Letters to Benjamin Franklin 261 



From Duplessis. 1777. June 27. Hennebont. 



Concerning the copy of a letter in the Leyden Gazette purporting to 

 be from " Le Sieur Mauduit Duplessis " to his brother at I'Orient. 

 Assures him that the letter is a fraud, and that the person who wrote it 

 evidently does not know " le Sieur Mauduit Duplessis," whose corre- 

 spondents are not in the habit of publishing his letters. A. L. S. i p. 

 (In French.) VI, 82. 



Frojn ■W[illiam] Lee. 1777, June 27. Frankfort. 



Denying the report that a contract had been made with a French firm 

 for arms and ammunition, on account of the State of Virginia, and again 

 requests him to endeavor to procure the same from the French Ministry. 

 A. L. S. 3 P- LXI, 29. 



FroT7i J. Ingen Housz. 1777. June 28. Tissingen. 



Still on the estate of the Prince de la Tour et Tassis, whose two sons 

 he has successfully inoculated. His intention to go to Amsterdam, 

 thence to London and finally to Paris, once more to enjoy Franklin's 

 society. His opinion of the present war; his hopes of an ultimate 

 reunion of the two countries. Franklin's greatness as a philosopher; 

 hears that the Emperor called upon him. Gives him directions for the 

 safe conduct of any letters he may wish delivered in England. A. L. 

 S. 3 p. VI, 83. 



From Gautier fils. 1777. June 28. Au Cap [Haytien?]. 



The drafts of M. Ceronio have been accepted and paid. Capture of 

 the ship " Le Meulan," commanded by Captain L'Aguehay; Franklin's 

 packet discovered by the Royalists, one of the French sailors having been 

 bribed to reveal its whereabouts; the captain and the two engineers sent 

 to London. Six frigates needed along the coast to aid the Americans. 

 A. L S. 4 p. (In French.) VI, 85. 



From J[onatlian] Williams, Jr., to The American Commissioners. 



1777- June 28. Nantes. 



Happy return of the Mercury. Safe arrival of the Amphitrite at 

 Portsmouth, and also of M. Du Coudray. News from America; people 

 full of ardor and high expectations; the prospects of the English ex- 

 tremely wretched. M. de Bretigny and his corps to take passage on the 

 Anonyme. Desires their opinion concerning his plan for a privateer. 

 A. L. S. 2 p. XXXVII, 98. 



