Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, 5 September 1781

From Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Phila. Sepr. 5th. 1781

Dear Sir

This Letter will be delivered to you by Coll. Dubuysson, an Officer of distinguished Merit and who has bled freely in the cause of America and wishes to return to it.2 I shall be obliged to you for your friendship and Attention to him.

Enclosed you have a Letter from me to your old friend & acquaintance Governer Sharpe,3 which I beg you will Seal and forward to him as soon as possible: His Interest is much concerned by the information it contains.

I have the honor to be with the highest Sentiments of esteem & respect. Dear Sir Your most Obedient Servant,

Dan. OF S Thos Jenifer

Addressed: His Excellency / Docr. Benjamin Franklin / Minister Plenipoteny at the Court of Verseilles / from the United States of America

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2Charles-François, chevalier (later vicomte) Dubuysson des Aix (1752–1786), badly wounded at the Battle of Camden, became a correspondent of BF’s upon his return to France. He was unable to rejoin the American army and eventually died in France of his wounds: Bodinier, Dictionnaire, p. 154.

3BF appears to have first met Horatio Sharpe on April 22, 1755, at Ft. Frederick, Md., where they both were assisting Gen. Braddock: VI, 13–15; Lady Edgar, A Colonial Governor in Maryland: Horatio Sharpe and His Times 1753–1773 (London, New York, Bombay, 1912), p. 45. BF’s relationship with the governor seems to have been frequently rather cool: VIII, 162–8; IX, 391n; XI, 108n. Sharpe presently was in London: DAB.

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