Letters to Benjamin Franklin 145 



From Capitaine. 1779. September 23. Havre. 



Requesting Franklin to forward the enclosed letters. Hopes to see 

 him soon at Havre. A. L. S. i p. (In French.) XV, 213. 



From J[ohn] Torris. 1779. September 23. Dunkirk. 



Thinks the judgment and his request to the Admiralty will deter- 

 mine them to sell the prizes. His reasons for soliciting American com- 

 missions for his vessels; Irishmen will not fight under French colors. 

 Dissatisfaction expressed by the sailors of the " Black Prince " with the 

 master, Stephen Marchant, and their intention of begging Franklin to 

 replace him by the brave Luke Ryan. Urges Franklin to procure the 

 exchange of the twenty-one prisoners taken from the prizes of the 

 " Black Prince " and to send them to Dunkirk to man the " Black 

 Princess." A. L. S. 4 p. XV, 214. 



From John Bondfield. 1779. September 23. Bordeaux. 



Encloses packets brought by Capt. Bonin from Boston; Captain re- 

 ports that on account of British reinforcements at Penobscot, the Ameri- 

 cans were obliged to destroy their shipping and abandon their attempt. 

 Arrival in Virginia of the "Governor Livingston" and "Mary 

 Fearon"; the "Chasseur" taken and sent to New York. A. L. S. 

 2 p. XV, 215. 



From [Dr.] Th[omas] Bond. 1779. September 24. Philadelphia. 

 The departure of M. Gerard affords an opportunity of sending mes- 

 sages to Franklin from his friends, Luke Morris, Hugh Roberts and S. 

 Rhoads; speaks of Israel's death being a great loss to the Quakers. The 

 poor-house and hospitals almost untenanted ; can scarcely find material 

 for his clinical lectures. Election of Gerard to the American Philo- 

 sophical Society; presented him with a certificate and a volume of the 

 Transactions emblematically bound. Wrote an essay in defence of inocu- 

 lation; begs Franklin to give it a friendly reading. News of the Bond 

 family. Hopes now for a more frequent literary correspondence be- 

 tween America and Europe. A. L. S. 2 p. XV, 216. 



From Fran[ci]s Coffyn. 1779. September 24. Dunkirk. 

 Announcing the arrival of the " Black Prince " ; officers report but 

 indifferent success, only two prizes; wishes for Franklin's instructions 

 as to the eighteen prisoners on board. A. L. S. 2 p. XV, 217. 



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