To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 6 May 1781
From Benjamin Franklin
Passy, May 6. 1781.
Dear Sir
This will be delivered to your Excellency by Mr. Grieve, who goes to America with a View of establishing himself in the State of Virginia, where he has also some Business in which your Countenance and Protection may be of great Service to him. I beg leave to recommend him to you as a Gentleman, who has always been a Steady and serviceable Friend to our glorious Cause, and who will I doubt not make a valuable Citizen of1 the State over which you so worthily preside.
Permit me by this Occasion to mention again the Case of Mr. Paradies who married a Daughter of the late Col. Ludwell. His affairs still detain him in England with his Wife; but their Intention is to go to Virginia as soon as possible; and as they have ever been firm in the Sentiments of good Americans, I hope their Absence will not be prejudicial to them. With the greatest Esteem and best Wishes for your Health and Happiness, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant,
B Franklin
RC (NNP). Dft (DLC: Franklin Papers).
Mr. Grieve: Probably George Greive, who signed an oath of allegiance to the United States at Passy on 29 Apr. 1781 (, iv, 319). The case of Mr. Paradies: (i.e. John Paradise): Franklin evidently had written an earlier (and missing) letter to TJ concerning Paradise; he also wrote to TJ on the same subject on 15 July 1782, q.v. (see also Archibald B. Shepperson, John Paradise and Lucy Ludwell, Richmond, 1942, p. 145).
1. Franklin in Dft first wrote “Citizen of the United States.”