To Benjamin Franklin from [Thadée-Humphrey?] O’Doüin, 15 November 1777
From [Thadée-Humphrey?] O’Doüin1
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Versailles Novr. the 15th 1777
Dear Sir
My request to you, I dare say so, bears a Character of Justice for you promised me, about Eight Months ago, strong Letters of reccommandation to the Honourable Congress in favour of a young Gentleman which Desired to go over to our friends as a Volonteer in hopes of an Employement.2 A strong fit of Sickness that left his health in a very bad Condition, prevented him from repairing there, therefore I pray you to be so Kind as to apply to the benefit of Messrs. Poullain Brothers, the same Kindness you had promised to me for the young volonteer. I observe that these two Gentlemen are in a Condition and station to be a great deal more useful to the United provinces than the young man was.3
The one of them (the Eldest) is an advocate in the Parliament of Paris, a man of parts and habilitys, whose independent fortune is out of Course to go along with him to your Provinces. He intends to settle as a planter Either by Concession or purchase but in both Cases I make bold to say that he will be very usefull. His inclination prompts him to Chuse the Province of Pensilvania or Virginia as his Chiefest Inclination prompts him to the Cultivation of wheat. He nevertheless has great views of Establishing there Various Sorts of Manufactures, and above all one of Blankets so very important in the present Circcomstances.
The second Brother is an officer a Gendarme and Lieutenant in this service, in the houshould of the King. He understand his service well is Capable and willing. But as he has got here a settled station in the service, he wishes he might be Certain to be Employed there as an officer in the Light troops (his peculiar turn of mind) if his services prove such as to deserve a preferment.
Your letters of reccommandation to the Honourable Congress would Answer the Expectation and views of both these Gentlemen which may truly be Called so, Either by their birth, (having a Brother Councellor in the Chambre des Comptes here in Paris4) and by their station in the world and abilitys. I hope Sir you will not refuse that favour to my Earnest request. I with a gratefull heart remember your Kindnesses to me in your house in Philadelphia, where Mrs. and Miss Franklin used me with an uncommon politeness while I was Prisoner of War in that City. My being married to one of your Country-Ladys5 and having a great part of my Estate under the Protection of the Honourable Congress in the Provinces of Massatchusetts bay and Georgia Leave me no doubt but you will grant me a request that will turn to the advantage of the united provinces whose interest is to have Settlers and Soldiers of Known Character and abilities. I am with Due Regard Dear Sir your most obedient humble Servant
O. Doüin
Notation: Obrien
1. For the puzzle about his identity see above, XXIV, 543–4 n.
2. Two months ago O’Doüin had requested letters for two young men in succession: ibid. He may be referring here to a still earlier request that is now missing.
3. To judge by a later letter, all three of the frères Poullin, as they spelled themselves, turned up at Passy to present this recommendation. BF promised to write for the two who were going to America when they were ready to leave. On Aug. 5, 1779, the eldest, Poullin de la Foucaudiere, reminded him of his promise in a letter from Nantes, saying nothing about a brother but announcing that his own passage was paid and he expected to sail in a few weeks. APS. If he did so, we have found no trace of him in America.
4. Henri-Simon-Thibault Poullin de Fleins (1745–1823), later a judge in the tribunal of Chartres and a poet by avocation: Nouvelle biographie.
5. Poullin’s letter, cited above, described her as “une fille de mylord Rixdall, ancien Gouverneur de Boston,” which seems to be a flight of fancy.