From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Roberdeau, 6 March 1776
To Daniel Roberdeau9
ALS: University of Indiana Library
Wednesday March 6. 76
Dear Sir
The Congress desire a Return to be made to them of the Powder the Committee of Safety have lent them, that it may be known how much is due. I am very respectfully Dear Sir Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
A Copy of the Order for Replacing the Arms was given 2 Days since by Mr. Thomson to the Commissary Mr. Towers.1
Col. Roberdeau
Addressed: Col. Roberdeau / at the / Committee of Safety / Lodge
Endorsed: Doctr. Franklin 6th Mar: 1776
9. A prominent Philadelphia merchant who has often appeared before; see for example above, XVII, 81–90, 237–9. He served with BF on the Pa. committee of safety, and the following July was promoted to brigadier general of Pa. militia. DAB.
1. BF is writing, we assume, for the secret committee, which had been ordered by Congress in February to return to the Pa. committee of safety two tons of the powder that the latter had furnished and the arms that had been borrowed; a further order to return powder was issued on the day of BF’s note. JCC, IV, 124, 168, 187. Charles Thomson was secretary of Congress and Robert Towers commissary of the committee of safety, which on March 8 ordered him to apply for the arms and powder. Pa. Col. Recs., X, 508, 511.