To Benjamin Franklin from James Searle, 11 March 1781
From James Searle
AL: American Philosophical Society, Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Paris Sunday 11 March. 1781
Mr. Searle’s Compliments wait on Doctor Franklin & requests he will be so kind as to give directions for furnishing Mr. S, with the necessary papers or passport to leave Paris as Mr. Searle means to return to Amsterdam in a very few days.9 Mr. S, will have pleasure in receiving any commands the Doctor may have for the Country he is going to.
Addressed: Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre Plenipotentiare des / Etats Unis d’Amerique / A / Passy
Notation: Searle 11. March 1781.
9. On March 20 Searle admitted to Joseph Reed that he had little expectation that his second trip to the Netherlands would be any more successful than the first, but he hoped to restore his health and spirits there. He remained in Amsterdam until August, but was unable to procure a loan: William B. Reed, ed., Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed … (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1847), II, 459–61; Mildred E. Lombard, “James Searle: Radical Business Man of the Revolution,” PMHB, LIX (1935), 290. We have no record of a passport.