Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Silas Deane, 11 May 1781

From Silas Deane

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Paris May 11th 1781

Dear sir

I send you M. Montieus Acct. inclosed,5 and at the request of Mr. Vandepere, Duplicates of the Protest in the Affair of the Capture, made by Captn Jones, about which he waited on You,6 which protests he prays may be forwarded to Congress.7 I shall be much obliged to You to let Me know nearly what Time, Letters must be ready, in order to go with your next dispatches.

I have the honor to be with great Truth & respect Dr sir Your most Obedt and Very huml. servt.

S Deane

Addressed: His Excelly / Benja Franklin Esqre.

Notation: S. Deane. May 11. 1781

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

5Missing. Probably he was sending it because BF was trying to resolve the accounts of the American commission in France from the time Deane was a member (XXXIV, 173, 191), during which period he had transacted business with Jean-Joseph Carié de Montieu. Presently Deane was drawing on Montieu for funds: Deane Papers, IV, 335; V, 55, 301–2.

6Van de Perre was part owner of the Berkenbosch, a ship captured in January, 1780, by John Paul Jones. In April, 1781, Deane had brought him to see BF: XXXI, 389–90; XXXII, 221, 298–9, 429–30, 464; XXXIV, 513.

7The protests in question probably included one of Aug. 4, 1780, by the ship’s captain, Ary de Neef (National Archives).

Index Entries