To Benjamin Franklin from Sartine, 22 March 1779
From Sartine
Copy: Library of Congress
Versailles 22. mars 1779.
J’ai reçu avec plaisir, Monsieur, le Commodore Gillon de la Caroline meridionale que vous m’avez annoncé8 et j’espére qu’il aura été content de l’accueil que je lui ai fait.9 Je serai fort aise de levoir pendant son Sejour ici et de conferer avec lui sur les Objets de sa Mission qui pourront concerner mon Departement.
J’ai l’honneur d’être avec une parfaite Consideration, Monsieur, votre très humble et très obeissant Serviteur—
(signé) De Sartine.
M. Franklin.
8. See BF’s letter of March 20.
9. Gillon described an interview with Sartine in a June 15 letter to the S.C. congressional delegation. Sartine listened to his proposals and then asked for them in writing. Gillon responded by requesting a French loan or loan guarantee and, above all, the chance to purchase on credit three seaworthy French frigates. Gillon also explained to both BF and Sartine his plan to attack the British in Georgia either with the newly purchased frigates or with a French expeditionary force of three ships of the line, three frigates, two cutters, and six row galleys. Gillon volunteered his services to this force, provided France would sell South Carolina any ships, supplies, and ammunition she captured (a provision to which Sartine objected). “Letters from Commodore Alexander Gillon in 1778 and 1779,” S.C. Gen. and Hist. Mag., X (1909), 131–5.