chambres dans la maison, à la manière angloise, il y avoit presque toujours quelqu’un qui en etoit incommodé. A cette Occasion il parle de la necessité d’avoir dans les appartemens des hygrométres pour en déterminer le degré de Sécheresse. Je remarquerai quant au second point qu’il n’y a qu’a transporter un de ces hygromètres dans les endroits où les murs Sont chargés dhumidité et que vous verrez bien mon cher Docteur Si L’air de ces endroits n’est pas plus humide que celui des lieux où on ne voit pas ces murs chargés d’humidité mais sans avoir besoin de cette expérience M. Small nous en rapporte une toute faite Lorsqu’il dit pag. 26— Une de ces Salles où il n’y avoit jamais eu de cheminée et qui étoit voutée en pierre avoit toujours été tellement humide qu’on n’en faisoit par là absolument aucun Usage. Les murs et La voute étoient tous couverts d’une mousse verte et d’une grande quantité d’une espece de Sel de Nître que l’on ramasse Souvent sur notre pierre de [?]. Quand on eut fait les Ouvertures &ca— Cette salle devint bientôt Si séche qu’ayant èté fermée pendant plus de trois mois On trouva les livres et les papiers qui y étoient restés parfaitement Secs et même en meilleur état que ceux d’une armoire &c— Vous voyez mon cher Docteur par cette Observation que dans une Salle dont les murs étoient tellement humides qu’ils étoient tout couverts de mousse l’air de cette Salle étoit tellement humide aussi qu’on n’en pouvoit rien faire et que quand on y eut établi un courant d’air de facon qu’ils deviennent secs, L’air de cette salle devint aussi si Sec lui même que des livres et des papiers qui y restèrent enfermés pendant trois mois y furent trouvés parfaitement Secs. Vous vous deciderez Sur votre note d’après ces Observations

III.
Pag 13 Je remarquerai Sur la note de mon Illustre ami qu’il faudroit l’Exprimer ainsi
Il y a deux choses ici dont on pourroit douter
1° Si Lhumidité dans l’air Sans aucun mélange d’autre Substance est nuisible à la Santé des hommes dont Le Corps est Si plein d’humide. 2° Si l’air d’une chambre n’est pas plus Sec en proportion de la quantité dhumidité qui se dépose sur les murs.
remarque du Traducteur
J’observerai à mon Illustre ami que tout ce que dit M. Small dans cet endroit est en contradiction en quelque façon avec ce qu’il dit dans d’autres et je n’aurois pas été en peine de le réfuter ce qu’il dit sur les voutes si cette réfutation n’eut été déplacée quant aux doutes de la note de mon Illustre ami Sur Lhumidité &ca.
Je lui observerai 1° que tous les Cuisiniers et Cuisinieres ont observé cent et cent fois que la viande se corrompt bien plus promtement dans les endroits humides que dans les endroits Secs et qu’ils ont soin en conséquence d’établir leur garde manger ou l’endroit ou ils mettent leur viande crue dans des lieux bien secs et bien aërés.
2° Que dans les hopitaux on a souvent observé et M. Tenon notre confrère me l’a dit nombre de fois que quand on a lavé les salles, sur tout dans les hopitaux où il y a de vieilles gens, il y a le lendemain beaucoup plus de malades; Qu’on remarque de même dans les Casernes de nos soldats dans les villes de Guerre qu’il y a toujours plus de malades au rez de chaussée qu’au premier au premier qu’au Second jusqu’ainsi de suite jusqu’en haut enfin que les medecins et les chirurgiens des hopitaux s’accordent tous sur les mauvais effets qui résultent pour les malades des lieux humides.
Je lui observerai au sujet de sa seconde remarque que M. Small donne lui même la preuve du contraire de ce que Mon Illustre ami Suppose en parlant de cette Salle où la mousse croissoit Sur les Murs avant qu’ily eut un courant d’air qui emportat lhumidité et qui devint ensuite parfaitement Sèche Lorsque ce courant y fut établi. J’ajoûterai que toutes les observations faites avec L’Hygromètre prouvent que dans les endroits où les murs Sont humides il y a plus d’humidité. Qu’il n’a qu’a faire L’experience pour s’en assurer. Je lui citerai enfin encore un fait qu’il peut Se rappeller c’est que LElectricité réussit toujours beaucoup moins bien dans les endroits où les murs sont humides que dans les autres. Donc &c &
Je propose donc en conséquence à mon Illustre ami d’éxaminer de nouveau sa note pour voir sil la laissera subsister.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Félix Vicq d’Azyr, [before 20 July 1781]
From: Vicq d’Azyr, Félix
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur et très-illustre Confrère,
[before July 20, 1781]
La Société Royale de Medecine m’a chargé de vous adresser un certain nombre des Pieces qui ont été distribuées dans sa derniere séance publique, avec un Rapport concernant les sepultures de l’Ile de Malthe, et imprimé aux fraix de L’Ordre. S’il vous est possible de faire parvenir quelques-unes de ces Pieces en Amérique, Nous vous en aurons beaucoup d’Obligation. En vous offrant cet hommage je suis chargé par la société Royale de Médecine de vous remercier de L’exactitude avec laquelle vous voulez bien assister à ses Assemblées publiques. Personne ne vous est plus sincerement et plus intimement attaché que les Membres de cette Compagnie. Recevez en particulier les Témoignages du respect le plus profond, avec lequel j’ai L’honneur d’Etre J’ai L’honneur d’être avec le plus profond respect, Monsieur et très-illustre Confrère, Votre très humble et très-obéïssant serviteur
Vicq D’AZYR
M. Franklin Ministre des Etats-unis de L’Amérique à Passy.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Vicq d’Azyr, 20[–24] July 1781
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Vicq d’Azyr, Félix

