To Benjamin Franklin from Watson & Cossoul, 20 May 1781
From Watson & Cossoul3
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Nantes. 20th. May 1781
Sir
We duly rec’d your favr. of the 16th. inst. directed to our E. Watson,4 and have to acknowledge your Kind attention, & inform your Excellency that our friends Messrs. J. Cottin & fils & Jauge5 advise us, that they have found the bill in question.
We have the honour to be respectfully Your Excellency’s Very Obedient Servants.
Watson & Cossoul
The Honbl. Benja. Franklin Esqr. Passy
Addressed: The Honbl. Benja. Franklin / Esqr. / American Ambassador / at / Passy
Notation: E Watson & Cossoul May 20 1781
3. Elkanah Watson and the Nantes merchant Cossoul had been in partnership for at least a year. In June, 1780, they had reported the loss of bills of exchange drawn on BF, but reported two months later that the bills had been found: XXVII, 63n; XXIX, 723n; XXXII, 45.
4. Although Watson wrote BF on May 8, above, we have not found a reply from BF.
5. Watson & Cossoul previously had used the Paris firm for financial transactions: XXXII, 45n.