480 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From Reuben Harvey. 1782. May 17. Cork. 



Desire of about one hundred poor tradesmen and husbandmen to 

 settle in America; having no money to pay their passage, they propose 

 to indent as servants for a certain term ; the owner of the ship unwilling 

 to accept them in this manner without being sure of the approval of 

 Congress; can assure him that there is not a convict or felon amongst 

 them. A. L. S. i p. 



A. E. by Dr. Franklin. Contrasting the condition of the poor in 

 America with those in other lands. XXV, 72. 



From Vidal and others [Masons]. 1782. May 17. L'Orient. 



Desiring some information about a young man whose mother is 

 distracted with grief over his reported death in York, Virginia; begging 

 Franklin to ascertain the truth of this rumor and any other details 

 obtainable. A. L. S. 4 p. (In French.) XXV, 73. 



From Henry Laurens. 1782. May 20. Ostend. 



Sending certain letters and apologizing for their detention. A. L. S. 

 I p. XXV, 74. 



By The Continental Congress. 1782. May 20. [Philadelphia.] 



Resolution instructing ,the Minister at the Court of Versailles to take 

 immediate measures for liquidating the accounts between the United 

 States and that Court and report a state thereof to Congress; also 

 appointing a Commissioner to liquidate and settle the accounts of all 

 the servants of the United States who have been entrusted with the 

 expenditure of public moneys in Europe. D. S. Cha[rle]s Thomson, 

 Sec[retar]y. i p. LV, 5. 



From Coppens fils. 1782. May 21. Dunkirk. 



Is about to send Capt. John Moultson, an American, on a new cruize 

 with the schooner "Sophia"; hearing that war was declared by the 

 United States against Portugal, writes for a commission of war for 

 the Captain so that he may cruize under American colors against the 

 enemies of the United States. L. S. 2 p. XXV, 75. 



From J. F. Frin & Co. 1782. May 22. Paris. 



Enclosing a bill of exchange for acceptance. L. S. i p. (In 

 French.) XXV, 76. 



