To Benjamin Franklin from the Duc de la Rochefoucauld’s Secretary, 4 April 1779
From the Duc de la Rochefoucauld’s Secretary
AL: American Philosophical Society
ce 4 Avril [1779]8
Monsieur Franklin est supplie de vouloir bien faire dire au secretaire de Mr. Le Duc de La Rochefoucauld ladresse de M. le Chevalier de Varaigne Officier d’Artillerie;9 il à une Lettre pour luy et ne sçai ou le trouver. Il supplie aussi Monsieur franklin de vouloir bien recevoir lassurance de son respectueux hommage.
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur franklin / Ministre Plénipotentiaire / des Etats-Unis dAmerique / A Passi—
8. The duke was in Rouen; see his letter to BF of March 26.
9. Pierre-Bernard Varaigne (1751–1807) was one of the engineers who had accompanied Du Coudray to America in 1777 (see XXII, 462n; XXIII, 272–4n, 289n). He took part in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and was captured at Saratoga. He was at the head of the contingent of artillerymen and junior officers sent back to France by Congress in 1778 after it broke the contract Silas Deane had made with these men. Bodinier. See also Lasseray, Les Français, I, 101; JCC, IX, 876–7.