Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from William Howard, 14 February 1781

From William Howard2

ALS: American Philosophical Society

On Board of a prison Ship Security lying at Chatam
Februay. 14. 1781

Sir/

I take this opportunity to aguaint you that there is Six american prisoners on Bord of this Ship that was taken in august last in a bad Condition and now are in a very misorable manner not fit for no Cristean to See us we are not allowed any Cloths nor money allowed us at all

Sir/ I hope it is in your power to assist us in a few Cloths I never new Before But what the americans was to Be Exchange with the french men we are used very Bad we are very Short of rations about half a pound of Beef and a pound of Black Bread they wont let us Speak to them if we ask them for Cloths the Commesairy will tell us our Congras dont allow us any thing.

I am your very Humble Servant

William Howard

N.B. Sir/ pleas to Send us an answer

Addressed: For Docter Francklin / American Anbassindor / in Paris / This

Notation: Haward Feby. 14. 1781.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2. Perhaps the same William Howard to whom BF had given 240 l.t. on Dec. 21, 1778: Alphabetical List of Escaped Prisoners; Claghorn, Naval Officers, p. 157. We have found no other letter from him.

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    Franklin Papers
    Title
    To Benjamin Franklin from William Howard, 14 February 1781
    Author
    Howard, William
    Recipient
    Franklin, Benjamin
    Date
    14 February 1781

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To Benjamin Franklin from William Howard, 14 February 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-34-02-0277. [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. 374–375.]