To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Dana, 1 May 1781
From Francis Dana
ALS: American Philosophical Society; copy:9 Massachusetts Historical Society
Amsterdam May 1st. 1781
Dear Sir
The Gentleman who will have the honour of presenting to you this Letter, is Mr: Warren, Son of the Honble General Warren of Massachusetts a Member of the Continental Navy Board for the Eastern Department, &c.1 Mr: Warren has had the Misfortune to be taken on his passage for France, and to carried into England; and was doubtless honoured with letters of Introduction to your Excellency. I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities; he has an ardent desire to see, and pay his respects to, you—2 If any of your friends shou’d be travelling into the Extremities of this World, I shall hope for the honour of your introducing them to me, and you may be assured I shall always be happy to show them every attention in my power. I am with the greatest respect your Excellencys most obedient and most humble Servant
F M Dana
His Excellency Benja. Franklin Esqr: Minister Plenipotentiary &c
Notation: F. Dana. May. 1. 1781
9. In Dana’s own hand.
1. Warren had been in Amsterdam for at least several weeks. He had left England for his safety: XXXIV, 516n.
2. No subsequent letter from him to BF is extant, but BF loaned him 360 l.t. (through WTF) on July 17 and another 600 l.t. on Sept. 12: Account XVII (XXVI, 3). He and WTF exchanged at least nine letters (one of which is at the Library of Congress and eight at the APS) between August, 1781, and February, 1782, mostly about the loans; those Warren wrote after mid-October were from Ancenis on the Loire. He returned to America in 1783: Adams Correspondence, V, 137, 226.