Sir,
Passy, July 20[–24]. 1781
I received the Letter you Sometime since did me the Honour: of writing to me, accompanied with a Number of the Pieces that were distributed at the last publick Meeting of the Royal Society of Medecine. I shall take Care to forward them to different Parts of America, as desired. Be pleased to present my Thanks to the Society for the Copy sent me of the curious, & useful Report relating to the Sepulture in the Island of Malta. I should be glad of another Copy if it can be spared, being desirous of sending one to each of the philosophical Societies in America.
With respect to the length of time during which the Power of Infection may be continued in dead Bodies, which is considered in that Report, I would mention to you three Facts, which tho’ not all of equal Importance or weight, yet methinks it may be well to preserve a Memorandum of them, that such Observations may be made when Occasion offers, as are proper to confirm or invalidate them.
While I resided in England, I read in a Newspaper, that in a Country Village, at the Funeral of a Woman whose Husband had died of the Small Pox 30 Years before, and whose Grave was dug so as to place her by his Side, the Neighbours attending the Funeral were offended with the Smell arising out of the Grave, occasioned by a Breach in the Husband’s old Coffin, and 25 of them were in a few Days after taken ill with that Distemper, which before was not in that Village or its Neighbourhood, nor had been for the Number of years above-mentioned.
About the Years 1763 or 1764, several Physicians of London, who had been present from Curiosity at the Dissection of an Egyptian Mummy, were soon after taken ill of a malignant Fever, of which they died. Opinions were divided on this Occasion. It was thought by some that the Fever was caused by Infection from the Mummy, in which Case the Disease it died of must have been embalmed as well as the Body. Others, who considered the Length of Time, at least 2000 Years since that Body died and also that the Embalming might rather be supposed to destroy the Power of Infection, imagined the Illness of those Gentlemen must have had another Original.
About the Year 1773, the Captain of a Ship which had been at the Island of Tenneriffe, brought from thence the dried Body of one of the ancient Inhabitants of that Island, which must have been at least 300 Years old, that Custom of drying the Dead there having been so long discontinued. Two Members of the Royal Society, one an eminent Physician, went to see that Body. They were half an hour in a small close Room with it, examining it very particularly. The next Day they were both affected with a singularly violent Cold,* & attended with uncommon Circumstances and which continued a long time. On comparing together the Particulars of their Disorder, they agreed in suspecting that possibly some Effluvia from the Body, might have been the Occasion of that Disorder in them both. Perhaps they were mistaken. But as we do not yet know with Certainty how long the Power of Infection may in some Bodies be retained, it seems well in such Cases to be cautious till farther Light shall be obtained.
I wish it were in my Power to contribute more essentially in advancing the good Work the Society are so laudably engag’d in. Perhaps some few useful Hints may be extracted from the enclos’d Paper of Mr. Small’s.* It is submitted to your Judgment; and if you should find any thing in it worthy of being communicated to the Society, and of which the Extracts may be useful if printed in the Memoirs, it will be a Pleasure to me, who am, with great Esteem and Respect, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin

