1From Benjamin Franklin to John Torris and Francis Coffyn, 18 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letters you did me the honour of writing to me the 20th. of May and The 8th. Instant. I did not immediately forbid Capt. Merchant’s intercepting the Dover Pacquets supposing that if they were protected by this Governement, he would, on their showing him their Passports, discharge them, and if not protected there would be nothing improper in taking...