To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 26 December 1783
From Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval
ALS: American Philosophical Society
A Versailles le 26. Xbre. 1783
Permettez-vous, Monsieur, que je vous recommande le paquet ci-joint. Je Supose que la fregate le Washington9 n’est pas encore parti.
Un de mes amis, Monsieur, desiroit avoir une lettre de recommandation de Votre part pour M. le Dr. Price, et je Serois Sensiblement obligé Si vous vouliez bien me l’accorder. Mon ami S’appelle de Chateaufort; il va passé quelques mois en angleterre pour Satisfaire Sa curiosité.1
J’ai l’honneur dêtre avec un parfait attachement, Monsieur, Votre très humble et tres obeissant serviteur
de Rayneval
9. The General Washington. BF received two other requests dated Dec. 26, 1783, to forward letters in the express he was sending to Capt. Barney at Le Havre: from “Mr. Carter” (John Barker Church: XL, 263–4) and from Griffin Greene, who stressed the urgency of his letter’s being sent to Gen. Nathanael Greene (his cousin). Both notes are at the APS. For Greene’s trip to France to sell the Flora, in which his extended family owned a part interest, see Richard K. Showman et al., eds., The Papers of General Nathanael Greene (13 vols., Chapel Hill, N.C., and London, 1976–2005), I, 107n; XII, 662–4, 677–8; XIII, 240n.
1. BF obliged, though the letter has not been located. Ignace-Romain, chevalier d’Aristay de Chateaufort (1743–1814), was sent to England on a confidential mission at the end of 1783. When he returned to Paris the following spring he was appointed consul in Charleston: Gérard de Rayneval to BF, May 15, 1784 (APS); Anne Mézin, Les Consuls de France au siècle des lumières (1715–1792) ([Paris, 1998]), pp. 103–5.