72 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From James Conner. 1779. May 3. Saumur. 



Born in Germantown, near Philadelphia; anxious to get back to his 

 wife and children ; gives an account of his voyages and misfortunes since 

 leaving America ; wrote to Captain Jones six weeks ago, but has received 

 no answer; begs Franklin to obtain his discharge and procure him an 

 opportunity of returning to America. A. L. S. 2 p. XIV, 82. 



From [C. G. F.] Dumas. 1779. May 3. The Hague. 



Resolution of April 26th taken by the States-General of Holland in 

 order to protect their commerce; absolute secrecy with which the affair 

 was handled; all their friends delighted. A. L. S. i p. (In French.) 



XXXIX, 96. 



From [Ferdinand] Grand. 1779. May 4. Paris. 



Colonel Hope only waiting for the despatches to set out for Holland ; 

 Franklin could not possibly trust them to safer hands. A. L. S. i p. 

 (In French.) XIV, 83. 



From John Bondfield. 1779. May 4. Bordeaux. 



Arrival of one of the ships he expected from Virginia; her encounter 

 with an English privateer. The seas covered with British cruisers; 

 the Messrs. Andrew and James Caldwell have lost a new brig laden 

 with tobacco. Various reports of the Spanish armament. News of in- 

 coming and outgoing vessels. A. L. S. 2 p. XIV, 84. 



From William Gordon. 1779. May 5. Jamaica Plain. 



The death of Dr. [John] Winthrop. Capture by the Americans of 

 a number of vessels going to Georgia with provisions ; scarcity of pro- 

 visions in Rhode Island. Letters from Philadelphia say that Mr. [torn 

 out (Deane?)] is now down, and the Lees are more exalted than ever. 

 Appeals to Franklin to forward the enclosed important papers. A. L. 

 S. I p. XIV, 85. 



From Arthur Lee. 1779. May 6. Paris. 



Still full of concern for the fleet at Brest, if it is to be left unpro- 

 tected during any part of the voyage ; important despatches and supplies 

 which they carry for the State of Virginia; urges again the advisability 

 of ordering the "Alliance" to convoy the fleet to America. A. L. S. 

 4 p. XIV, 86. 



