Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from John Bondfield, 31 October 1781

From John Bondfield

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Bordeaux 31 8be 1781

Sir

I profit by the oppertunity of the bearer Monsieur Bory to transmit the Bond duely executed for the Commission of the Brig Mariana for which I hold my self obliged to you.5

We may flatter ourselves from the receiption Admiral Greaves met with from Comte de Grass6 of seeing the Southern States freed from the Rapatious ravages of a cruel Enemy.

Permit me to introduce the bearer Monsr Bory to your Civilities his connections are of consideration in this province and his Brothers conected in sundry fabricks of Goods much wanted in America.7

With respect I have the Honor to be Sir Your most Obed Humble Servant

John Bondfield

Notation: Bondfield. John. Bordeaux 31. 8bre. 1781.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

5On Oct. 18 BF had sent a commission for the ship that Bondfield on Oct. 4 had requested be called the Mariana. Tucker and Bondfield’s bond for 20,000 Spanish milled dollars refers to the brig by that name (APS). In L’Air de Lamotte’s hand with insertions by WTF, the bond is signed by both John Bondfield and James Tucker. It is dated Oct. 12, although BF sent it to Bondfield when he sent the commission; see our annotation of Bondfield’s letter of Oct. 4.

6News of de Grasse’s great victory (for which see Livingston’s Oct. 20 letter) had reached BF a week earlier; see his Oct. 23 letter to WTF.

7Bondfield had introduced him (or one of this brothers) to BF two years earlier: XXVIII, 549.

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