Benjamin Franklin Papers

From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Duchemin, 12 January 1781

To Daniel Duchemin6

Two copies:7 Library of Congress

Passy 12 Jan 1781

Sir,

I received the Letter you wrote me on the 9th. Inst. desiring me to procure you some Employ.— Being myself in want of a Sober & Honest Man to take care of my Family & serve me as Maitre d’Hotel or Steward; if you are willing & capable of filling such a Place you may come here and make a Trial for a Quarter. The Wages I give, are six hundred Livs. Tournois pr Annum, & no Perquisites.

I am, Sir, Your humble Servt.

BF

Mr. D. Duchemin.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

6Duchemin had served as an officer in America early in the war; he was there at least by the spring of 1776: JCC, IV, 247; VI, 941. As first lieutenant in Col. Armand’s corps, living on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, he was captured by the British two days before they occupied the city (on Sept. 26, 1777), and incarcerated in London. He first wrote BF on April 14, 1779, shortly after his escape: XXIX, 319–20. On June 21, Jacques Leveux gave him 96 l.t. at Calais, and on July 2, on his way home to Amiens, he received 48 l.t. from BF himself (Leveux to BF, March 30, 1784, APS; XXX, 3). BF evidently offered to lodge him on his return trip to America, but Duchemin declined on July 23, 1779, having decided to remain in France. He did request, however that BF reimburse him for the two years’ pay he was due (XXIX, 320–1n). His letter of Jan. 9, to which this is the reply, is missing.

7We publish the one in WTF’s hand, initialed by BF.

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