5i6 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From Rod[olp]h Valltravers. 1782. December 24. Vienna. 



Introducing Mr. [de] Kampl, Counsellor of His Majesty's finances; 

 his peculiar taste and genius for mechanical inventions; description of a 

 life-size mechanical chess-player, one of his inventions, also a child of 

 four or five years, who can utter the first articulated sounds. His own 

 ruined state; his fondest wish is to be employed in the service of the 

 United States. A. L. S. 4 p. XXVI, iii. 



From Edw[ar]d Bridgen. 1782. December 24. 



Enclosing a letter for Mr. L[aurens] ; thanks him for his kind at- 

 tention to a certain proposal. A. L. S. i p. XXVI, 112. 



From Iph. Hirigoyen. 1782. December 24. Nantes. 



There being no Consul of the United States at Nantes, applies to him 

 for a passport for the vessel the " Camberwell," which is ready to de- 

 part at the first favorable moment. A. L. S. 2 p. (In French.) 



XXVI, 113. 



From Henry Laurens. 1782. December 24. Paris, 



Requesting Franklin to find a place in his despatches for the enclosed 

 letter to Robert R. Livingston. L. in 3d P. i p. XXVI, 115. 



From La Nouvelle Librairie de la Cour. 

 1782. December 24. Mannheim. 



Importance attaching to a knowledge of the great Greek and Roman 

 writers; their plan of bringing out at extremely reasonable rates, edi- 

 tions of the Roman writers of the Golden Age ; desires Franklin to take 

 a certain number of each author, for distribution in America. A. L. S. 

 4 p. (In French.) XXVI, 116. 



From Comte d'Albon. 1782. December 25. Franconville. 



Sends Franklin his work; believes him to be the creator of America's 

 independence. A. L. S. i p. (In French.) XXVI, 117. 



From James Carr. 1782. December 25. Cherbourg, 



Was second mate and carpenter of the brigantine " Active," cap- 

 tured by the British on her passage from Philadelphia; imprisoned in 

 England ; made his escape with five others in a small sloop ; question 

 whether she will be condemned or no; begs Franklin's intercession in 

 their behalf. A. L S. i p. XXVI, 118. 



