Benjamin Franklin Papers
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The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 11 November 1778

The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes9

AL (draft)1: Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives

Passy Novr 11 1778

Gentlemen

We have this Moment received the Letter, which you did Us the Honour to write to Us, on the Seventh of the present Month, and We hold ourselves obliged to you for giving Us an opportunity of uniting our Endeavours with yours, to obtain a Sufficient Convoy for the Vessells bound to America for the whole Voyage.

It gives Us great Pleasure to learn that So many Vessells are going both as they will carry So considerable Supplies to our Country, and as with proper Convoy they will afford So agreable and Safe an opportunity of many of our Friends to return home.

You may depend upon it, Gentlemen that We will write without Loss of Time to the Secretary of State for the Marine, and make Use of every other Means in our Power, to obtain the Favour you desire. We have the Honour to be with great Esteem and Respect Gentlemen your most obedient & most humble Servants.

Messrs. J. D. Sweighauser, Joshua Johnson, Mathew Ridley, Jonathan Williams, Charles Ogilvie, Mathew Mease, Jno Gilbank. William Haywood and others.2

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

9. To the “mortification” of the commissioners this letter never reached Nantes; under a covering letter of Dec. 5 they sent a duplicate.

1. In JA’s hand.

2. Added in another hand for insertion after Schweighauser are the names Daniel Blake and John Lloyd.

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    Source Project
    Franklin Papers
    Title
    The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 11 November 1778
    Authors
    American Commissioners
    Franklin, Benjamin
    Lee, Arthur
    Adams, John
    Recipient
    Gentlemen at Nantes
    Date
    11 November 1778

    Reference

    Cite as
    “The American Commissioners to Gentlemen at Nantes, 11 November 1778,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-28-02-0055. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 28, November 1, 1778, through February 28, 1779, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1990, p. 76.]