To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Bancroft, [September 1778]
From Edward Bancroft
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Chaillot Tuesday Evening [September, 1778]1
Dear Sir
Inclosed I take the Liberty of sending you a Letter from Capt. Jones at Brest, and an English News Paper with an Extract of a Letter from London. These contain all the News I have recd. from that Quarter excepting that Mr. Walpole says he is informed that the British Ministry discouraged at their Prospects in America, think seriously of giving up their Claim of Dominion over that Country [and] of applying to you, to state Terms of Peace. I am very sorry that my Lameness prevents me from personally assuring you of the respectful Devotion with which I have the honor to be Dear Sir Your most Obliged and faithful Humble Servant
Edwd. Bancroft
After reading the News Paper be pleased to give it to Mr. Adams with my Compliments.
P.S. Mr. Coffin desires me to inform the Commissioners that the three Americans who had escaped from England and embarked for St. Maloes as mentioned in his Letter of [the 24th?] have since been taken & sent into Dover.
Notation: Dr Bancroft
1. Dated on the basis of Bancroft’s illness, which seems to have started around the beginning of September. He had been confined to his room for three weeks, Bancroft wrote Jones on Sept. 23; he apologized for not answering mail, but assured Jones that everything intended for BF had been forwarded. By early October he was completely recovered: WTF to Jones, Oct. 6. Both letters are in the National Archives.