1To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 8 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I make No doubt but you Exelency have heard of the Ill treatment I met with. I was arrasted by A Mr Dotun Le sage At Paris for a sum of money wich he pretents I owe him And it is Very Clear that I have sufred and lost Near 72 thousand Livers and do Not owe him A Sheling. I was arrested in the most Cruel manner my arms tyed and Put in to a dunjen for Near 24...
2To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 21 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am Now in a Strang Country & 4000 Miles from home. No frends to Vindicate me in my unhappy setuation Not with standing theire is Every Proof of my Inosance I am now fully Perswaded that without the Asestance of your Exelency will Not be releved of Preson. I Hope your Exelency will do Every thing that Lais in your Power to releve me of my Destrest...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 26 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania My Interpreter & Attorney has Just Left me he Sais it is absolutly nessesry to Offir Securety Alltho he is Sure it will Not be Asked— I am Sure and Evry Body Agrees that I can ruin Dotun the moment the seals are broke & bring him in for Great Damadgus Besedes Recovering the 15200 Livers I Lost on the sale of the luggar— I have No other Securaty to offer...
4To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 27 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I recved your favour where you Desire to see the Dee [Deed] of my land my Attorney has made A report to Parlement that I left the Deed in the Notarys Hands for Securety of Dotuns therefore it is out of my power my Attorney Sais to withdraw my deed untill the warrent is broke But if your Exelency will do your self the Pain to send Some Person to see the...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 27 September 1781 [i.e., 28 September 1781] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I recved your favour of yesterday and am very much in dsposed at Present you menchen in your letter that you would go to the Notary but as I have allready Geving it to Dotun for Securety it would be of No us as I only put it in to the hand of the Notary to Convince Dotun that it was my Intenshion to Deal Honourably with him it is Not menchened in the...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 29 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr Fox Called on me he Sais in behalf of your Exelency to Inform me that you thought it much the best to sittle with Dotun, this is what I proposed to him As soon As he Arested me, On the same terms you Menchen—But He Knowing the profit he has gained on the Purchas will Not— my Attorney Informs me that He is Very Sure that Dotun will sittle with me for...
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 1 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania In consequence of the report of my Interpreter I found my self under the Nesesity to make A propesetion to Dotun wich is to Give him the tract of land for his securety untill he can Asertain the defecancy if there be Aney. Your Exelency will be So Oblidging to Inform Mr Dotun about the Land As you Know the tittle is Good for wich I shall Greatfully...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 4 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr Dotun calld upon me and has made a propesetion—that He would buy the Hole trackt of land On condetions that Your Exelency will Give him a Certefacte that he bought the land of me At Paris That in case of deth he May Not meet with Aney deficcultes in Obtainning it in America After proving his deed— I Hope your Exelency will Not refuse him the...
9To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 7 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr DAutun Call’d upon me to settle this Afair with me but Has Ocation for some money As he has Expended a large sum— it is imposible to finnish if I do Not Give him some Money or bills for one half Of the Defesinsis & Expences Attending this Matter— Thererfore I hope your Exelency will Not refuse to indorse my bills in Order to finnish this unhappy...
10To Benjamin Franklin from John Shaffer, 9 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania This will be handed to you by Mr Dotun Who has declared that it was in consequence of the declearaton of Benard that in dused him to Prosacute me in the manner in wich he did, but Now is convenced of my inosance & looks upon Benard As the Villin— in consequence of this declaration I Have made this propesetion— wich is to Give him my land for securety...