P.S. July 24
Since writing the above, I have met with the following Article in the Courier de l’Europe of the 13th Instant, viz.
Extrait d’une Lettre d’Edimbourg, en date du 30 Juin.
“J’apprends par une personne qui vient de Montrose, que la fievre épidemique qui s’est manifestée il y a quelque temps dans le Mearns, desole encore aujourd’hui ce voisinage avec tant de violence, qu’un de ses amis à été invité a assister à 15 enterrements dans un seul jour. On dit que cette maladie doit son origine à la folle curiosité de quelques paysans, qui, à la Chandeleur derniere, exhumerent quelques personnes mortes de la peste dans le siecle precedent, et qu’on avoit enterrées dans le Moss of Arnhall. Ce qui est arrivé a la famille de M. Robert Aikenhead est singulièrement malheureux: vers le milieu du mois dernier il a été attaqué de cette contagion, elle s’est communiquée au reste de sa famille consistant en 9 personnes, dont deux sont mortes ainsi que lui, et le reste n’est pas sans danger.”
M. Vicq d’Azyr

Notation: Physique Medicale Exhumation


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 20 July 1781
From: Dumas, Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur,
Lahaie 20 Juillet 1781
Comme je n’ai pas gardé copie des Lettres que j’ai eu l’honneur de vous écrire en Avril & May, je n’en sais plus ni le nombre ni la date. Celles dont vous m’avez favorisé cette année sont du 18 Janv. 14 Mars, 7 Avril & 4 May. J’ai du vous paroître, Monsieur, bien négligent en comparaison d’autrefois. Je ne l’ai pourtant pas été, malgré ma santé, qui n’a pas été trop bonne. La grande raison, qui m’a rendu plus silentieux qu’à l’ordinaire, c’est ce que vous m’avez marqué dans l’honorée vôtre du 7e. Avril, que ma Lettre paroissoit avoir été ouverte; & effectivement, je n’ai pu en douter en voyant mon couvert que vous m’avez renvoyé, On a fondu ma cire, après avoir pris l’empreinte du cachet avec une certaine composition, après quoi l’on a recacheté avec l’empreinte. Qui que ce soit qui ait [torn: commis] cette malhonnêteté j’ai cru devoir être d’autant plus retenu [torn: en confiant] mes opérations au papier, qu’elles étoient très-delicates, & ne m’appartenoient pas à moi seul depuis quelques mois, comme vous verrez, Monsieur, par la Lettre pour le Congrès, que vous voudrez bien, après l’avoir lue, cacheter & acheminer le plutôt le mieux. Celle-ci vous parviendra sous le couvert de Mr. F. Grand. Je n’ai nulle objection à ce que vous lui remettiez l’incluse pour la faire tenir à Mr. Carmichael, le plutôt le mieux: car j’ai toujours été persuadé qu’il n’a jamais eu connoissance ni part à certaine liberté malhonnête qu’un autre a prise. Cette Lettre en contient une pour le Congrès, pareille à celle que vous recevrez cet ordinaire par une autre main, cachetée précisément comme celleci. Ainsi vous serez à même de pouvoir comparer les cachets, & examiner s’il y en a eu un de lésé ou remanié. J’ai l’honneur d’être toujours avec le plus respectueux attachement, Monsieur Votre très-humble & très-obeissant serviteur
Dumas
[In the margin:] Mes respects à Mr. Adams, s’il est encore à Paris.

