26o Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From Le Begue de Presle. 1780. June 13. Paris. 



Promised him any literary news which came in his way ; quotes from 

 a letter just received from London, giving an account of a house which 

 had conductors, being struck by lightning; account of a cure for scurvy 

 which Capt. Cook ascertained from a Dutch sea captain; this con- 

 sisted in scraping a plant called conferva from the ship's side and eating 

 it as a salad. A. L. S. 2 p. (In French.) XVIII, 140. 



From Samuel Wharton. 1780. June 14. L'Orient. 



Complaints about Capt. Landals and the original officers of the 

 " Alliance " refusing to give up command of the vessel to Capt. Jones. 

 Capt. Landals reported reasons for doing so. Thinks the latter is 

 being made use of by Franklin's personal enemies. Suspects \lr. Lee 

 is at the bottom of the affair. A. L. S. 2 p. (Copy.) LXXI, 92. 



From Sain[ue]l Wharton. 1780. June 14. L'Orient. 



Concerning the atrocious conduct of Capt. Landals in taking posses- 

 sion of the "Alliance"; partisans of Landals assert that Franklin as- 

 sumed a power unwarranted by his Ministerial office in suspending 

 Landals and giving the command to Capt. Jones; thinks that Landals 

 is being made use of to create confusion and delay the public stores; 

 the facts would not authorize his declaring Mr. Lee to be at the bottom 

 of the affair, but thinks there is little doubt that he employed every 

 Indirect means in his powder to that end. A. L. S. 2 p. XVIII, 141. 



From P[ierre] Landais. 1780. June 14. L'Orient. 



Has taken command of the " Alliance " ; in accordance with the 

 advice of the principal Americans and the desire of his officers and crew ; 

 in obedience to the enclosed letter from the Secretary of the Honorable 

 Navy Board [i p.], is determined to carr>' her to America; desires 

 that Franklin will have the officers and crew paid their prize money 

 and forward his despatches that he may fulfil the orders of Congress. 

 A. L. S. 2 p. (In duplicate.) XVIII, 142 and 143. 



Printed in Hale's '" Franklin in France," I, 333. 



From Cossoul. 1780. June 15. Nantes. 



Writes on behalf of his friend Mr. Watson, relative to certain notes 

 drawn on Franklin but unfortunately lost in Boston by Mr. Foster; 

 asks that all precautions may be taken to prevent their being paid to 

 anyone but Mr. Watson. A. L. S. 2 p. (In French.) XVIII, 145. 



