To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Salvador, 7 June 1783
From Joseph Salvador7
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Nantes 7th. June 1783
Sir
I had the Honour to acquaint your Excellency from London of my Intention of proceeding to America by the first Opportunity I have so far carried my design into Execution as to be on the point of Settling my Passage with Captain Cunningham who is going to Philadelphia and hope to Sail in less than a Fortnight8 your Excellencys Commands will be a favour to me if directed to Mr. Dobree here they will be forwarded to me wishing your Excellency Health and happiness I have the Honour to Subscribe my Self Sir Your Excellencys most Devoted and Obedient Humble Servant
Joseph Salvador
Addressed: A Son / Excellence Monsieur le Docteur / Franklin Ambassadeur Extra / Ordinaire et Plenipotentaire / des Etats Unis de LAmerique / A La Cour de France &ca &ca / &ca A Paris
7. Joseph Salvador (1716–1786), F.R.S., a once-wealthy London merchant and prominent member of that city’s Jewish community, had lost the bulk of his fortune by the early 1770s. In 1773 he dispatched his son-inlaw Francis Salvador to manage his extensive plantation in South Carolina; Francis was elected to the S.C. legislature, supported independence, and died in 1776 fighting British-allied Cherokees. Joseph Salvador immigrated to South Carolina in 1783 and took control of the plantation: ODNB. His earlier letter, mentioned in the first sentence, has not been located.
8. The Hannibal, Capt. Gustavus Conyngham, did not sail until July 13: XXXV, 182n; JW to Thomas Barclay, July 15, 1783 (Yale University Library).