To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Pettit, 29 January 1783
From Charles Pettit5
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Philadelphia 29th. Jany. 1783
Sir,
Presuming on some Degree of personal Acquaintance and the Respect I have long entertained for your Character, I take the Liberty of recommending to your Notice my Son, Andrew Pettit, who will have the Honor to present this Letter.6 As a Citizen of the United States I doubt not he would receive your Countenance and Protection, and I flatter myself that neither his own Conduct nor the Circumstances of his Introduction will diminish his Claim to your favorable Notice and friendly Advice.
I have the Honor to be with perfect Respect, Sir Your most Obedient & most humble Servant
Chas. Pettit
His Excellency Dr. Franklin
Notation: Petitt 26 Janvr. 1783
5. Pettit (XXII, 552n) had returned to private life after serving as assistant quartermaster general of the American army: ANB.
6. His son Andrew, who had served as an aide to Joseph Reed, was preparing to leave for Amsterdam on the Congress, which finally sailed on March 23: Richard K. Showman et al., eds., The Papers of General Nathanael Greene (13 vols. to date, Chapel Hill, N.C., 1976–), VI, 227n; XII, 424–5, 569. In later life Andrew became a merchant and insurance executive: DAB, under his son Thomas.