To Thomas Jefferson from William Temple Franklin, 26 March 1786
From William Temple Franklin
Philadelphia, 26th. March 1786.
Dear Sir
Mr. Mumford the Bearer of this, being very ambitious of paying his Respects to your Excellency in his Way through Paris, From a very sincere Regard for him, and a persuasion that you will not take it amiss, I have given him this Letter. He formerly lived in our house at Passy, and acted as Assistant Secretary in the Office; But having since turn’d his Views to Commerce, he is now connected with a Merchant in your State, and sails thence as supercargo of a Vessel laden with Tobacco and bound to Bordeaux. I beg leave to recommend him to those Civilities and Attentions you have a Pleasure in affording to your deserving Countrymen.
With sincere Esteem & Affection, I have the honor to be Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servant,
W.T. Franklin
P.S. My best Compliments to the Gentlemen in your Family.
RC (DLC: Franklin Papers); endorsed by TJ with his left hand and therefore received after 18 Sep. 1786. Not recorded in SJL. Mr. Mumford: Gurdon S. Mumford of Connecticut (David Mumford to Benjamin Franklin, Hartford, 13 Mch. 1781, thanking him for admitting his son into his family; Jonathan Williams, Jr. to William Temple Franklin, Nantes, 5 Jan. 1782, making arrangements for taking Gurdon S. Mumford into his counting house; PPAP).