Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-37-02-0124

To Benjamin Franklin from Franklin Read, 19 April 1782

From Franklin Read5

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Cape Francoys6 Aprill 19th. 1782—

Hond. Sir

I have not had it in my Power to give You aney Acount of my Procedings relative to what you recomended me when I had the Honour of your Favour (untie now). I found on my Return home that my Business was dull and as I had gained Experience in the Sea way that it was much more to my Advantage to follow it. It would be a great Satisfaction for me to Stay at home with my Famely, but as Cercomstances are I find it quite Imposible. I have been something unfortunate this War but am now in a fairer way. I have just Come up from Jaimaica on Parole. I was Prisoner near three Months, but Expect to be Exchanged in a day or too, and shall Return home Imediately where I Shall have a good birth in a Ship of twenty Guns and Bound to Europe. If I have the Fortune to go Safe will I hope make amends for my past misfortune. I hope you will forgive me for my not Writing to you before as I never have had an Oppertunty mostly being from home. I beg to be Remember’d to Young Mr Bache & Mr Temple and Bilieve me your Afectionate Nephew

Franklin Read

Benj’n Franklin Esqr.

Endorsed: Franklin Read Cape François 19th. April 1782

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

5. A son of BF’s brother-in-law John Read. Franklin (b. 1749) entered the Philadelphia Academy in 1762 and was commissioned a lieutenant of marines in 1776: VII, 203n; Francis J. Dallett, “Doctor Franklin’s In-Laws,” Pa. Geneal. Mag., XXI (1960), chart following p. 302; Claghorn, Naval Officers, p. 253. This is the first of only two extant letters from BF’s nephew; no replies have been found.

6. Cap Français, on the northern coast of Saint Domingue.

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    Franklin Papers
    Title
    To Benjamin Franklin from Franklin Read, 19 April 1782
    Author
    Read, Franklin
    Recipient
    Franklin, Benjamin
    Date
    19 April 1782

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To Benjamin Franklin from Franklin Read, 19 April 1782,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-37-02-0124. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 37, March 16 through August 15, 1782, ed. Ellen R. Cohn. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2003, p. 174.]