504 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From James Laurens, Jr. 1778. September 27. Le Vigan. 



Desires a passport for himself and family to enable them to travel 

 through France without difficulty; his home is in Charleston, South 

 Carolina, and he came abroad in search of health ; his brother is 

 Henry Laurens, President of the General Congress in America. A. 

 L. S. 2 p. XI, 174. 



From Dr. Hennessienne. 1778. September 28. Vienna. 



Claims to have discovered a secret by which he can render gun- 

 powder non-inflammable and non-explosive and to restore, at will, 

 its natural properties. Offers to disclose his secret for a reward and 

 to demonstrate his discovery before duly appointed delegates. A. L 

 S. 2 p. (In French.) XLIX, 21. 



From Le Cordier. 1778. September 28. Port Louis. 



Offers his services as commercial and shipping agent for the United 

 States at Port Louis. L. S. 3 p. (In French.) LX, 62. 



From [Edme Jacques] Genet. 1778. September 29. Versailles. 



Requested by his friend, Ed [ward] Bridgen, to forward Franklin the 

 enclosed packet. A. L. S. i p. (In French.) XI, 175. 



From [Comte de] Sarsfield. 1778. September 29. Rennes. 



Enclosing a letter written by him to Madame Macaulay which will 

 show Franklin how the matter stands; she confided the books to one 

 Brown, who was taken prisoner by a Jersey privateer; if Franklin 

 has any plan for recovering these books, begs him to write her of it. 

 A. L. S. 2 p. (In French.) XI, 176. 



Fro?n Matt [he] w Ridley to The American Commissioners. 

 1778. September 29. Paris. 



Met accidentally in London with a manuscript book of the Com- 

 missioners of the English Navy a few years back, containing an ac- 

 curate description of ships then in commission ; begs leave to present 

 this find through Franklin to Congress, and hopes it will prove of 

 some small advantage. Owns property in Marjdand and wishes to 

 derive his only security therein from the joint powers of the United 

 States. L. S. 2 p. XI, 177. 



