Isaac-Jean-Georges-Jonas Grand to the American Commissioners, [6 April? 1778]
Isaac-Jean-Georges-Jonas Grand to the American Commissioners
Translation:5 American Philosophical Society
Monday two oClock [April 6?,6 1778]
Mr. Grand is the more sorry for not having had the honour of seeing yesterday the honourable Mr. Franklin as he was desirous to speak to him of two interesting subjects, the one Mr. Boux nephew who does nothing at Nantes altho’ in the States’ Service. He would be more usefull at Amsterdam as well to forward the Construction of the Indian as to bring her and see that all be right.7 If the honble. Mr. Franklin is of the same opinion Mr. Grand will give immediate orders to Mr. Boux to repair to Amsterdam. He desires to be paid his salary, Mr. Williams could pay him what’s due. On their apprehensions at Amsterdam of fire being set to the ship, Mr. Grand has wrote there to set four men on board to watch her night and day, and that if this precaution was not sufficient, to get her insured against fire which would Cost about 2000 florins. Prudence seems to require this sacrifice, however Mr. Grand would be glad to have the honble. Mr. Franklin’s approbation on that head.
Addressed in another hand: Monsieur Franklin
Notation: Sir G. Grand Receivd open from Dr. Franklin to answer April 6th. A.L.
5. In the same hand, we assume that of one of Grand’s clerks, as the translation summarized in our note on Boux’s letter above, XXV, 714–15 n.
6. The first sentence makes clear that Sir George Grand had arrived in Paris (see Dumas to the commissioners, March 6). We assume that BF received the note and sent it on at once, so that Lee (see his notation) received it on the same day. If not, the date must be the previous Monday, March 30.
7. Boux, cooling his heels in Nantes, had been running out of money by late February; see his letter cited above. A memorandum in Henri Grand’s hand (University of Pa. Library), undated but obviously written later, points out that Boux, who had been promised traveling expenses and salary, wants four l.t. a day for the six months from January to June that he waited in Nantes. The omission of any mention of Amsterdam indicates that he did not go there.