304 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From Jon[athan] Loring Austin. 1780. October 19. Nantes. 



Enclosing a certain sum in part payment of the amount lent him ; 

 will desire Mr. Williams to pass the remaining sum to Dr. Franklin's 

 credit. Hopes for an answer to his letter of the 17th inst. XX, 35. 



FroTu Tho[mas] Smith. 1780. October 20. L'Orient. 



Desiring the necessary passports to enable him to go to England, 

 draw out certain monies and return to Maryland; is forty-eight years 

 old and dependent upon this money for subsistence; his loyalty to Amer- 

 ica. L. S. 4 p. XX, 37. 



From James Forbes. 1780. October 20. L'Orient. 



His position as Commander of the brig " Nesbitt " ; certifies that James 

 Cheston, of Maryland, who crossed as passenger in his vessel, made no 

 secret of his departure nor came away in a clandestine manner, but al- 

 lowed his intention of sailing to be generally known. L. S, 2 p. 



XX, 38. 

 From James Cheston. 1780. October 20. L'Orient. 



Left his home in Mar}'land with the intention of going to England 

 in order to settle certain business matters there; detained in France by 

 the Count de Maille until passports from Franklin could be obtained; 

 gives a full account of himself ; reasons why he has never taken the oath 

 of allegiance ; hopes Franklin will permit him to settle his private affairs 

 in England and withdraw his effects; denies having left America in 

 a clandestine manner; encloses proofs to the contrar}\ A. L. S. 6 p. 



XX, 39. 



From Jonat[han] Nesbitt. 1780. October 20. L'Orient. 



Encloses copy of a letter received from Mr. Stephen Stewart, of 

 Maryland, recommending Mr. James Cheston, who has been detained 

 as a suspicious person until further advices; Mr. Stewart warmly at- 

 tached to the American cause and incapable of recommending any one 

 who could do it an injury; thinks the persons who informed against 

 Mr. Cheston acted unjustifiably. A. L. S. 3 p. XX, 40. 



From Sam[ue]l Wharton. 1780. October 20. L'Orient. 



Mentions several gentlemen, including Mr. Cheston, who arrived 

 lately from Maryland and Pennsylvania and who have been detained at 

 rOrient on suspicion of unfriendliness to the United States; they have 



