To Benjamin Franklin from ——— de Franval, 25 January 1778
From ——— de Franval
ALS: American Philosophical Society
A Paris ce 25 Janvier 1778
Monsieur
Mon frere inquiet de ne point recevoir de Vos nouvelles en reponse a une lettre qu’il a eu l’honneur de Vous écrire de Versailles il y a trois semaines, me charge de Vous demander si Vous l’avés receue; cette lettre renfermait le receu du capitaine du vaisseau dans lequel il est revenu, pour pareille Somme contenüe dans le billet que Vous avés de mon frere. Je vous prie Mr. au receu de la presente de vouloir bien, m’accuser la reception du Billet Du Capitaine, me renvoyer celui De mon frere, ainsy que la lettre que le congrès lui fit l’honneur de lui écrire et qu’il Vous laissa lorsque nous fûmes chés Vous à Passy sur la demande que Vous lui fîtes d’en prendre copie.9 Je vous serai obligé, Monsieur, de vouloir bien me faire parvenir le tout chez Mr. De chatillon rue Du temple vis à vis celle portefoin au marais à Paris. J’ai l’honneur D’être avec beaucoup De respect Monsieur Vôtre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur
De franval
Capitaine de Cavalerie
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur francklin chez / Mr. De Chaumont à / Passy près Paris
Notation: De Franval 15. [sic] Jr. 1778.
9. For the writer’s brother, the chevalier de Franval, see BF to Lovell above, Dec. 21. The financial transaction is interesting only as it reveals how dilatory BF could be. Details are obscure; the story has to be reconstructed from a promissory note, this letter, another from the same writer on Feb. 3, and one from his brother on the 16th, all in the APS. On Oct. 26, a few days before the chevalier sailed home from Boston, he gave the Mass. Board of War the promissory note just mentioned, for ten guineas for his passage. By the time he reached Nantes his indebtedness had grown; he settled it by giving John Harris, the master of his ship, two bills of exchange for ten louis apiece, for which he got a receipt. He apparently did not have it with him when he and his brother saw BF soon afterward at Passy, and until he could produce it gave him his note for twenty louis. In late December he enclosed Harris’ receipt and asked BF to give back his note and the letter of recommendation from Congress. A few weeks later his brother repeated the request. Nothing happened. The Captain then sent this reminder, and on Feb. 3 another. Still silence. On Feb. 16 the chevalier himself wrote, in anger and agitation, demanding his twenty louis and threatening to come for them himself. Whether he eventually got them we do not know.