Letters to Benjamin Franklin 189 



From The Continental Congress, Committee on Secret Corre- 

 spondence to The American Commissioners. 

 1776. October 24. Philadelphia. 



The ship of war, called the Reprisal, has been allotted to carry Dr. 

 Franklin to the port of Nantes; the Reprisal is then destined to proceed 

 against their enemies, and send any. prizes captured to the ports of 

 France; therefore asks Commissioners to make immediate application to 

 the Court of France to grant the protection of their ports to American 

 men-of-war and their prizes; if this application is crowned with suc- 

 cess, he must then obtain leave to make sale of certain parts of those 

 prizes; directions in case these requests are granted, also in case they 

 are not. Recommends Captain Wickes of the Reprisal as a worthy 

 man; he will treat prisoners with humanity and do honor to his ap- 

 pointment. A. L. S. Rob[er]t Morris, Richard Henry Lee, Jno. 

 Witherspoon, Will. Hooper. 4 p. IV, 118. 



From J. Ingen Housz. 1776. November 15. Vienna. 



Shocked that America has become the seat of horror and bloodshed, 

 a country destined for the abode of tranquility and the asylum for the 

 persecuted. Finds himself often obliged to defend Franklin before per- 

 sons who ascribe to him, in a great measure, this unhappy contest. Begs 

 Franklin to let him hear some news of him. Dr. Priestley's second vol- 

 ume on air is full of new matter and opens a large field to philosophers. 

 Describes in detail the new electrical machine by one Volta, over which 

 there is much discussion. Announces his marriage to a Dutch lady only 

 five years younger than himself. Hopes Franklin may be the means 

 of bringing to an end this bloody contest. A. L. S. 3 p. IV, 119. 



From Jean Frangois Ubetius. 1776. December 10. Turin. 



Almost seven years since he had the pleasure of meeting Franklin in 

 London at the Cafe Smyrna; Recommending a young man of Milan, 

 who is inflamed with zeal for the cause of liberty; any attention shown 

 him will oblige the Rev. Pere Beccaria. Would like much to see 

 Franklin again and to pass the rest of his days in America, but the sea- 

 trip is extremely disagreeable to him. A. L. S. 2 p. (In French.) 



IV, 120. 



