From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 15 October 1779
To Francis Coffyn
Copy: Library of Congress
Passy, Oct. 15. 1779.
Sir
Inclosed I Send you the Commissions desired for the Black Prince and The Black Princess.6 You will be so good as to fill up the Blanks properly and take the Bonds from the Parties, of which I Send one only, not having time to copy it: but that may be done with you for the other Vessel. I have the honour to be Sir &c.
M. Coffin.
[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]
6. Clark believes that BF sent new commissions rather than altering Marchant’s old one (as Torris and Coffyn had suggested) out of concern for the safety of the recipient: Ben Franklin’s Privateers, p. too. Bad weather held the two privateers in port until December: ibid., pp. 102–3.