To Benjamin Franklin from Princess Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova, [24 January? 1781]
From Princess Ekaterina Romanovna Dashkova
AL: American Philosophical Society
Hotel de la chine, Wednesday
Morning [January 24, 1781?]7
The Princess of Daschkaw presents her best Compliments to Dr Franklin, hopes he is well, and sends him a letter which her Daughter has received from one of her female friends for the Doctor.8 The Seal is a little damaged, but that is the case with all the letters which came to them from England this post. The Princess cannot let slip this opportunity without testifying how happy she would be if she were acquainted with the Doctor whom the Princess esteems and respects beforehand.
Addressed: a Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / à Passy.
Notation: Princess de Dasckh’aw
7. This letter may have been the catalyst for BF’s visit to the Princess’s residence on Jan. 26 (see his Journal under Dec. 18, above). Certainly it precedes her letter of Jan. 30, below, and was written before BF and Dashkova met.
8. Georgiana Shipley’s letter of Jan. 6, above.