To Benjamin Franklin from Matthew Ridley, [5 February 1783]
From Matthew Ridley
AL: American Philosophical Society
Rue de Clery Wednesday Morning [February 5, 1783]9
Mr. Ridley presents his Respects to His Excellency Dr. Franklin & informs him that he is going for Nantes today & will take charge of anything for Mr Williams or others that his Excellency will have to send. Mr Ridley does not know that a pass is necessary but will be thanful for one in case it should be asked for.
Mr. Ridley will with Mr Hunt1 have the honor of waiting on His Excellency at dinner on Monday next.
Addressed: His Excellency / B Franklin Esqr. / Passy
9. The day Ridley told Thomas Barclay that he planned to leave for Nantes: Ridley to Barclay, Feb. 4, 1783 (Mass. Hist. Soc.). At the end of the present letter Ridley alludes to BF’s dinner invitation for the following Monday. BF did entertain on Monday, Feb. 10. Anne Ridley attended that dinner, though her husband, delayed in Nantes while waiting for Barclay to arrive, was unable to accompany her. Ridley and Barclay returned to Paris together around Feb. 18: Anne Ridley to Matthew Ridley, Feb. 13, 1783; Ridley to French & Nephew, Feb. 19, 1783 (both at the Mass. Hist. Soc.). Our thanks to Priscilla Roberts for providing us with information from all three letters.
1. John Hunt, a cousin of Ridley’s wife, Anne, had obtained a passport from BF to return to England at the beginning of 1782. He was back in Paris by mid-December: XXVIII, 248; XXXVI, 378; Matthew Ridley’s Journal, entries of Dec. 7 and 13, 1782 (Mass. Hist. Soc.).