To Benjamin Franklin from the Comtesse de Golowkin, [c. 8 August 1781]
From the Comtesse de Golowkin
ALS: American Philosophical Society
[c. August 8, 1781]9
Je vous souhaite le bon jour, mon cher Papa, et vous embrasse tendrement, me voilà dans de nouvelles inquiètudes, on parle d’un combat entre Mr. de Rochambeau, et le General Clinton, d’autres disent Lincoln;1 c’est-il vrai, mon bon Papa? Je ne veux croire que vous— Si je n’ètois obligeè d’aller à Paris, j’aurai ètè vous dire un petit bon jour; quand voulès vous me permettre de vous porter ma lettre? Je vous tourmente bien, mais je vous aime beaucoup, aimès moi aussi un peu—
Ce. G.
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Francklin / à Paris
9. On Aug. 8, below, the comtesse de Rochambeau inquired about a similar rumor. Mme Golowkin’s apprehensions may relate to an earlier rumor, reported by Métra on July 9, regarding a battle between Clinton and Washington: BF is saying everywhere he does not believe a word of it. The American general is against making a desperate attack on principle and the English general is no more likely to take on Washington at this moment inasmuch as his strategy seems focused on conquering the Southern states: Métra, Correspondance secrète, XI, 348.
1. Either Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, who was operating under Washington outside of New York or Gen. Clinton’s cousin and subordinate, Thomas Clinton, Earl of Lincoln, who had rejoined the general earlier that year: Willcox, Portrait of a General, pp. 368–9.