him of my very great and sincere respect, and tell him, that all the old Generals here amuse themselves in studying the accounts of his operations, and approve highly of his conduct. Present my affectionate regards to all friends that inquire after me, particularly Mr. Duffield and family, and write oftener, my dear child, to your loving father, B. FRANKLIN. 1019. TO FRANCIS HOPKINSON (D. S. W.) Passy, June 4, 1779. DEAR FRIEND: -I received your kind Letter of the 22d October last, which gave me great Pleasure, as it informed me of your Welfare, and of your appointment to the honourable Office of Treasurer of Loans. I think the Congress judg'd rightly in their Choice, and Exactness in accounts and scrupulous fidelity in matters of Trust are Qualities for which your father was eminent, and which I was persuaded was inherited by his Son when I took the liberty of naming him one of the Executors of my Will, a Liberty which I hope you will excuse. I am sorry for the Losses you have suffered by the Goths and Vandals,' but hope it will be made up to you by the good Providence of God and the Good Will of your country, to whom your Pen has occasionally been of Service. 1 In his letter of October 22, 1779 (A. P. S.) Hopkinson wrote: "I have suffered much by the invasion of the Goths and Vandals. I was obliged to fly from my house at Borden Town with my Family & leave all my effects in statu quo; the Savages plundered me to their Heart's Content-but I do not repine as I really esteem it an honour to have suffered in my Country's Cause & in support of the Rights of human Nature & of Civil Society." — ED. I am glad the Enemy have left something of my Gimcrackery that is capable of affording you pleasure. You are therefore very welcome to the use of my Electrical and Pneumatic Machines as long as you think proper.1 I inclose you a little Piece or two of Oxford wit,2 which I lately received, hoping they may afford you a few minutes' Amusement. Present my respects to your good Mother and Sisters, and believe me ever, my dear friend, your most affectionate, B. FRANKLIN. P. S.- Permit me to recommend the new Minister, M. le Chevalier de Luzerne, to your Civilities, as a Gentleman of most amiable Character here, and a hearty friend of the American Cause. If you can in any respect be serviceable to him, you will much oblige me. I020. TO WILLIAM GREENE (D. S. W.) DEAR SIR, Passy, June 4, 1779. I received your kind Letter of Dec. 10, with the Bills of Exchange for Two hundred and Sixteen Dollars, with the 1 Hopkinson had borrowed from Mr. Bache the portable electrical apparatus and a little air pump belonging to Franklin. "N. B. Your gimcracks have suffered much by the late Usurpers of our city.” — ED. 2 In reply Hopkinson wrote, September 5, 1779 (A. P. S.): “I thank you for the little Piece of Oxford Wit. . . . In return for your rocket I send you a few of my political squibs. Ammunition of this kind hath been rather scarce with us. Most of our writers have left the great field of general politics wherein they might have been of considerable service to skirmish & bushfight in the fens & thickets of Party Disputes for which I blame them much." - ED. & Governor of Rhode Island (1778-1786). Letter undated by Sparks and Bigelow. - ED. List of Goods you would have in return. As I live far from any SeaPort, and am unacquainted with Merchandise, I sent the Bills with your Orders directly to my Nephew at Nantes, who will, I doubt not, accomplish it to your Satisfaction. I shall be glad of any Opportunity of being serviceable to your Son-in-Law,' both for your Sake and his Father's. Your Letter, with the first Set of the Bills, did not come to hand which I regret the more, as by that means I have lost Mrs. Greene's Letter, which you tell me was inclos'd. Present my affectionate Respects to her; and my Love, with that of my Grandson, to honest Ray; of whose Welfare I am very glad to hear, and of his Progress in his Learning. If my Sister continues under your hospitable Roof, let her know, that I hope to receive hers of the 7th that you mention, I have not time now to write to her, but will by the next Opportunity; and that I am well, & love her as well as ever. With great Esteem and Respect, &c. B. FRANKLIN. P. S. If the Chevalier de la Luzerne should pass through your Government, I recommend him warmly to your Civilities. He goes over to supply the place of M. Gérard, as his Most Christian Majesty's Minister to the Congress. He is a Gentleman of a most amiable Character here, has great connections, and is a hearty friend to America. 1 Major Samuel Ward (1756-1832), son of Samuel Ward, governor of Rhode Island. He was major of the First Rhode Island line. — Ed. 2 Ray Greene (1765-1849) was at this time preparing to enter Yale College. He became attorney-general of Rhode Island in 1794, and United States senator in 1797. — ED. 1021. TO THE COUNCIL OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY (D. S. W.) Passy, June 4, 1779. HONBLE GENTLEMEN:-The Commissioners at this Court receiv'd the Letters you did them the Honour of writing to them recommending the Marquis de la Fayette. I immediately sent it [sic] to be perus'd by the Ministers, who desired to have a Copy of it. He was very favourably received by his Majesty, & has had given him a Regiment of Dragoons. He retains the warmest Zeal for the American Cause and affection for the People, and has been continually moving something or other with the Ministry for the Advantage of America ever since his arrival. The Chevalier De Ramondis, too, retains the most grateful Sense of the attention paid him by your Government during his Illness under the Loss of his Arm. Several other Officers speak highly in favour of our Country on account of the Civilities they received there, which has a very Good Effect here, and evinces the Wisdom of the Conduct you are accustomed to pursue with regard to Strangers of merit. I thought it right to acquaint you with these Circumstances, and I do it with more pleasure, as it gives me an opportunity of assuring you of the great Respect with which I have the honour to be, etc., B. FRANKLIN. P.S.If the Chevalier de la Luzerne who is going to America to succeed M. Gérard as Minister from this Court, should happen to put into Boston, you will find him every way deserving of the Civilities he may receive independent VOL. VII-2A of his public Character. He is much esteemed and respected here, has great Connections, and is a hearty Friend to the Cause of Liberty & America. SIR, 1022. TO JOHN ADAMS (M. H. S.) Passy June 5, 1779 The Chevalier de la Luzerne set out yesterday for L' Orient and will be with you perhaps before this comes to hand. You will find him a very agreable sensible Man, and a hearty Friend to the Cause of America. As you may land in Boston and are not certain of going directly to Philadelphia I have put under his care my Dispatches for Congress, and request yours for those to New England. Mr Bondfield has drawn on me for 18000 Livres on account of the canon. I can not find the agreement that was made with him for that Article. If you have it and can easily get at it, be so good as to send it to me or a copy of it. M'. Schweighauser in a late account charges a Commission of 5 per cent on the simple Delivery of two Cargoes of Tobacco out of the Ship into the hands of the officer of the Farmers General, all attendding (sic) Expences separately charged; and to make the Commission rise the higher he has valued the Tobacco at 90 Livres, the Price it now sells at in the Ports and not at 40 Livres which it was to be 1 John Bondfield, merchant and United States commercial agent at Bordeaux. ED. |