Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-35-02-0302

To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquise de Lafayette, [August 24 or 26] 1781

From the Marquise de Lafayette

AL: American Philosophical Society

paris ce Dimanche 24 [August 24 or 26, 1781]7

Mde. De La fayette offre ses tendres hommages, a monsieur franklin, elle a fait sa commission pour Mr. D’aguesseau, qui La assurée que Laffaire de m. Alexander, seroit jugée la semaine prochaine.8 Mde. De La fayette prie monsieur franklin de recevoir Lassurance des voeux bien sinceres, quelle forme pour Le suçcés dune affaire qui L’interesse. Elle Lui demande, a son tour, La permission, de Lui en reccommander une, qu’on dit etre fort interessante, et pour Laquelle on La prié de solliciter vivement ses bontés. Le memoire qu’elle joint ici, expose Le sujet de La demande,9 et mde. De La fayette na rien a y ajouter, que Lassurance du vif intêret quelle y prend et de La recconnoissance que Lui inspireront Les bontés de monsieur franklin, dans cette circonstance il sçait combien elle est touchée de celle qu’il veut bien lui temoigner, et combien elle y met de prix. Elle Le supplie de pardonner son importunité.

Notation: Mde. De la Fayette

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7An obvious response to the letter from BF which we publish under the date of Aug. 17. As Aug. 24 was a Friday we do not know whether she was mistaken about the date, which would make this letter Sunday the 26th, or the day of the week. The former possibility seems more likely.

8The validity of the Alexanders’ mortgage was recognized in France on Sept. 11, 1781: Price, France and the Chesapeake, II, 699.

9She may have forwarded BF the request of the comte de Choiseul-Gouffier for a commission for his privateer. This request, to which BF seems to have agreed in mid-September, is described in our headnote on favor seekers, published under the date of May 1, above.

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