To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 12 October 1779
From James Lovell4
LS: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives
Oct 12–79
To Doctor Franklin
Mr. Gerard having been particularly applied to relative to the Affairs of M. Du Coudray by the Heirs has the original Certificate of which this is the Triple; but Doctr. Franklin will mark out for himself a Line of Conduct referring properly to the Civility due to Mr. Gerard and the Interest of Mr. Du Coudray’s Heirs.5
James Lovell
Addressed: Mr. Gerard6
Endorsed: relating to M. de Coudray
4. Writing no doubt on behalf of the committee for foreign affairs.
5. Lovell enclosed a declaration that Maj. Gen. Philippe-Jean-Baptiste Tronson du Coudray had been drowned crossing the Schuylkill River on Sept. 16, 1777 (for which see XXV, 220–1), along with an attested copy of a congressional resolution ordering that he be interred with honors of war (JCC, VIII, 751); this enclosure is also at the Mass. Hist. Soc. The declaration apparently had been precipitated by a financial claim of du Coudray’s heirs, which on Sept. 9 had been referred to the Board of Treasury; eventually they were paid 14,886 l.t. 6 s. 1 d.: JCC, XV, 1041; XXI, 1014.
6. Gérard, returning to Europe aboard the Confederacy, agreed to carry letters to France: the committee for foreign affairs to BF, Oct. 14, below.