From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 11 November 1784
To Charles Thomson
Transcript: National Archives
Passy, November 11th. 1784.
Dear Friend,
I received your kind Letter of August 13th: with the Papers annexed, relative to the Affair of Longchamps.9 I hope Satisfaction will be given to Mr: Marbois. The Commissioners have written a joint Letter to Congress.1 This serves to cover a few Papers relative to Matters with which I was particularly charged in the Instructions. I shall write to you fully by the next Opportunity, having now only Time to add, that I am, as ever, Yours most Affectionately,
(SIGNED) B. Franklin.
P.S. To explain the Papers. I had first sent to Count Vergennes, by my Secretary, a Copy of the Instruction of May 11th: He seems to have thought it should have come to him in a more formal Manner, and wrote me the Letter A. I accordingly sent it to him in B. and received his Answer in C.2
I executed the Instruction of Octr: 29th —83, as soon as I knew the Commissions for treating with the Emperor, &c. were issued, which was not till July —84. The three Letters between the Emperor’s Minister and me are what passed on that Occasion.3
To Chas. Thomson, Esqr.
9. XLII, 500–8.
1. Of the same date, above.
2. Vergennes to BF, Aug. 27; BF to Vergennes, Sept. 3; Vergennes to BF, Sept. 9; all above. Humphreys copied in his letterbook these letters and the three cited in the following note.
3. BF to Mercy-Argenteau and Mercy-Argenteau to BF, both July 30 (XLII, 456, 457); Mercy-Argenteau to BF, Sept. 28, above.