To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 29 August 1780
From Jonathan Williams, Jr.
ALS: University of Pennsylvania Library
Nantes Augt 29. 1780.
Dear & hond Sir
I beg leave to introduce to your Notice Mrs Blake her Daughter & two Sons. This Lady is the Wife of William Blake Esqr of South Carolina & one of the most respectable Men in that State.1 He came hither with his Family about three Years, since & went himself to america where he now is; He was in Carolina but not in Charlestown at the Surrender. Mrs Blake proposes to go to England to put her Children at School, & then return to her Sister at Brussells. For this Purpose she will want your Pasport which I request you to give her & I shall be particularly obliged to you for every mark of Civility shewn her, having the highest Esteem & Regard for Mrs Blake, and her Husband is my particular Friend.2
I am as ever with the greatest Respect Dear & hond Sir Your dutifull & affectionate Kinsman
Jona Williams J
Notation: Jon. Williams Nantes August 29. 1780
1. Anne Izard Blake (b. 1741) was a cousin of Ralph Izard’s. She and William had three children: S.C. Gen. and Hist. Mag., I, 161–2; II, 231–2. JW owed a debt of gratitude to William Blake (XXVI, 40n), who was one of the American merchants at Nantes who had acted fairly toward him during the dispute over his accounts in 1779. Blake returned to America in the spring of that year: XXIX, 196n.
2. In a letter to WTF of the same day, JW asked his cousin to take particular care of the Blake party (which included, in addition to the children, a “maid & servant”). JW had directed them to the Hôtel d’York. APS.