To Benjamin Franklin from William Temple Franklin, 9 January 1777
From William Temple Franklin
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Passy Jany. 9. 1777.
Honored Sir,
Mr. Chaumont desires me to inform you, that he has received a Letter from Mr. Montaudoin (whom you saw at Nantes) in which he mentions, and desires you may be informed of it; that there is a Scotchman arrived at Nantes, in a Dutch Vessel from New-York, who says, that General Howe had embarked ten thousand Men for the purpose of attacking Philadelphia.
Mr. Montaudoin likewise mentions that the 3d of this Month about 11 at Night he was much surprized at receiving a Visit from Mr. Decoudray who went from Harvre the fourteenth of December in the Amphetrite; that he had come into port in order to place ten or twelve passengers (out of 34) on board some American Vessels that were at Nantes, and that he was to set off the Day after for Port Louis.10I am Honored Sir your Dutiful Grandson
W T Franklin.
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / Hotel D’anbourg, / ruë Jacob / Paris
Notation: W T. Franklin
10. The Amphitrite had put back into Lorient after seventeen days at sea because, according to Du Coudray, she proved to be inadequately equipped for the voyage. He and two of his officers and the captain of the ship then came to Nantes, supposedly to obtain charts and money. Du Coudray to Congress, Jan. 26, 1777, National Archives; Lasseray, Les Français, I, 106.