200 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From The Continental Congress, Secret Committee to The American 

 Commissioners. 1777. January 9. Baltimore. 



Minute account of Gen. Washington's movements against the enemy 

 at Trenton and Princeton, and the numbers captured and slain; this 

 information gathered from a gentleman who was in the action ; supposes 

 the General has been too busy to write and waits the final issue. L. S. 

 Bcnj. Harrison, Richard Henry Lee. 2 p. V, 7. 



Printed in Hale's Franklin in France, I, 97. 



From Le Ray de Chaumont. 1777. January g. 



Can procure 200,000 pounds of East India salt-petre at 60 livres the 

 hundredweight; asks for a prompt decision. A. L. S. i p. (In 

 French.) V, 8. 



From Nathan Rumsey. 1777. January 10. Nantes. 



Jealousy between the Admiralty officers of Vannes and ]\L Guerin of 

 Auray about the latter's having ventured on such a purchase without 

 their consent, and they seem determined to give as much trouble as pos- 

 sible; hopes Franklin can prevail with the marine officers to order those 

 officers of Vannes to desist troubling M. Guerin as if these matters are 

 carried too far they may injure the sales of our prizes hereafter. A. L. 

 S. 2 p. V, 9. 



From Gloro. 1777. January 10. L'Orient. 



Asks if Franklin knows anything of one Benjamin Salter; tells of a 

 transaction he had with him at the Ascension Isles; he sold him goods 

 and received in payment two bills of exchange; one of them drawn on 

 William Carothorne in London, who is a prisoner for debt in the 

 King's Exchange prison and will say nothing to it. His desperate finan- 

 cial difficulties. A. L. S. 4 p. (In French.) V, 10. 



From de Vallenais. 1777. January 10. Paris. 



M. de Chaumont's ship, in which he was to embark, has lately set 

 sail. Several others ready to set sail in two or three weeks. Asks for 

 a letter to Mr. Grouet so that he may treat with him for their passage 

 on them to America ; will take a relation along with him ; their 

 intention not only to get in the American service, but to settle for life 

 in that free country. A. L. S. 3 p. V, 11. 



