To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-François-Paul Grand, 6 March 1782
From Jean-François-Paul Grand
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Paris le 6 mars 1782.
Monsieur
Mr. Lefèvre de Lisbonne a dèsiré que j’eus l’honneur de l’introduire à vôtre connoissance pour qu’il put vous entretenir d’une affaire qui lui est recomandée particulierement.1
Quoique vôtre affabilité ordinaire & son mérite lui eussent assuré une rècèption obligeante de vôtre part je me permets de satisfaire à sa demande en prenant la liberté de luy donner Cette Lettre.
Je suis avec les sentimens les plus Rèspectueux Monsieur Vôtre très humble & très obeissant serviteur
Grand
Addressed: à son Excellence / Monsieur Le Docteur Franklin
Notation: Grand, 6 Mars 1782.
1. Lefèvre was probably a member of the Lisbon merchant firm of Lefévre, Roussac & Cie., and he wanted to see BF about American prisoners at Lisbon. The firm handled Grand’s subsequent transaction with Mazaret (for which see our annotation of Vergennes’ letter of Feb. 28) and was acquainted with Pecquet (also discussed there): Jefferson Papers, X, 85. The matter in question may have concerned John Fennel, prize master, and five other prize crew members of a brigantine taken by the letter of marque Thomas from Salem. Fennel’s travails are outlined in an undated memoir, in French, a copy of which was made by L’Air de Lamotte. Meeting with foul weather, they took shelter at the island of St. George (São Jorge) in the Azores, where their property was stolen, their ship was destroyed on the rocks, and what was salvaged was claimed by the British consul. Fennel and two crewmates, John Hart Home and John Oakman, went to Lisbon, where their expenses were defrayed by Queen Maria I until they left for Cadiz. (Both the original and the copy of this memoir are at the APS.)