To Benjamin Franklin from John Baynes, 26 September 1783
From John Baynes
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Friday—Septr. 26th. [1783]
Sir
I have not till this morning been able to find any gentleman who was going to England— Mr. Dagge6 however has this moment informed me, that he has an opportunity of conveying a letter by an acquaintance, the son of General Dalling,7 who will set off tomorrow. I fear you will by this time have sent by some other conveyance the letter you mentioned—however, lest you shod. not, I take the liberty of informing you that if it be sent to Mr. Dagge today, it will certainly be forwarded.
I am, with all respect, Sir, Your most obedt. & obliged humble Servt.
Mr. Dagge is at the hôtel d’Hamburgh, Ruë Jacobe.
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / Ambassadeur pour les Américains en son / Hôtel / à Passy.
6. Henry Dagge; see his letter immediately below.
7. Possibly Lt. Gen. John Dalling (ODNB), former governor of Jamaica, though his eldest son, John Windham Dalling, was 14 years old at this time: information kindly confirmed by the Norfolk Record Office, England.
8. Boulnois was a language instructor who advertised French courses in the Jour. de Paris (e.g., May 6, 1783). He and his wife also rented apartments, with or without board, and catered to the British tourist trade. By 1787, when they moved to a better location, they were advertising in English newspapers, adding that they taught French, English, Latin, and Greek: World and Fashionable Advertiser, Aug. 31, 1787. Boulnois was the author of Principes raisonnés de la langue françoise (Paris, 1788).