To Benjamin Franklin from Elkanah Watson, Jr., 21 July 1783
From Elkanah Watson, Jr.
LS: American Philosophical Society
London2 21st. July 1783
Sir
I beg leave to crave the Liberty of introduceing to your acquaintance Griffin Green Esqr. who has lately arrivd from America, & is nearly related to that Ilustrious Character Genl: Green—3 The respectibility of this Gentlemans character together with the information you may collect from him respecting the present state of affairs in America, will I presume sufficiently plead my excuse for the Liberty I have taken.—
I am, most respectfully Your Excellencys, Very hhble Servt
E. Watson Jr.
His Excellency Doctor Franklin Passy
Addressed: His Excellency Dtor. Franklin— / Passy
Notation: Watson 21 Juillet 1783
2. In a July 11 letter to WTF, Watson gave his return address as Watson, Coussoul & Co., No. 2 Billiter Square. He needed WTF’s help with two commissions, asking him to procure an elegant miniature of BF for the bracelet of “one of the most accomplish’d Lady’s in the City,” made to the dimensions he sketched, and to send a “handsome watch” for another lady. APS.
3. Griffin Greene (1749–1804) was the first cousin of Gen. Nathanael Greene. He sailed from Newport for France on the brigantine Minerva on May 21 and remained in Europe until 1785: Richard K. Showman et al., eds., The Papers of General Nathanael Greene (13 vols., Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–2005), I, 107n; XII, 677–8; XIII, 132–3.