To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Edward Newenham, 14 November 1782
From Sir Edward Newenham
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Marsailles 14 Novr: 1782
Sir
Last post I had the Honor of writing to your Excellency in regard to Irelands being mentioned in the intended treaty between the Belligerent powers;3 Permit me, now, to acquaint your Excellency, that I have seen my most Worthy and respectable friend Mr John Christopher Hornbostel (Partner with Mr: Folsh, the swedish Consul) who was on former occasions & has lately been of Infinite Service to me & my family; We have Gratitude & wish to serve him.
He is the Gentleman whom I mentiond to your Excellency, whose Early (4 years agoe) attachment to the Interest of the United States, whose Character & Principles point him out as a proper Person to be appointed Chief Consul, for Provence and Languedoc, on the part of America—4
Should your Excellency favor him by so honourable an Employment, I shall most Gratefully acknowledge this addition to the many favors you have conferred upon me, and I am confident the United States will find the Greatest Integrity & Satisfaction in his Conduct—
My Family join me in the sincerest respects to you & your Grandson—
I have the Honor, to be, with the warmest respect your Excellencys most obt: and most Humble. sert5
Edward Newenham
Notation: Newenham 14 Novr. 1782.
3. See his letter of Nov. 12[–13].
4. In 1778 Jean-Christophe Hornbostel had written BF seeking a consulship in Marseille: XXVI, 212, where we mistranscribed his partner’s name as “Fölich”. At that time, his partner was the Swedish consul Henri-Jacques Fölsch. Beginning in 1781, the consulship was held by Fölsch’s son, François-Philippe: Charles Carrière, Négociants marseillais au XVIIIe siècle (2 vols., Marseille, 1973), II, 733, 1082; Almanach royal for 1780, p. 256, for 1781, p. 264, and for 1782, p. 268. The younger Fölsch courted Newenham’s daughter Margaretta despite her father’s objections, and the couple was married at the beginning of January, 1783. Newenham then left for Italy with the rest of his family, a trip for which he sought and received from WTF a new set of introductions: Newenham’s journal, 1782 (National Archives of Canada); James Kelly, Sir Edward Newenham MP, 1734–1814: Defender of the Protestant Constitution (Dublin, 2004), pp. 183, 300; Newenham to WTF, Dec. 8 and 30, 1782, and Jan. 2[–5], 1783. Newenham had also written to WTF on Nov. 17 that two of his mares in Ireland were in foal; he had promised one of the offspring to Lafayette, and he offered the other to WTF. All these letters are at the APS.
5. Newenham reiterated his request for a consulship for Hornbostel before leaving Marseille: Newenham to WTF, Jan. 2[–5], 1783, APS.