To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 April 1780
From Jonathan Williams, Jr.
ALS: University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library
Nantes April 18. 1780.
Dear & honoured Sir.
I have by order of M. de Chaumont embraced every opportunity I could to send Cloathing to Brest to be thence exported by M. Bersolle to America,8 and what I have hitherto sent amount to as follows … Vizt.
3260 Coats.
3260 Waistcoats
975 Breeches.
3300 Overalls
4530 pr Shoes
2022 Hatts
13032 Shirts
11000 Ells of Linnen for Shirts.
4500 Stocks.
2037 Blankets &c
11 Bales of Hosiery number unknown
These Cloathing are much more unsorted than I wished but as I was pressed in point of Time I thought best to send as much as I possibly could although the Quantities were not in proportion. If it had been possible I should have prefered sending an equal quantity of each kind.—
Mr Bersolle tells me the Fleet is all ready to Sail9 but as the Wind is contrary I hope these Goods will arrive in time. What method of Conveyance is determined on for the Remainder? I am ever with the greatest Respect most dutifully & Affectionately Your
Jona Williams J.
Notation: J Williams April 18. 1780
8. Around April 16, JW sent to the committee for foreign affairs eleven invoices dating from March 21 to April 15 of all the goods he had sent to Brest. A copy of his letter, giving dates of the invoices, is at the Yale University Library.
9. Ternay’s fleet and the transports carrying Rochambeau’s army moved to the anchorage off Brest on April 15 and sailed for America on May 2: Rice and Brown, eds., Rochambeau’s Army, I, 118.