During the winter of 1779 applications for commissions in the American army continue to arrive.4 The first letter, written on November 6 and printed below, is from a captain of volunteers on a French privateer who would like a more assured future in the form of a brevet in the American service.

The greater number of applications, however, come from soldiers in the Austrian or Prussian service who find their future military careers made uncertain by the Treaty of Teschen. The baron de Brady, a lieutenant in the Grenadiers of the Regiment of Fabris, writes in English on November 16, from Tabor, Bohemia.5 Having served His Imperial Majesty (Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II) for the past nine years, he has learned the languages of that country and applied himself to the art of fortification. The prospect of peace in Germany, however, requires this professional soldier to look for employment elsewhere; his sole wish now is to sacrifice his life for the government served by his brother, a captain in the American service. The regiment and proprietor under whom he serves will attest to his conduct.

On December 24 a Prussian captain, de Mayr, writes from a hotel at Paris. The son of a Prussian general “assez connu,”6 de Mayr has been in the military since childhood. He is in Paris now to pursue a lifelong desire to serve France but would consider his dream fulfilled if the representative of an ally such as Pennsylvania were to accept his service. Assured by Beaumarchais of a favorable reception, de Mayr relies on Franklin’s goodness of heart: “mon Coeur me dit que ce seroit faire injure à La bonté du votre, de ne pas attendre tout ce qu’il vous dira de faire en ma faveur.” Only then will he call on friends and acquaintances in high places, the comte de Poularscky (Pulawski) and the baron de Goltz,7 to write on his behalf.

On January 8 de Corail de Sainte-Foy writes from Toulouse8 on behalf of two brave officers in the service of the emperor. The officers, wanting to give Corail an excuse to meet Franklin, had sent their packets in care of him at Paris, but business has called him back to Toulouse, depriving him of meeting the man sought by Diogenes, the Cato of North America, a philosopher friend of humanity and defender of liberty oppressed.

The same day two officers, mentioning each other, write in German from Anspach.9 Major Gottlieb Christian von Weckherlin was first in the service of Württemberg, then of Prussia under Lieutenant-General von Saldern.1 At the end of the war he declined a pension. Judging the American cause glorious and honorable, he asks for his passage there in exchange for his future services. He will travel to Paris where von Saldern, his personal reference, will confirm his identity. Captain von Doppelmair is the grandson of Professor von Doppelmair2 whom Franklin knows. He speaks French and is thirty-six years old, like Weckherlin. He would like the rank of major, and free passage. If these conditions are accepted he will go with Weckherlin to Paris and show his commission to Franklin. He compliments the United States which to the astonishment of the world has broken the chains of bondage.

A governor of the royal military school at Colmar,3 M. Titot writes on January 18. He has cherished a desire to serve in the American army ever since the unhappy war divided England and its colonies. With the death of his parents he is no longer bound to this hemisphere and on the advice of a friend now in Boston, Titot asks for advice on how to proceed there himself. He hopes to find an advantageous place in the continental troops and after the war the means to subsist honestly. He has a keen desire to be noticed by Franklin’s compatriots and as soon as the spirit of independence and patriotism animates his zeal, “je me flatte de n’etre pas le dernier de ceux qui contribueront à la gloire de vos heros.” Originally from Montbéliard, at that time the domain of the duke of Württemberg, Titot has studied at several German universities, especially Tübingen. He is a man of letters, has never been a soldier, but has a strong constitution and an untiring zeal. He is twenty-five years old and therefore good for thirty campaigns. He has perhaps enough knowledge of mathematics and the other sciences to make use of them if need be. Titot hopes Franklin, if persuaded by this portrait, will tell him how to transport himself to America.4

On January 20 Baudot, a lieutenant of the maréchausée or mounted constabulary,5 writes from Semur in Auxois to recommend a relative. The young man, about twenty-four years old, is the son of a chevalier de Saint-Louis6 and for the past seven and a half years has been an officer in the provincial regiments. He desires to serve and as these regiments are never used he hopes that Franklin can procure for him a commission for service in America. He would also like to know what salary he would receive, who would cover his travel expenses, and what he should take with him. Baudot would be much obliged if Franklin were to find the young man suitable.7

Mourete, marquise de Montago, has met Franklin at Versailles, and on February 7 writes on behalf of Pierre Colomb, who is known also to Franklin.8 A major of dragoons in the service of the United States, Colomb would now like command of a company of chasseurs, dragoons, or cavalry. Failing that he requests a company from a Swiss regiment in the service of France, drawn from those already there or from the six thousand said to be arriving from Switzerland very soon. Franklin should speak with the prince de Montbarey to whom the marquise has already sent a memorandum recommending Colomb. She hopes for an answer so that she might know the effect of both the memorandum and the letter. In return she offers her own services “en tout ce que vous me jugerés cappable trop flattée de pouvoir vous etre utile a quelque chose.”9