To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 17 August 1782
From Jonathan Williams, Jr.
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Nantes Augt 17. 1782.
Dear & hond sir.
I beg Leave to introduce to your particular Notice and Friendship my Friends Mr Nat Barrett and Mr Frazer, the former of these Gentlemen is the son of an old Friend of yours9 and the Latter is particularly reccommended to me. Mr Barrett has many Letters for you, and I have given him the one you sent to me for Mr Paradise that Gentleman being returned to Paris.1
I am as ever most dutifully and affectionately Yours
Jona Williams J
Addressed: His Excellency / Doctor Franklin.
Notation: J. Williams Nantes Augt. 17. 1782.
9. The Boston merchant Nathaniel Barrett (1743–1793), son of Deacon John Barrett, had arrived in Lorient from Cuba in early July with a cargo of sugar: New-England Hist. and Geneal. Register, XLII (1888), 263; JW to Williams Moore & Co., July 11, 1782 (Yale University Library); Barrett to BF, Sept. 30, below. He was later involved in efforts to open up the whale oil trade with France and became American consul in Rouen. In 1785 JA described him as an experienced merchant of good reputation: Jefferson Papers, IX, 73–5.
1. John Paradise, who had intended to go to America, was now en route from Nantes to London: XXXVII, 629–30, 704n. For BF’s letters of recommendation for Paradise and William Jones see XXXVII, 630–2.