To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac-Jean-Georges-Jonas Grand, [December? 1777]
From Isaac-Jean-Georges-Jonas Grand
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Friday Morning [December, 1777?8]
George Grand’s most respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklin and many thanks for the Book he was so good as to send him. The dinner appointed at the Chancellor Abbé de Breteuil9 is for Monday next at two o Clock precisely and at his own house rue st. honoré près de l’assomption. Mr. Grand desires the Dr. not to forget the paper he has left him yesterday and to Settle with his Collegues, Mr. Boux’ affair.
Addressed: To / the Honble. Dr Franklin / Passy
Notation: Sr G Grand
8. Our guess is based on two clues. One is the book, which we believe was the same one that BF gave to the duchesse de Deux-Ponts in December (see the note on her letter of Dec. 31, above); he seems to have been using it as a seasonal gift. The other is based on the reference at the end to settling “Mr. Boux’ affair.” The frigate that he had been building in the Netherlands, the Indien, had been sold to the French government, as the commissioners reported to the committee for foreign affairs on Nov. 30; but Boux was still owed money, and received over 6,000 l.t. in December: Deane Papers, III, 26. We know from Arthur Lee that Georges Grand was in Paris that month: Lee, Life of Arthur Lee, I, 358.
9. Elisabeth-Théodose Le Tonnelier de Breteuil was the chancellor of the duc d’Orléans: Dictionnaire de la noblesse, XIX, 37.