From Benjamin Franklin to Stephen Marchant, 14 March 1779
To Stephen Marchant7
Copy: Library of Congress
Passy. March. 14. 1779
Sir
I recd. yours of the 27th of february requesting a Commission.8 I had before written to M. Demont d’hyver,9 that it was not in my Power to grant his Request untill I had recd. fresh Orders from Congress.
But as it is easy for that Gentleman now in Time of War to obtain a Commission for you from the Admiralty of France, I wish you would explain to me why you desire rather an American one.1 I am Sir, your humble servt.
BF.
Capt. Steph. Marchant
7. A prospective privateer captain; see Taverne Demont Dhiver’s letter of March 10.
8. XXVIII, 627.
9. On Feb. 28: XXVIII, 628.
1. Such a commission could provide better protection for the crew if captured; Marchant eventually manned his privateer with a number of Irish smugglers, who could more easily pass as Americans than as Frenchmen: William B. Clark, Ben Franklin’s Privateers, pp. 24, 28–9, 93–4.