Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-30-02-0154

From Benjamin Franklin to Gérard de Rayneval, 10 August 1779

To Gérard de Rayneval

LS:7 Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress

Passy Augt. 10. 1779.

Sir,

The foregoing are the Articles requested by the States of Maryland & Virginia.8 If to these could be added Cloth, Linnen, Stockings, Shoes, & Hats for clothing 20.000 Men, and also ten thousand more Fusils, the whole addressed to the Congress,9 I am certain it would be a very seasonable & necessary Supply, as private Merchants have been lately discouraged from adventuring to send Cargoes of such Goods, by the numerous Losses of their Effects in going & returning, and I am not able to fulfil the Orders of Congress for want of Money. I have the honour to be, sir; Your most obedt. & most humble Sert.

B Franklin

M. Gerard de Raynevalle.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7In WTF’s hand.

8The foregoing virtually duplicated the list BF had sent Vergennes three months earlier and consolidated the Virginia and Maryland requests: XXIX, 416–17. For the background to them see BF’s covering letter: XXIX, 415–16.

9BF had strongly criticized the requests of individual states to France for “great Quantities of Arms, Ammunition & Clothing” and recommended that such requests be channeled through Congress: XXIX, 557.

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