From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 26 June 1776
To Benjamin Rush
ALS: National Archives
Manor of Moreland, at Mr. Duffield’s,9 June 26. 76
Dear Doctor,
I have just received the enclos’d Letters by the Chevalier Kermorvan. By the Conversation I have had with him he appears to me skilful in his Profession. I hope in a few days to be strong enough to come to town and attend my Duty in Congress. In the mean time, I could wish you to introduce the Gentleman where it may be proper, and that you would translate the Passage relating to him that I have mark’d in M. Dubourg’s Letter,1 and show it with what you have receiv’d to the same purpose from the same Friend. As I think Philada. should be better fortify’d than it yet is, I hope some Use will be made of this Gentleman’s Talents as an Engineer for that End.2 With great Esteem, I am, Dear Doctor Your affectionate Friend and most obedient Servant
B Franklin
Respects to Mrs Rush
Doctor Rush
(not recorded)
Addressed: To / Dr Rush / Philadelphia
Endorsed: June 26th. 1776 Lre from Dr Franklin to Dr Rush relative to Mr Kermovan read 28h. June before Bd War
9. BF was staying at Moreland, northeast of Philadelphia, in the family house of his old friend Edward Duffield, the clock-maker. Above, VII, 211 n; Edward D. Neill, “Rev. Jacob Duchè,” PMHB, II (1878), 61–2 n.
1. The translated extract is above, March 24, 1776, and a note there identifies Kermorvan’s letters.
2. In early June the Pa. committee of safety had appealed to Washington for an engineer to fortify the Delaware below Philadelphia. Rush saw to it that Kermorvan met members of Congress; that body recommended him to the committee as the man for the job, and he was promptly engaged. Lyman H. Butterfield, “Franklin, Rush, and the Chevalier Kermorvan: an Episode of ’76,” APS Library Bulletin, 1946 (Philadelphia, 1947), pp. 36–7.