To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 10 September 1784
From Richard Bache
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Philadelphia Septr. 10th. 1784.
Dear & Hond. Sir.
In answer to your Favor of the 17th. June by Colonel Harmer, I wrote you under date of the 28th. Ulto. Via L’Orient—9 This, with a bundle of Newspapers, I commit to the care of Monsieur De Silly, a Gentleman you introduced to me some time ago, and who appears to be a very clever Fellow;— He has seen a good deal of our Country, and now returns to France, with a wish & expectation of obtaining leave to bring his Family over to this Country, as his determination is to settle here, if possible; he desires me to request of you to interest yourself in his behalf, in forwarding his plan; and as I apprehend he will be an acquisition to any young Country, I feel myself much interested in his success—1
Sailly and the Children are still in the Country, but as the weather begins to grow cool, I mean to move them into Town in a few days; they are well and join in Love & Duty with Dear sir Your ever affectionate Son
Rich Bache
Addressed: His Excellency / Dr. Benjamin Franklin / Minister Plenipoy: from the United / States of No: America / at / Passy— / Favored by Mr. De Silly.
9. Only the latter is extant; it is published above.
1. Pierre de Saillÿ (1754–1826), a forgemaster who wanted to emigrate to America, had been recommended to BF by Lafayette, through a letter to WTF (APS) that was probably dated Nov. 21, 1783. (It is dated only by the day of the month, but was undoubtedly written around the time that Lafayette recommended Sailly to GW; that letter is dated Nov. 29, 1783: Lafayette to GW, Nov. 29, 1783 [Lafayette College Library]; W. W. Abbot, et al, eds., The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series [6 vols., Charlottesville and London, 1992–97], I, 425, 466.)
Sailly was born Pierre Maire in Lorraine, where, during the war, the family ironworks had failed. He sailed to Philadelphia in April, 1784, and spent four months searching for land as far north as Montreal, on which to establish a forge or mill. He was back in France by Oct. 26, when he forwarded the present letter to BF (see his letter of that date, below). The following spring he emigrated with most of his family, purchased land in Plattsburgh, New York, and under the name Peter Sailly became a prominent merchant and fur trader, and eventually a judge and member of Congress: Abbot, The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, 1, 425; George S. Bixby, Peter Sailly (1754–1826): a Pioneer of the Champlain Valley … (Albany, 1919), pp. 13–18, 19–23, 25–9, 58–70.