Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Collins, 28 September 1780

From Thomas Collins7

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Hotel De York 28 Septr 1780

Sir

I am fearfull, that my very honorable Friend, Sir Edward Newenham Inserted my Sons name, in place of mine, (thro’ mistake,) therefore hope, you will be so kind as to forgive my acquainting you therewith; I have the honor of being with the greatest respect Sir Your most Obedient and most Humble servant8

Thoms Collins

Notation: Thom. Collin 28. 7bre. 1780

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7Newenham apparently had mistaken the first name; see his letter of introduction for John Collins, Sept. 9. See also BF to Sartine, Oct. 4, and Sartine to BF, Oct. 7.

8Collins on Sept. 30 signed three documents pertaining to his proposed emigration from Ireland. One is an oath (in WTF’s hand and signed by BF) that renounces allegiance to George III and promises to “support maintain & defend” the U.S. against him. The other two (in L’Air de Lamotte’s hand with insertions by WTF and signed by both of them) are bonds in the amount of $2,000 for each of two ships, the brig Lord Charlemont, 100 tons, and the Newenham, 60 tons. A fourth document is a passport (undated, and in WTF’s hand) for some natives of Ireland who have expressed a desire to settle in the U.S. They are traveling on the Newenham, bound from Dublin with a cargo of salt, silk, haberdashery, coarse linens, and woolens. A blank, not filled in, is provided for the names of the proposed settlers. A separate piece of paper, in WTF’s hand, gives the weight, cargo, and number of travelers for each vessel (three on the Newenham and five on the Lord Charlemont). All of these documents are at the APS.

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