Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Has received orders from the Secret Committee of Congress to proceed in the French ship Amphitrite to Charlestown, S. C., and thence to Paris, put a letter in Franklin's hands, and take command of a "fine frigate"; refusal of the commander of the Amphitrite, M. Fautrel, to permit him to accompany him in any other capacity than as a passenger; Col. Langdon's proposal that he should proceed to France in a new Continental ship of war which he is now fitting out; probability of this proposition being adopted. Ardently desires to be again in active service; though personally unknown to Franklin, the prospect of being shortly under his direction affords him a singular pleasure.
General physical description: L.S. 3p.
"Of the Meanes of Disposing the Enemie to Peace." Purporting to be a chapter from an old book of Discourses addressed to some King of Spain. Letter signed: "A Briton."
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Congress has put under his command the new sloop of war, the Ranger; almost insuperable difficulties he has encountered in equipping her; will wait on Franklin at the end of his cruise when he will point out some effective enterprises; encloses a paper he has hastily drawn up on the present evils of navy system; his own feelings about being superseded by his inferiors.
General physical description: L.S. 4p.
Brest. After he and four others made their escape from Forton Prison, and arrived at Le Havre de Grace, they were sent to Brest and put in the prison. Asks him to acquaint Dr. Franklin of their situation, that they may be released. Copy.
Ostend. Articled to an attorney of eminence in London; their growing sympathy with American affairs; their ardent desire to serve as officers in the Provincial Army; are about to start for Paris in the hope of obtaining an interview.
General physical description: L.S. 3p.
This is a typical receipt book for payments made to various persons for generally unnamed services or materials. Either Franklin, his wife, or the person receiving payment, wrote that he had received so much money on a given date, and signed the entry. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, volume II, 351-352. The last eight pages contain a record of Franklin's income from his business partner, David Hall. Included in the entries is income of money and occasionally the value of books received in lieu of money.
Honfleur. Protesting against being sent on board a man-of-war; desires Franklin to let his parents and his brother William know that he is well, and that Champion Wood made his escape with him.
His deposition as acting partner of the House of Dorsey, Wheelen and Co., of Baltimore, relative to the orders given to James Belt, Captain of the Matilda
New York. Acknowledging Franklin's favor of the 11th inst. with the report of the Officer of the Custom-houses regarding the schooner, "Regla"; his object was not to injure the officer but to protect the United States against smugglers. Need of a treaty between America and Spain.
General physical description: A.L.S. 3p.