[On the address sheet:] J’ai du rouvrir cette Lettre. Vous recevrez la Lettre pour Mr. Carmichael par une autre voie. J’ai fait un qui pro quo, pour lequel il ne vaut pas la peine de rouvrir l’autre Lettre.
  Passy à S. Exc. M. B. Franklin

Addressed: His Excellency / B. Franklin, Min Plenipo: from / the Un. States / Passy./.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 20 July 1781
From: Hodgson, William
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear sir/
London 20 July 1781
I recd yours of the 8th Current in Answer to mine of the 29 June. I wrote you a prior Letter on the 8 May which you do not acknowledge pray let me know if it came to hand— As yet I have not heard from Mr Grand—
Upon receipt of yours I immediately waited upon the Board of Sick & Hurt who informed me they had just dispatched an order to Edinburg for the discharge of the passengers in the Marquis de Fayette & the Name of Mr Veillard was in the List; they were at same Time to be furnished with passes & had an offer made them to return to France in a Cartel Vessell that was speedily to sail with Prisoners if they chose it, if not they were at Liberty to pursue any other Route they judged proper— I have wrote to Mr Veillard acquainting him with these facts & furnished him with a Letter of Credit in Case he shou’d want any Money— The passage per the Cartel will most likely be the speediest & by far the least expensive, however if the young Gentleman shou’d determine to come here I will pay him all due attention—
I hope before you go hence you may yet Sing Nunc dimittis Domine— it will be indeed a most pleasant thing, this War being Calamitous beyond all others hitherto Known— it is but this week that I called upon a Friend in the Country a Mr Day & to my extreme surprise & Mortification I found Digges had tricked him out of £200 upon a Pretence of his being in your Confidence & a distressed American. This Man surpasses in Villainy all I ever met with— I am with great Respect D Sr your most obedt sert
William Hodgson

P.S. Since writing the above the post is come in with Mr Grands Remittance for £110— which I shall take care to disburse properly according to the Sum intended to be given you can judge when a supply will be wanted. WH

Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin / a / Passy


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Loring Austin, 21 July 1781
From: Austin, Jonathan Loring
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir.
Nantes 21 July 1781 —
I expect in ten, or fifteen days at fartherst to embark for Philadelphia, if your Excellency has any Letters for America & will forward them by Return of Post to Mr Williams, I will take charge of them, & deliver them (if possible) as directed—
I am with the greatest Respect Your Excellency’s Most Obedient humble Servt.
Jon. Loring Austin
If Mr Adams is in Paris, please to inform him that I shall be happy to take his Letters—

Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / à / Passi / près / Paris


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 21 July 1781
From: Lovell, James
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Philada. July 21. 1781
It does not appear that the Resolutions of June 26. affecting yourself & Colleagues as well as Mr. Dana have been transmitted.
Mr. Presidt. McKean will take other Opportunities of Writing. I think it essential however in the mean time to forward duplicates which may serve for Information & perhaps Authority too to all concerned.
Your humble Servt.
James Lovell
Hon. Doctr. FranklinPlease to give Copies where proper.

