To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 31 October 1781
From John Bondfield
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Bordeaux 31 8be 1781
Sir
I profit by the oppertunity of the bearer Monsieur Bory to transmit the Bond duely executed for the Commission of the Brig Mariana for which I hold my self obliged to you.5
We may flatter ourselves from the receiption Admiral Greaves met with from Comte de Grass6 of seeing the Southern States freed from the Rapatious ravages of a cruel Enemy.
Permit me to introduce the bearer Monsr Bory to your Civilities his connections are of consideration in this province and his Brothers conected in sundry fabricks of Goods much wanted in America.7
With respect I have the Honor to be Sir Your most Obed Humble Servant
John Bondfield
Notation: Bondfield. John. Bordeaux 31. 8bre. 1781.
5. On Oct. 18 BF had sent a commission for the ship that Bondfield on Oct. 4 had requested be called the Mariana. Tucker and Bondfield’s bond for 20,000 Spanish milled dollars refers to the brig by that name (APS). In L’Air de Lamotte’s hand with insertions by WTF, the bond is signed by both John Bondfield and James Tucker. It is dated Oct. 12, although BF sent it to Bondfield when he sent the commission; see our annotation of Bondfield’s letter of Oct. 4.
6. News of de Grasse’s great victory (for which see Livingston’s Oct. 20 letter) had reached BF a week earlier; see his Oct. 23 letter to WTF.
7. Bondfield had introduced him (or one of this brothers) to BF two years earlier: XXVIII, 549.