From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 10 May 1783
To Robert R. Livingston6
LS:7 New-York Historical Society
Passy, 10 May 1783.
Dear Sir,
Permit me to introduce to you the Bearer Mr. Hogendorff, of an illustrious Family, and Lieutenant in the Dutch Guards.8 He is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Distinction, as a Gentleman of excellent Character: His principal Design in going to America is to make himself acquainted with the Country, & its Inhabitants: I beg you will favour him with your best Advice, & Counsels which as a Stranger he may stand in need of, and which you have a Pleasure in affording to Persons of Merit.—
With great Regard, I have the honour to be, Dear Sir, Your most obedt & most humble Sert.
B Franklin
R. R. Livingston Esqr.—
Endorsed: from Docr. Franklin
6. BF wrote an almost identical letter to George Washington on the same date (Library of Congress).
7. In WTF’s hand.
8. Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp (1762–1834) visited the United States from November, 1783, to June, 1784, befriending Jefferson and meeting Washington, Morris, and others. He later became a prominent conservative statesman in the Netherlands, playing a major role in the restoration of the House of Orange in 1813: Smith, Letters, XXI, 494n; Morris Papers, VIII, 813n; Jefferson Papers, VII, 80–3 and passim; Schulte Nordholt, Dutch Republic, pp. 253, 258–61, 278–9; NNBW, II, 587–93; Simon Schama, Patriots and Liberators: Revolution in the Netherlands, 1780–1813 (New York, 1977), pp. 640–3 and passim.