Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-43-02-0294

From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Henry Lee, 8 February 1785

To Richard Henry Lee

Press copy of ALS:7 American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives

Passy, Feb. 8. 1785.—

Sir,

I received by the Marquis de la Fayette the two Letters you did me the Honour of writing to me the 11th & 14th of December; the one enclosing a Letter from Congress to the King; the other a Resolve of Congress respecting the Convention for establishing Consuls. The Letter was immediately deliver’d, and well receiv’d.8 The Resolve came too late to suspend Signing the Convention, it having been done in July last; and a Copy sent so long since that we now expected the Ratification. As that Copy seems to have miscarried, I now send another.9 I am not informed what Objection has arisen in Congress to the Plan sent me. Mr Jefferson thinks it may have been to the Part which restrain’d the Consuls from all Concern in Commerce.1 That Article was omitted, being thought unnecessary to be stipulated, since either Party would always have the Power of imposing such Restraints on its own Officers, whenever it should think fit.— I am however of Opinion that this or any other reasonable Article or Alteration may be obtain’d at the Desire of Congress, and establish’d by a Supplement.

Permit me, Sir, to congratulate you on your being call’d to the high Honour of presiding in our National Councils,—and to wish you every Felicity; being with the most perfect Esteem and Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servant

B. Franklin

His Excellency Richard Henry Lee, Presidt of Congress.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7A corner of the press copy is torn, and the missing parts of several words have been supplied from the transcript.

8The Dec. 11 letter from Congress to the king lauding Lafayette was presented to Louis XVI by the marquis himself: Louis XVI to Congress, May 10, 1785, National Archives. Filed with the original letter at the AAE is a copy of it (a press copy of which is at the APS), along with a general description of the Dec. 11 congressional ceremony honoring the marquis and a French translation of Lafayette’s speech to the delegates; all these documents are in the hand of L’Air de Lamotte. To judge by the docketing, they were given to Vergennes. (For the ceremony and Lafayette’s speech see JCC, XXVII, 683–5.)

9For the convention, signed on July 29, 1784, see XLII, 454–6. The copy enclosed with the present letter was referred to Jay on June 6, and he reported on it to Congress on July 4: JCC, XXVIII, 433.

1Article 3; see XLI, 322–5, 326.

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