To Benjamin Franklin from Michael Comyn, 1 July 1778
From Michael Comyn7
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Marseille 1. July 1778.
Sir
The Treaty of Friendship and Commerce happily concluded between the United States of America and France, rendering indispensable the Establishment of Consuls in the different Ports of this Kingdom for the Security and Advantage of the American Traders, I humbly take the liberty to offer my Services in this Capacity for the City of Marseille, and to request the favour of your Protection and recommendation to the Congress.
Altho’ I am a Native of Ireland, having constantly resided in France since the Age of Sixteen Years, and most of my Family being Established in this Country, I am perfectly Naturalized to it, and by twenty Years employment in Trade, have Acquired every Necessary Experience with respect to Commercial Matters; these Circumstances added to a competent knowledge of the English and French Tongues, and the Protection of his Ex[cellency] Le Baron de breteuil, the French Ambassador at Vienna with which I am honoured, induce me to hope for a preference; however I rely much less on these Motives, than on the Constant Zeal and Attachment which I have Manifested to America since the Commencement of the War in which it is at present Engaged. I reflect with pleasure on my having been instrumental in procuring for the Continental Army some Officers of distinguished Merit, particularly Count Pataski, who being totally ignorant where to Apply, I inclosed his Letters to Mr. Dean at Paris; these Letters, also those Written to Mr. Dean by Mr. Le Chevalier De la Baume and others, with the offers I then made him,8 are evident prooffs of my Zeal for the Service of America at a time when the fate of that Country appeared very Uncertain. I could mention many Occasions wherein I have displayed my Attachment to the Americans, but shall pass them over to Avoid incroaching too much on your time. If I be so fortunate as to succeed in my request, my constant attention shall be to prove that I am not Unworthy of it, by fulfilling the Duty of Consul with the Utmost integrity and the most Zealous attention to the Interests of the American Traders. I should certainly feel infinite satisfaction in being employed in the service of a brave and free People, but how greatly would this satisfaction be Augmented, could I Add the pleasing reflection of having Acquired it thro’ the favour and Protection of a Person, as Universally as justly Admired, in the double Capacity of the Philosopher and statesman! I have the honour to be with great truth and respect Sir Your most humble and Devoted servant,
Michl. Comyn
Endorsed: Michael Comyn Application for Consul at Marseilles
7. All we know about his background is the little revealed here, but his campaign for the consulship at Marseilles is abundantly documented. It began, as far as we know, a month earlier in Vienna, where a relative of his with the same name (which he spelled Comÿn) was first secretary of the French embassy. Comÿn was acquainted with Ferdinand Grand, the commissioners’ Parisian banker, and wrote him on June 3 to recommend his kinsman in Marseilles, who had been instrumental in getting Count Pulaski and the chevalier de la Baume to the U.S. (Pulaski, occasionally confused with Count Potocki under various spellings, appears throughout their correspondence.) Comÿn added that he had given a memorandum on the matter to William Lee, who had promised to send it to Congress with his own recommendation. With that letter Grand received another of the same date and to the same effect, written by Comÿn but signed by his ambassador, the baron de Breteuil. Next, Michael Comyn, writing from Marseilles, sent the present letter enclosed in one of July 1 to Grand, which said much the same thing. Grand’s reply of the 8th, now missing, was acknowledged by Comyn on the 17th, when he thanked the banker for his support and furnished him a memorandum to Congress that he wanted the commissioners to sign. On the 22nd Comÿn sent Grand his acknowledgment from Vienna, and mentioned that Arthur Lee supported his brother in the application. At some point a M. Dunois, apparently a Marseillais friend of the applicant, wrote BF to add his own good word and to enclose his appeal to Count “Potocki” to make representations to Congress. On August 14 Michael Comyn warned Grand that competition was developing and urged him to work against it. The last extant communication in the series is another from Comyn, undated but addressed to BF as U.S. minister and hence probably in or after 1779, to solicit him once more. All these letters are in the APS.
8. For the two officers see XXIII, 419; XXIV, 445. We know nothing about Comyn’s role.