244 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From The Continental Congress, Committee of Foreign Affairs, to 

 The American Commissioners. 1777. May 9. Philadelphia. 



A fast sailing frigate to be purchased in Europe and assigned for 

 command to the bearer of this message, Captain John Paul Jones. L. S. 

 Robert Morris et al. 3 p. (Copy.) LIII, 40. 



Printed in Diplom. Corres., Wharton, II, 317. 



From Lt.-Colonel Duparquet. 1777. May 10. St. Esprit. 



Request to enter American army. A. L. S. 2 p. (In French.) 



LXII, 37. 

 From Paulze. 1777. May 10. Bercy. 



Encloses a copy of a letter which he received, signed by Mr. Lee; 

 refrains from answering it until Franklin verifies the signature; sent a 

 copy of it to Comte de Vergennes, and begged him to take such pre- 

 cautions as the circumstance appeared to warrant. L. S. i p. (In 

 French.) VI, 14. 



From Goueslard de Champigny. 1777. May 13. Coutances. 



Had to leave Paris hurriedly on urgent private business. Requests 

 Franklin to communicate with him through M. Dudouit. A. L. S. 

 I p. (In French.) LX, 99. 



From Pliarne. 1777. May 13. Charlestown, S. C. 



Heard with pleasure of his arrival in France, as did all the true lovers 

 of America. Arrival of vessels from France with dry goods and ammuni- 

 tion raised the spirits of the people and encouraged recruiting for the 

 army. Many men enlisting with Washington; was at his headquarters 

 in March, then he was not strong, but upon the way home he met several 

 thousand men going to the camp from Virginia, Maryland and North 

 Carolina. No important motion in the army of Howe, but six or 

 seven men-of-war with some transports were in Delaware Bay on 

 April 16. In Philadelphia they were much disposed to defend the city. 

 Begs Franklin to continue his friendship for their house; uncertain 

 value of money m^kes speculation in trade dangerous. A. L. S. 3 p. 



VI, 15. 



From O'Meara. 1777. May 14. St. Martin, He de Re. 



His great desire to serve the American cause ; if Franklin is pleased to 

 give him any encouragement he will throw up his commission in France 

 and set out immediately for the Congress. A. L. S. 2 p. VI, 16. 



