To Benjamin Franklin from Job Whipple and Elijah Lewis, 24 March 1782
From Job Whipple and Elijah Lewis9
ALS:1 American Philosophical Society
Nantes 24 March 1782.
Hond. Sir
We beg leave to inform you that we are two of those fortunate Persons who lately made their escape from Kingsale Prison in Ireland. Before we effected it the Prisoners of War confined there requested us to lay before your honor a state of their wretched disagreeable situation, praying you to redress their grievances as soon as in your power lieth.— The most nay every one of them is destitute of cloathing not sufficient to keep them warm from the inclemency of the Weather in a cold Prison without fire— Beg your honor will take it into consideration and appoint such ways and means as in your Wisdom shall seem meet to supply them with Cloathing and other necessaries.
We need not say any more on the subject resting assured you’ll do what is possible in the Premises— We are with the utmost respect possible your Hble Servts2
Job Whipple
Elijah Lewis
The Honble. Benja. Franklin Esqr.
Addressed: The Honble / Benja. Franklin Esqr. / Paris
Notation: Lewis, Elija, Nantes 24 March 1782.
9. Lewis served as captain of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment from January, 1777, until his resignation in January, 1781. Shortly thereafter he was named master of the schooner Betty. Whipple, who had served in the American army since May, 1775, was captain of the 5th Massachusetts Regiment: Heitman, Register of Officers, pp. 263, 430; Claghorn, Naval Officers, p. 185.
1. In Whipple’s hand.
2. Whipple and Lewis must have also enclosed the letter of introduction they were carrying from Richard Hare, Jr.: XXXVI, 606–7. Our annotation to that letter describes local efforts on behalf of the Kinsale inmates.