To Benjamin Franklin from D’Acosta frères, 3 April 1779 [i.e., 2]
From D’Acosta frères
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Paris 3 [i.e., 2] avril 1779./.1
Monsieur,
Nous prenons la liberté de vous remettre ci-joint un mémoire dont nous vous supplions de prendre lécture: Il a pour objet les fournitures que nous devions éxpedier pour l’Etat de Virginie, d’après les demandes qui nous avoient été faites par M. Lée, & qu’il n’a plus voulu recevoir lors qu’elles ont été prêtes.2 Nous désirons, Monsieur, que vous nous mettiez à même de donner aux états de nouvelles preuves de notre Zéle par l’envoy de marchandises de premiere qualité dont ils doivent avoir le plus grand besoin.
Nous sommes avec un profond respect, Monsieur, Vos trèshumbles & Très-obeissants Serviteurs
D’ ACOSTA FRERES
1. Because BF and William Lee exchanged letters on April 2 concerning the contents and enclosure of the present one, we assume that this letter was misdated.
2. The memorandum is dated March 26, and recounts the disagreement with Arthur Lee over the contract he had made with the firm on July 1, 1778, to supply military goods to Virginia. The firm has advanced all expenses and stipulated a five per cent commission. Lee refuses to accept the goods; his demand that they be ready for shipping by the end of September was unreasonable, since once supplied, they also had to be individually inspected by Le Maire. Le Maire and his team had worked unceasingly and had only finished their inspection at the end of October. D’Acosta frères, which is willing to send the goods on their own ship the Courier de l’Europe, asks BF to oversee the contract and expedite the shipping of these desperately needed supplies. APS. For background on the contract and BF’s view of the situation, see in particular XXVII, 361–3; XXVIII, 611–12.