Benjamin Franklin Papers

From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Des Touches, 11 October 1779

To ——— Des Touches8

Copy: Library of Congress

Passy Oct. 11. 1779.

Sir

I duly received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 4th. Instant,9 together with the Procedure d’Instruction of the Ransom of the Sloop Limont, made by the American Privater the Black Prince, Capt. Stephen Merchant,1 and am oblig’d to you for the care you took in sending the Same. With much Regard. I have the honour to be. Sir &c.

Mr. Des Touches Greffier en chef de l’amirauté De Dunkerque.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

8Or Destouches, as this chief clerk spells himself in a June 10, 1780, letter, (University of Pa. Library). He is not to be confused with Le Roy’s cousin Jean-Baptiste Destouches, a conseiller of the Dunkirk Admiralty and outfitter of privateers with whom BF later would have extensive contact.

9Not located.

1The Limont was captured on Sept. 10; paroles were accepted from five of her crewmen, while a sixth was taken hostage: Clark, Ben Franklin’s Privateers, p. 85.

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