From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 30 July 1781
To John Bondfield
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress
Passy, July 30. 1781
Sir,
I received your Favour of the 21. Inst. and return accepted the two Bills it enclos’d.2
In perusing your Account sent me the Beginning of March last, I observed considerable Sums advanced to Americans. The Advances for the Relief of poor distress’d Seamen I will pay, but the others to Officers and Gentlemen, I cannot allow, having no Orders to justify it.3 If I rec’d the Account of the Cannon, it is mislaid; and Mr Chaumont has made some Objections about the Weight of those deliver’d to him. I therefore request, that you would send me the Founder’s original Account, and I will, soon after receiving it, pay what shall appear due to you as Ballance on the whole.
I thank you for the News you have been so kind as to send me from time to time, & also for your Information relative [to] the American Sailors press’d into the French Service. With great Esteem, I have the honour to be Sir,
Mr Bondfield
2. Bondfield’s of July 21 is missing, and we have not been able to locate any copies of his recent bills. Account XXVII (XXXII, 4) lists a payment of 908 l.t. 6 s. from Grand to Bondfield on June 22.
3. On March 3, Bondfield dispensed a total of 270 l.t. to two Americans and a French count: Account XXVII.