282 Peter Penet among the Oneida Indians. 



obtain that mark of confidence, his conduct should soon 

 evince the utility and propriety of their choice. 1 



Penet is next found operating upon the confidence of 

 the governors of New York 2 and Pennsylvania 3 by offer- 

 ing for sale some new discoveries; a cheap metal for 

 sheathing ships, and a mastic for preserving iron from 

 rust, but in neither instance did he succeed in his nego- 

 tiation. In the very plausible letters in which he set 

 forth the merits of the new invention, he intimates that 

 they had been tested and approved in the royal navy, 

 and were coining into general use in Holland and France. 

 He states that manufactories had been established and 

 himself appointed sole agent of the company, to export 

 their metal and mastic to America. Of himself he 

 says : 



" The reputation of my late partner Mr. Plairne, has, I 

 believe, reached you. I am known in. America since the 

 year 1775, when first I carried to Cambridge, gunpow- 

 der, arms and other military stores to defend your liberty. 

 I have, from that time, supplied several states with the 

 like articles, besides clothing and accoutrements for your 

 troops. Being concerned in your welfare and indepen- 

 dence, I make bold to offer you my humble services. I 

 propose at the same time, to furnish you the metal and 

 varnish on the following terms, etc. " 



At about this period, Penet was employed by the state 

 of Virginia, to borrow money in France. We have met 

 with no statement of the success of this effort, but learn 

 from a letter of Dr. Franklin, elated on the 14th of De- 

 cember, 1782, its result. He says : " Penet, who was 

 employed by that state, to borrow money here, is broke 

 and absconded. His creditors are all worrying me with 

 their complaints, who have nothing to do with his affairs. 



1 Pennsylvania Archives, viii, 257. 



2 Clinton Papers, 4,048, Oct, 7, 1780. 



3 Pennsylvania Archives, ix, 430, same date as above. 