Addressed: Honble. / Doctor Franklin / Passi / France


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 21 July 1781
From: Morris, Robert
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Phila: 21st. July 1781
I have now to inform you that the State of Pensilvania had emitted £500,000 in Bills of Credit, funded in such Manner that there could be no reasonable Doubt of their Redemption. But the public Confidence had been so impaired, that these Bills soon after they came out, rapidly depreciated, notwithstanding the Solidity of the Funds by which they had been secured. The executive Authority of Government, therefore, declined issuing more of them than were then in Circulation (being £130,000) and called the Legislature. The Assembly, at their late Meeting, took Measures for the Collection of a very considerable Tax, sufficient to absorp all the Paper then in Circulation, and which was receivable in Taxes, as also a considerable Ballance in Specie. It is therefore evident that, if the Tax has Time to operate before any more of the Paper be issued, it must necessarily rise in Value—
The Assembly did me the Honor to commit this Sum of £500,000 to my Care, for the Purpose of paying to Congress a Ballance due on the Resolutions of that honorable Body of the eighteenth of March 1780. and of procuring the specific Supplies which had been called for, the greater Part of which remained unpaid. In this Situation, it has been my Study to effect both these Objects without making any new Issues of the Paper Money. I cannot easily describe to you the good Consequences which would follow from the Appreciation of it. You will partly conceive them, when I inform you that it is now at five for one, and that my Expectation of procuring the specific Supplies, or rather of furnishing Rations to the Amount of them, is very much founded upon the Rise of its Value.
Finding, however, that the Ballance of Money due to the united States has been already drawn for by them, and that the Holders of those Drafts are very clamorous for Payment, I must put Money into the Hands of the proper Officer immediately. To accomplish this, I have fallen upon an Expedient, which, while it answers that Purpose, will be productive of another very considerable Advantage. To explain which, I must previously inform you, that I have lately refused to draw Bills on Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co: for any other than Specie, so that the Paper will no longer answer the Purpose of procuring a Remittance to Europe. I shall, at the same time, borrow such of it as I can discover to have been hoarded, and, by paying it to the Holders of the Drafts drawn by Congress, throw it again into Circulation. I shall then draw Bills on you for 400,000 Livres, payable at six Month’s Sight, or more, for which I expect to get 400,000 Paper Dollars; a Sum sufficient to answer the Demand. I shall draw on Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co: in your Favor to this Amount, payable at sixty Days Sight; which will probably leave four Months for my Operations, But at any Rate it will leave three Months which will be amply sufficient and therefore in three Months after I shall have drawn on you, I will remit you my Drafts on Messrs Le Couteulx & Co. If, in that Period, this Money can be appreciated, it will be a Gain to the united States of the Difference; which you will clearly see to be very considerable. By this Means also, I shall so oeconomize the Funds placed in my Hands, as that I can make them productive of the Supplies from this State.
In mentioning these Supplies, it occurs to me also to make mention of what has passed relative to the Contract you entered into for a Part of them, to the Amount of 400,000 Dollars.— Colo. Menonville spoke to me on this Subject from the Count de Rochambeau, shortly after my Appointment. Upon considering the very slender Situation of our Revenue, or rather the total Want of it, and that the several States had omitted furnishing the specific Supplies demanded of them; I told Colo. Menonville, and I told him truly, that I had but little Prospect of complying with your Promise. It is not easy to convey to your Mind an Idea of the Pain I suffered from being obliged to make this Declaration. I felt for you, for Congress, for America. There is no Man in the World more deeply impressed, than myself, with the Importance of fulfilling every Compact, made by proper Authority. All my Reasonings, my Feelings & my Experience have concurred in producing a thorough Conviction that it is essential; according to the Principles of Justice, from a Regard to our National Honor, and for the Sake of our general Interests. I shall, therefore, notwithstanding what has passed between Colo. Menonville and myself, assiduously endeavour to perform your Promise, and I am happy to add that I am not without Hopes of Success.
With Respect to the Bills I intend to draw on you, I must apologize for the Trouble they will give you which I hope will be but little. It will be only necessary to accept them, and direct the Holders what Banker to apply to for Payment. That Banker will be enabled to make Payment, by the Bill I shall draw on Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co: in your Favor. Perhaps it may be most convenient to send the Bill Holders to them, but this you will be the best Judge of—. It is unnecessary to state any Reasons to you for accepting these Bills, as I cannot suppose you will have the least Hesitation on that Subject. I take this Opportunity, however, of pledging myself to you, that you shall suffer no Inconvenience from honoring them with your Acceptance; as I shall most certainly remit in Time the Bills sufficient to discharge all I draw on you. My Reason for drawing them on you at all, arises from this Circumstance, that I am desirous of keeping the Transaction entirely distinct, and that many Inconveniences would follow from drawing Bills on Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co:, at six Month’s Sight, for Paper, while I draw others, at sixty Days Sight, for Specie; especially after my Refusal to draw on them, except for Specie, which Refusal was, as you will perceive, a necessary Part of my Plan. Add to this also, that the Arrangements I had made with the Minister of his most Christian Majesty would not permit of it. When this Transaction shall be finished, that is, when my Remittances to you and my Drafts on you are all paid; be pleased to send me Copies of the Banker’s Accounts.
With every Sentiment of Respect I have the Honor to be your Excellency’s most obedient & humble Servant.
Robt MorrisS.I. of Finances
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esqr: Minr: plenipy: of the U.S. of Am: at Passy

