To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Knox, 28 November 1783
From Henry Knox
ALS (draft): New-York Historical Society1
New-York 28th Novr 1783
Sir
I take the liberty to introduce to your acquaintance and civilities Jeremiah Platt, a gentleman of this City, who has just returned from a long exile of seven years, in which period he has in every instance approved himself a zealous and upright citizen of the republick, a warm asserter of its liberties and ever ready to contribute his full proportion for its defence. Any attentions which You may have an opportunity of affording him & Mrs Platt who accompanies him will be gratefuly ackn[owledge]d by me.2
In this auspicious moment America has the opportunity of rising to greatness and empire— The troops who have long been hostile to the liberty we have been seeking, at length are withdrawing from a country too stubborn to be conquered, & whose independence & sovereignty are acknowledged, and confirmed by solemn treaties— If in this happy conjunction of Affairs we should possess true wisdom & unbiassed Justice our natural Character will be Completely formed, and posterity will experience the good effects of their fathers virtues. Mr Platt will be able to give you the details of politicks in America which will render it unnecessary on my part. I cannot Conclude without expressing my earnest wishes that you enjoy the felicity which you have so Ardently endevored to obtain for others, and that You may return to America to receive the ineffable pleasures arising from the gratitude of a free and enlightned people.
I have the honor to be Sir with perfect respect Your most obedient humble Servant3
H Knox
To his Excellency Doctr Franklin 28 Novr 1783
His Excellency Benja Franklin Esqr.
To his Excellency Doctor Franklin
1. We obtained this draft from the Mass. Hist. Soc.; it is now part of the Gilder Lehrman Collection. Filed with it is the draft of a letter to JA of the same date, introducing the bearer, Jeremiah Platt. For the recipient’s copy of the latter see Adams Papers, XV, 484.
2. Platt, a merchant, had spent the war years in Hartford and was involved in financing several Conn. privateers. In 1780 he married Abigail Pynchon of Springfield, Mass.: Frederic Gregory Mather, The Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut (Albany, 1913), pp. 509, 680; Louis F. Middlebrook, History of Maritime Connecticut during the American Revolution, 1775–1783 (2 vols., Salem, Mass., 1925), II, 49, 97, 100; Willard S. Allen, “Longmeadow (Mass.) Families,” New England Hist. and Geneal. Register, XXXVIII (1884), 47.
3. Platt also carried a letter of introduction from GW, written on Dec. 1 and addressed to both Lafayette and BF. The two-sentence letter stated that Platt and his wife were going to England, and “probably to France.” The ALS has not been located, but a letterbook copy is at the Library of Congress.