Letters from Benjamin Franklin 539 



To Samuel Chase. 1784. January 6. Passy. 



Relative to the loss of his ship. Is not enough acquainted with 



the French laws and customs to inform him what claim the widow of 



M. Le Vache, may have upon his property. Relative to the validity 



of marriages by Protestant ministers. A. Dr. of L. 2 p. XLV, 174. 



Printed in Works (Sparks, X, 53; Bigelow, VIII, 427; Smyth, IX, 152). 



To Luce de Lancival. 1784. January. 



Acknowledging the letter and poem [de Pace] ; his friends who 

 are better judges than he, pronounce it excellent. A. Dr. of L. i p. 



XXXI, i6b. 



To M. Creuze[?]. 1784. February 14. Passy. 



Received his three letters relating to aerostatic machines and the 

 means of directing their motion. Communicated the letters to the com- 

 mittee which was appointed by the Academy of Sciences to consider that 

 subject. A. Dr. of L. i p. XLV, 175. 



To [Jean Baptiste] Le Roy. 1784. February 25. Passy. 



Encloses a letter and sundry papers which he received from Mr. 

 [Anthony George] Eckhardt, of Utrecht, a most ingenious mechanician. 

 If he can do him any service, he requests him to do so; also to show to 

 [Joseph Michel] Montgolfier what Mr. Eckhardt says of balloons. A. 

 L. S. I p. (Copy.) XLV, 176. 



Printed in Works (Smyth, IX, 173). 



To Comte de Vergennes. 1784. February 26. Passy. 



Mr. [Jonathan] Williams [Jr.] having amicably arranged his afiEairs 

 with the bulk of his creditors he now joins his request for an " arret de 

 surseance " that he may be secured against the small number remaining 

 who aim at forcing him to favor them to the prejudice of the others. 

 A. Dr. of L. I p. XLV, 177. 



Printed in Works (Bigelow, VIII, 451; Smyth, IX, 173). 



To . 1784. March 4. [Passy.] 



Appointment of consuls does not belong to him. Thinks that when- 

 ever one is appointed for Dunkirk, it will be Mr. [Francis] CofiEyn, 

 who for seven years has constantly taken care of and relieved the poor 

 prisoners escaping from England, without any compensation. A. Dr. 

 of L. I p. XLV, 178a. 



