From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-François Tolozan, 19 November 1781
To Jean-François Tolozan4
AL (draft) and copy:5 Library of Congress
Passy, Nov. 19. 1781
Sir
Mr Andrews, an American Merchant, informs me, that he has an Affair of Consequence, which is to be determined by your Judgement: And as he has long been detain’d here for want of his Papers which are but lately arrived, and a farther Detention from his Family & Business in America, will be extreamly prejudicial to him, he has desired of me to request your Attention to his Cause as early as may be consistent with the Rules of Proceeding at your Tribunal.6 Your Goodness in complying with this Request will be of great Service to an honest Man, and very much oblige me. I am, with Respect, Sir
M. de Tolozan
4. An intendant du commerce and member of the Conseil des Prises: Almanach royal for 1781, pp. 212, 217; Michel Antoine, comp., Le Gouvernement et l’administration sous Louis XV: Dictionnaire biographique (Paris, 1978), p. 238.
5. L’Air de Lamotte noted on the letterbook copy (which was in English) that the letter was sent in French.
6. Samuel Andrews came to Paris in early October, 1780, to protest the condemnation in Martinique of a ship of which he was part owner that had been taken by a French privateer. While waiting for his papers to arrive from St. Eustatius he became friendly with WTF: XXXIII, 341, 379; Samuel Andrews’ undated memoir (APS); Andrews to WTF, Nov. 25, 1781 (APS).