To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 10 November 1784
From John Bondfield
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Bordx. 10 Novr 1784
Sir
Just returnd to Bordeaux from the Country where by your friendly Assistance I have resided since I left Passi. Accept my most respectful accknowledgemts. for your kind services, Services of a nature that cannot be errast and of which I shall ever retain a most sincere reconnoisance.3
By my last Letters from Paris I am not more advanct than when I left that City nor know I when I can depend on getting freed from my conections with Price, how [who] has appeard with new forged Papers that he & Haywood fabricated the last Winter at Paris. I cannot say how the Judges may decree when Events depend on the Judgement of others the results are uncertain.4
My best wishes to young Mr franklin who I suppose ere this is returnd as also to mr Bacche & your family at all times and on all occations I shall ever esteem the oppertunity of shewing that I am truely & respectfully Sir Your much Obliged & Obeedient Humble Servant
John Bondfield
To His Excellency D franklin
Addressed: A Son Excellence / Doctr. B. Franklin / ministre plenr. des Etats unis / de lAmerique a / Paris
Notation: John Bonfield, 10 Nov. 1784.
3. Bondfield was in Passy in September, when BF obtained a safe conduct pass for him; see BF to WTF, Sept. 13. A note from Bondfield written on a “Tuesday morning” from the Hotel de Valois may also date from that period; if he was in Paris on another occasion, we have no evidence of it. Bondfield asked that the letter BF promised to write to “Marchal de Castri” be given to the bearer, and that BF accept a bill of exchange which Bondfield had received from Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu (APS). No such letter to Castries has been found. Bondfield’s note must postdate June, 1783, as that was when Castries was named maréchal, and the baron de Montesquieu had by that time returned to France (Rice and Brown, eds., Rochambeau’s Army, 1, 318).
4. James Price had won a judgment against Bondfield, Haywood & Co. in 1783 and subsequently appealed to have it affirmed: XL, 246n.