To Benjamin Franklin from Baron von Grimm, 28 February 1785
From Baron von Grimm
AL: American Philosophical Society
à Paris, ce 28 Février 1785.
Le Bon. de Grimm, Ministre Plénipe. de Saxe Gotha, prend la liberté de recommander aux bontés de Monsieur Franklin les porteurs de ce billet, M. Landolt de Zurich et Son Mentor, M. le Chanoine Neckerman de Coblence.6 Ces deux voyageurs ne peuvent Se résoudre à quiter la France, Sans avoir rendu leurs hommages à Monsieur Franklin. Le Bon. de Grimm Supplie Monsieur Franklin d’agréer les Siens, et de lui pardoner l’importunité qu’il lui cause, en faveur du juste motif de ces voyageurs.7
Notation: Bn de Grimm 28 Feb 1785
6. The 21-year-old Johann Heinrich Landolt, son of a former mayor of Zurich, made a grand tour of Europe between 1782 and 1786. He stayed in Paris from January to June, 1785. His travel companion was Canon Georg Josef Neckermann. For biographical information on both men see Robert L. Kahn, “Franklin, Grimm, and J. H. Landolt,” APS Proc., XCIX (1955), 401–4.
7. The travelers had solicited this introduction from Grimm’s secretary on Feb. 26. They visited Passy on March 5, as Landolt recorded in his travel journal: “This venerable old man, with his white short hair, is tall and strong by nature. He wears a simple coat and always wears glasses; his nose is somewhat longer than is shown in the engraving, which is otherwise a good likeness. He received us by his fireside wearing black cardboard boots [Pappendeckelstiefeln] tied to his legs. In general, he does not mind receiving visits from foreigners. He speaks a bad English French, but does not talk much and likes to steer the conversation to his country. He showed us German periodicals in folio, which are published in Philadelphia and which are at the same time newspapers [Intelligenzblätter]. … According to Franklin, the Americans no longer want to spend money to attract colonists; whoever comes voluntarily is welcome and can get as much land as he wishes for very little money.” Kahn, “Franklin, Grimm, and J. H. Landolt,” pp. 403–4, where the entry is quoted in the original German.