From Benjamin Franklin to Castries, 28 January 1781
To Castries
LS:6 American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress
Passy, Jan. 28. 1781.
Sir,
Mr: Dana, late7 a Member of Congress, who will have the Honour of delivering this Line to your Excellency, desires to lay before you some Papers, relative to the Indemnification which his Majesty has had the Goodness to intend for the American Brigantine Fairplay,8 unhappily sunk by a Fort at Guadaloupe; to which Papers I request your Excellency would be pleased to afford a favourable Attention. I am with Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servant
B Franklin
His Excellency M. le Marquis De Castries
6. In L’Air de Lamotte’s hand.
7. This word was interlined. Dana was elected to Congress in November, 1776, and again in December, 1777: Smith, Letters, VIII, xix.
8. On Jan. 11, BF had given Dana papers relating to the vessel; see the entry of that date in BF’s journal (above, under Dec. 18).