Endorsed: Robert Morris Esq July 13, 14, 19 & 21. 1781  Finances


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 21 July 1781
From: Williams, Jonathan Jr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear & hond sir.
Nantes July 21. 1781.
I have not written to you since my Arrival because I had nothing to communicate worth troubling you with a Letter.—
As a great number of our unhappy Countrymen are in the English Prisons without any prospect of an Exchange for want of Prisoners to give in return, it is proposed by the american Houses in France to build & arm a stout Privateer of 28 Guns nine Pounders in Battery, and to give the Command of her to Captain Cunningham; We choose him in preference because his Name alone will make Sailors flock to his ship from all quarters, and as no american has more severely felt the hardship of Captivity so none will be more likely to be active in liberating his Countrymen.—

We intend to build the Ship here under my Direction & we expect she will cost about 200,000 Livres, we would wish to have as few concerns as possible, & as our views are more patriotic than interested we would choose to have none but americans. If you would take ¼ or ⅓ of the Concern for the public we could manage the remainder among ourselves, and as by this Plan we shall not only gain Prisoners to give in Exchange for our Countrymen but also have a ship for them when they are exchanged, we think the Public part of the Expence will nearly be saved by saving the Expence the public is now at for the subsistance of the Prisoners.—
You desired me to make no schemes for you to be concerned in shipping, because you did not understand the Business & because it was very troublesome; but in this Plan you will have nothing to do, for we will take the whole Direction & management on ourselves giving you information from time to time of all our Operations.
I request an answer to communicate to the other american Houses, & am as ever with the greatest Respect Your dutifull & affectionate Kinsman
Jona Williams J
The Hon. Doctor Franklin.

Notations: Williams Jona. July 21. 1781. [in William Temple Franklin’s hand:] (Ansd by W T.F. 26. July 81.)


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Michel-Ange-André Le Roux Des Hautesrayes, [c. 22 July 1781]
From: Deshautesrayes, Michel-Ange-André Le Roux
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[c. July 22, 1781]
Deshautesrayes, Professeur au College Royal Suplie Monsieur franklin de lui faire dire Sil a remis au Sieur favier le prix des onze volumes de lhistoire de la Chine et de la Soumission pour le douzieme. Il obligera son très humble et très obeissant serviteur
Deshautesrayes

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur franklin, ministre / plénipotentiaire / à Passi


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Moses Brown, 23 July 1781
From: Brown, Moses
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Amsterdam July the 23d 1781
Youl please to Excuse my freedom in Troubling you with these few lines to ask the favour Wheather your Exelencey Ever granted one Mr. Benjn. Joy a pass for goods to be Shipt. in London for america as I had the pleasuer to Captor Sd Joy on my pasage here in a fine Copper Bottom Brig Mounting Six Six poundirs and the people I took out of her tells me that She Was Comisond against the Unitid States her papers All proved her to be bound for [New] york but finding me to be An American producd. a pass from your Excelenecy to pass to Phelidelphia but I Thought Best by Virtue of a Comision from Congress to Alter his Rout And Sent him for Newbury port Where I trust he wil be Condemd there being a New Act passt Death for trading with the Inimie And I Could Wish to See Allittle of it put in practice that the fair trader might live the family of those Joys left America As Disafected At the first of our Disturbances And I Belive the Brig was as much bound to N york as I was to this port. Sir I brought a Number of Dispatches from the french Genrl & Adrimall At Newport which will Come per post would likewise inform you of the Arivall of the french fleet at Boston from france the 8th Ullto. Sir I have a fine Ship mounting 16 sixpound Cannon hope to Sail in four or five weeks if you Have any Comands Should Recive them With pleasuer Am Sr yr most obedt. Humbe Sert.
Moses Brown

