Benjamin Franklin Papers

Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners, 3 August 1777

Lambert Wickes to the American Commissioners

ALS: American Philosophical Society

St. Malo 3d August. 1777

Gentlemen

This will be delivered by Monsr. Becard a Very Worthy and respectable Merchant of this place6 and is disposed to enter into the American Trade. As he will Confer with you personally on this Subject, I shall refer you to him for the particulars of his Intentions on this head. As this Gentleman has been very Kind in rendering me every Service in his power at this Port, I hope you will in return render him any Services in your power, which Shall esteem as the greatest Favour done Me. I remain Gentlemen, with the greatest Respect Your Most obedient Humble Servant

Lambt. Wickes

Addressed: To / The Honbles. Dr. Benjamin Franklin / & Silas Deane / at / Paris / per favr. / of Monsr. Becard

Notation: Capt. Weeks Augt. 3d. 1777

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

6J.-B. Bécard belonged to one of the first families of St. Malo, and to a consortium of fellow townsmen and Parisians that had extensive shipping interests; see Meyer, Noblesse bretonne, I, 390–1, 406, 410. On the 6th he detoured to Passy on his way to Paris to deliver “une lettre interessante” that Wickes had given him, and waited for BF but did not see him; on the 10th he explained this in a note (APS) in which he asked for an interview two days later.

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