To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 17 May 1781
From James Lovell
ALS (two): American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives
Philada. May 17. 1781
Hond. Sir
Doctor Putnam whose Letter is inclosed,6 by the Uniformity of his Attachment to our public Cause, merits your Patronage; and I inclose also for your Information some former Proceedings of Congress in which this same Gentleman is interested; requesting Sir that you would obtain a Knowledge of the Proceedings consequent upon Efforts which Mr. Gerard has undoubtedly made to obtain Compensation for the Sloop which Count D’Arbaud restored to the Governor of Antigua after it had been taken by Doctor Putnam & others.7 Your most humb Servt.
James Lovell
Hon. Doctr. Franklin
Addressed: Doctor Franklin / Minister plenipory. / of the U S. of America / A Paris France / not to be destroyed in case of Capture / vid Journals of Congress 6th. & 11th. of Decr. 17798
Notation: James Lovell May 17. 1781.
6. Undoubtedly Benjamin Putnam’s Feb. 12 letter: XXXIV, 369–70.
7. Congress discussed Putnam’s earlier case on Sept. 4, 1779: XXXIV, 370n. It resolved to lay the facts before French minister Conrad-Alexandre Gérard in order to obtain restitution: JCC, XV, 1022–4.
8. The portion after “France” was written on the address sheet in an unknown hand. The Congressional resolutions of Dec. 6 and 11 concern a schooner named the Greyhound, which had been taken to St. Domingue; we discern no connection with Putnam: La Luzerne to Congress, Dec. 6 and 11, 1779 (National Archives); JCC, XV, 1356, 1372.