Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-28-02-0167

To Benjamin Franklin from John Abercromby, 11 December 1778

From John Abercromby5

ALS: American Philosophical Society

de Bordeaux ce 11 dessambre 1778

Monsieur

J’ay eu L’honneur de vous ecrire ilia trois cemaine pour optenier de vous un pasport pour sortire de france pour man retourné che moi a charlestown. Je cere [serais] parti a presant si javais receu un pasport de vous mai aparaman que les grand safair [affaires] dont vous aitre ocupé maura fait obliet, je vous prie pour la ceconde fois Monsieur de ne pas mobliet.6 J’ay ecrie a Mr. Le Baron Grant au cervice de sa mageste de france de vouloir bien vous refrechire [rafraichir] La memoire a mon sige [sujet] si Monsieur francklin a des hordres a me donair pour lameric je suis tou pres a lui obeir avec toute les selle [le zele] posible.

J’ay l’honeur daitre Monsieur Votre tres humble et tres obisant cerviteur

John Abercromby

P.S. Voila une lettre dun capitaine qui a commander pour la carolina qui dois commander le beatimont la ou je dois pacer7 j’ay vue sa comision qui est signée du congres jespere que vos bonté ce repondron [répandront] sur luis car il le merite. Mon adresce chez Mr. Roger negt. a Bordeaux pres de la Bource.

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur francklin / ambassadeur des Etats Unis / Par Paris / A Passy

Notation: Jonh Abercromby Bordeaux 11. Xbre. 1778.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

5We have been unable to discover anything definite about him other than the information offered in this and his following letter, under Dec. 24. He had first presented himself in person on Nov. 6; BF, calling him a “Prisoner escaped,” noted in his Waste Book (Account I, XXIII, 19) that he loaned him 4 louis d’or “on his Note of hand.” He may be the Charleston resident whose marriage is mentioned in the S.C. Hist. and Geneal. Mag., XI (1910), 161; why he struggled to write in a foreign language is beyond our imagination.

6His earlier letter has not been found, and there is no evidence that BF supplied him with a passport.

7The enclosure, from Capt. Philip, is printed below under Dec. 12.

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