To Benjamin Franklin from Becker & Saltzmann, 20 April 1779
From Becker & Saltzmann
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Berlin cè 20me. d’Avrile 1779.
Monsieur!
Pandant la Guerre en Allemagne, qui heuresement vient d’estre finie,3 nous avons fait Speculation pour livrer des Uniformes a une partie de l’Armée de notre Souverain, de laquelle nous restent environ quatre mille Uniformes, ne pouvant plus les emploÿer, l’Idé nous est venue, d’envoÿer une Uniforme Complette a Votre Exellençe pour Vous offrir le tout ensemble pour l’Armée en Amerique, en esperant d’autant plus de reuissir, que nous avons deja expedier d’icÿ, il ÿ a deuxs Ans deux mille pieçes de Draps en diverses Coulleurs, principalement en brun et bleu.4
Sur la Notte cÿ incluse Votre Exellençe trouvera le dernier prix de jaque Article livré icÿ dans un Vaisseaux pour estre transporté a Hambourg.5 Nous souhaitons ardemment que Votre Excellençe voudra daigner de faire quelque Reflection la dessus, et nous donner des Ordres en Consequençe, et en meme temp de nous pardonner notre hardiesse, de nous Addresser directement a Votre Excellence.
Nous sommes avec la plus parfaite Veneration de Votre Excellence. Les tres hles. et tres obeissts. Serviteurs
Becker & Saltzmann
Marchands.
Notation: Becker Baltzman 20 avril 1779.—6
3. The war between Austria and Prussia; the peace agreement at Teschen was not actually signed, however, until May 13.
4. The Prussian army like the American was predominantly clad in blue uniforms: Christopher Duffy, The Military Experience in the Age of Reason (New York and London, 1987), p. 309. A packet containing a complete uniform was forwarded from Strasbourg by the merchant firm of Franck frères (for which see Almanach des Marchands, p. 460.) On May 11 they informed BF the packet had been placed on a diligence (public stagecoach) and asked him to reimburse the driver £12 (12 l.t.?). APS.
5. The two enclosed lists included prices for cloth, uniforms, shoes, boots, and fusils.
6. On July 3 and July 23 they reiterated their offer and asked BF if he had received the packet (APS). The former letter gives more details about the packet. It was initially shipped via the widow Ohlenschlager at Frankfurt and contained a coat, some pants and shirts, and a campaign hat. There are two slightly different versions of the July 23 letter; one enclosed a copy of one of the price lists, while the other included copies of the firm’s April 20 and July 3 letters. BF eventually received the packet and, although he did not place an order, advised the firm to deal directly with the American states; see his letters of Aug. 1 and Sept. 10 (Library of Congress).