From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 30 July 1780
To Thomas Digges
Copy: Library of Congress
Passy, July 30. 1780.
Dear Sir,
I received yours of the 29th. past, and of 6 Inst. but that you mention as sent by Barnet never came to Hand,7 and he has already play’d so many cheating Tricks in France that I do not expect to see him here again. It is an Irishman who having been once employed in one of our Privaters, and taken, has ever since he escaped from England rambled about Europe pretending to be an American and sometimes a Relation of mine, borrowing Money or running in debt everywhere.8 I am heartily sorry that you have been so robbed by him, and by his Scotch Acquaintance.
I am much obliged to your friend for his kind Intentions of sending me Spectacles of the Cherokee Chrystal.9 Enclosed is the Glass you require.
By this time you will probably have heard from Capt. Cunningham. He has been very unfortunate, and very ill treated. I have unaccountably mislaid your last Letter. But I think there was some mention in it of applying to M. Samuel Hartley relating to the Exchange of Cunningham.1 Perhaps it may not be wise to show him the Enclosed Letters. Till we can procure the Captain’s Liberty, I recommend him to your kind assistance in supplying him with what may be necessary.
Don’t be discouraged by the present Triumph of a People who are so easily elated. God governs, and the Second’ Hour of their Insolence may be as short as the first.
Enclos’d is a Letter for M. Peters,2 I am obliged to send it to you to be forwarded, because I do not know his address. I am.
Mr. Digges.
6. From the description, below, of the last letter BF had received from Digges, he must mean that of July 12; apparently he had not yet received Digges’s of the 17th. Both are above. Digges’s letter of June 29 is in XXXII, 620–4.
7. Barnett had carried a now-missing letter of June 8; see XXXII, 620, and Digges to BF, July 17.
8. For Barnett’s prior financial dealings with BF see XXVIII, 69–70, 322.
9. XXXII, 620.
1. See Digges to BF, July 12.
2. The recipient surely was William Peters, whom Digges had located for BF: XXIX, 492, 530, 581, 666, 736. The letter may have been from his son Richard.