Letters to Benjamin Franklin 405 



From Mercier to The American Commissioners. [1777.] 



Appeal for payment for the work of repairing muskets. L. S. 2 p. 

 (In French.) I, 45. 



FroTn . [1777.] 



Defending Mr. [William] Hodge and requesting his release; [Capt. 

 Gustavus] Conyngham alone to blame. L. i p. (In French.) 



1,46. 

 From . [Circa 1777.] 



Desires employment in America as military engineer; need of secrecy 

 in his case. L. 2 p. (In French.) I, 48. 



From James Hutton. 1778. January 3. Passy. 



Begging him as an humane man to write to his friends in Pennsyl- 

 vania to use their influence to prevent unauthorized attacks upon Bethle- 

 hem; account of an attack made on the village which was repulsed by 

 convalescent soldiers whe were in the military hospitals, and of another 

 in which they dragged a man at a horse's tail from Bethlehem to Easton. 

 A. L. S. 2 p. II, I. 



From Rich[ard] Bache. 1778. January 31. Manheim. 



Account of their flight before the British advance at the time of 

 the battle of Brandywine. His wife gave birth to a daughter. Frank- 

 lin's printing press sold to the State of Virginia. Acknowledges the 

 receipt of the engraver's and potter's performances. The engraver he 

 thinks has paid more attention to the fur cap than to the lines of the 

 face. Theft of a package addressed by Franklin to Congress. Con- 

 cerning the newspapers then being published. Family affairs. A. L. 



s. 5 p. n, 2. 



From Jno. P[aul] Jones. 1778. February 9. Nantes. 



News from America; situation of [Gen.] Washington's and [Sir 

 William] Howe's armies; Jersey militia sent to protect their own 

 country; [Gen.] Burgoyne at Winter Hill; reinforcements for Wash- 

 ington ; fall of Howe determined ; American army in fine spirits ; Conti- 

 nental money appreciating; many prizes brought in; Generals [Horatio] 

 Gates and [Israel] Putnam in command at King's Bridge; [Gen. Sir 

 Henry] Clinton in possession of no post beyond that point. A. L. S. 



2 p. II, 3. 



