To Benjamin Franklin from Benyowzky, 24 December 1781
From Benyowzky
ALS: American Philosophical Society
a Passy le 24. Xbre. 1781 au soir/.
Excellence.
Le Comte de Benyowzky a l’honeur, de Lui envoier la premie partie de son memoir en Francois et le Journal de son voyage de Kamtsattka il souhaite que la Lecture Soit agreable; Le Comte de Benjowzky, aura ensuitte encore l’honneur, de Comuniquer a Son Excellence, la suitte de son memoir, et son journal de Madagascar.7
Il prie encore Son Excellence de vouloir bien Lui donner un jour quand il poura avoir l’honeur de Lui presenter Md. la Comtesse de Benyowzky sa femme;8
De votre Excellence le tres humble & tres Obeissant serviteur
Le Comte DE Benyowzky
Notation: le Comte Beniousky Decr. 24. 1781
7. The work was eventually translated and edited by William Nicholson as Memoirs and Travels of Mauritius Augustus Count de Benyowsky; Magnate of the Kingdoms of Hungary and Poland, one of the Chiefs of the Confederation of Poland, &c, &c … (London, 1790). For a description of the manuscript, now in the British Library, and a critical assessment of the autobiographical detail see the introduction by Captain S. Pasfield Oliver to the London edition of 1904. For BF’s earlier interest in the exploration of Siberia see Eufrosina Dvoichenko-Markov, “Benjamin Franklin and Count M. A. Benyowski,” APS Proc., XCIX (1955), 408–10.
8. Benyowzky and his wife Susanna Henska called on BF at Passy on Jan. 2, 1782: BF’s journal, under Jan. 1, below. They were married in 1768: Benyowzky, Memoirs and Travels …, I, 4; DBF under Benyowski; Eufrosina Dvoichenko-Markov, “Franklin and Benyowski,” p. 405.