Addressed: To / His / Excelencey Benjn. / Frankly Esqr / paris
Endorsed: Answd Aug 6.
Notation: Capt Brown July 23 1781


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Charles Fagnion, 23 July 1781
From: Fagnion, Jean-Charles
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur
de paris ce 23 juilliet 1781
Ge Ete che le menusiez qui a fait vobisau Et vocoint pour main former combien il prendrait pour tout la menuzeris d’une prêsce ordiner il madi quil les fezes paye depuis 150 l.t. jusca 200 l.t. qui est le prit le plu cher ge lhoneur dêttre avec le plus profon respec Monsieur Votre tres hunble serviteur
FAGNION
ladres du menusiez Vesron Rue du fouin st cevrein

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur De franklin / Ecuyer et Ministre en Son hotel / A passy pes Paris


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 23 July 1781
From: Neufville, Jean de, & fils
To: Franklin, Benjamin

May it please Your Excellency
Amsterdam 23d. July 1781
The Inclosed pacquet we received last Saturday per a Ship to our address named the Minerva Captn. Moses Brown from Newbury port, after a passage hither of thirty eight days, & after a Weeks sail from port, he captured the Brig Swallow from London to New York, with dry goods; and sent her for Boston after taking out Six of her Crew which he brought with him hither.
We have no other particulars per Said Ship that we Could add Which would be new or Interesting; We will therefore conclude by reiterating the devoted Attachment with which we have the honor to be most Respectfully Your Excellency Most Obedt: & Mot: Hble: Servts:
John DE Neufville Son
The Honble. Benjn. Franklin Esqr.

Endorsed: Answd Aug 6.
Notation: J. de Neufville & fils July 23 1781


Title: Jonathan Williams, Jr., to William Temple Franklin, 24 July 1781
From: Williams, Jonathan Jr.
To: Franklin, William Temple

Dear Billy
Nantes July 24. 1781.
I send you inclosed a Specimen of an Improvement I have made in copying. When you write for more english Papers pray order an equal quantity for me.
I forgot to pay for my hat when I came away, please to pay the Man when he calls. I also forgot to give you Mr Austins Draft for what he owed the Doctor, please to tell me how much it is & send me down Austins note canceled, and I will remit you the Money; I will remit at the same time the 5 Guineas the Doctor lent Mr Oliver. Pray are any new Orders for Cloathing to be given to replace what was lost in the Marquis de la Fayette? I see some american Houses are buying up Coarse Cloths. Let me know my good Friend if anything is to be done that I may apply in time. I am ever yours most affectionately
Jona Williams

Endorsed: Ansd 4. Augt
Notation: J. Williams. July 24. 1781


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander John Alexander, 26 July 1781
From: Alexander, Alexander John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Grenada 26th July 1781
Permit me to Introduce to your Acquaintance a very Old Friend of mine, Mr Robert Young, whose friendship I have experienced upon many Occasions, but more particularly lately, since this Island became French; when it became necessary for my friends, to Ballance by their Activity, that Improper Influence, which you know has been so much employed against me in France, & which has likewise been extended here. I own I am very anxious to make him acquainted with a man, whose Genius, & Judgement as a Philosopher, has rendered him long so Emminent; & who forced into Politicks so late in life, has made so conspicuous a figure.
Allow me to return you my most grateful thanks for the protection which I myself, & those I hold dearest in the World have constantly received from you, but Independent of Interest, I shall always consider the days I have spent at Passi, as the most pleasant of my Life. I should be too happy were it possible to pass the remainder of life in the Neighbourhood of such a Monitor, but I am afraid that is Impossible; it would even be some Consolation, could I see the most distant prospect of doing some material service to you, or yours. I am with all possible respect Dear Sir Your Most Obt & Humble Servt
A: J: Alexander

I am endeavouring to collect the Electrical Phenomena during the last Hurricane here which I am perswaded will give you pleasure.

Notation: J. Alexander, Grenada 26 July 1781.—