Benjamin Franklin Papers
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From Benjamin Franklin to Walter Williams and Helenus Scott, 24 November 1780

To Walter Williams and Helenus Scott9

Copy:1 Library of Congress

Passy, Nov. 24. 1780.

Gentlemen,

I received the Letters you did me the Honour of writing to me on the 27th. of Last Month,2 and beg you will accept my Thanks for your good Will to the American Cause. Having the most positive orders from Congress not to give the smallest encouragement to any Persons whatever to go to America with Expectations of military Preferment, (the Army of the United States being more than fully officered) It is impossible for me, Gentlemen, to grant you the Pasport you desire. And as many excellent & experienced officers, who have been to America to offer their Services, are returned from thence, the Congress not having Employment for them, I should not if you were my Brethren advise you pursue your last Project, but rather to continue the first or return to England. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your &c.

Messrs. Williams & Scott.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

9. For whom see XXXIII, 50n.

1. The copy is in BF’s official letterbook, which was primarily kept by his French secretary, Jean L’Air de Lamotte.

2. XXXIII, 50. Williams and Scott wrote again from Paris on Dec. 22, before this response from BF had reached them: APS.

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    Franklin Papers
    Title
    From Benjamin Franklin to Walter Williams and Helenus Scott, 24 November 1780
    Author
    Franklin, Benjamin
    Recipients
    Williams, Walter
    Scott, Helenus
    Date
    24 November 1780

    Reference

    Cite as
    “From Benjamin Franklin to Walter Williams and Helenus Scott, 24 November 1780,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-34-02-0028. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 34, November 16, 1780, through April 30, 1781, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1998, pp. 51–52.]