Adams Papers Digital Edition

Papers of John Adams, volume 8

To Benjamin Franklin

To Arthur Lee
16 To William Temple Franklin, 24 March 1779 JA Franklin, William Temple To William Temple Franklin, 24 March 1779 Adams, John Franklin, William Temple
To William Temple Franklin
Dear Sir Brest March 24. 1779

I have just received your favour of the 17. inclosing a Paper from M. Le Roy, for which I thank you and Mr. Le Roy, to whom be so good as to present my Compliments.1

The Alliance, will be ready to go to Nantes, in the opinion of C. Landais in 8 days. But he thinks she must stay there 3 or 4 Weeks.

My Respects to his Excellency; from whom I received a line at Nantes which I will answer, as soon as I can get a little Leisure.2

Mr. Blodget3 will deliver this. I recommend him to the Civilities of Passy. I am, with much Esteem, your humble servant

John Adams

RC (PPAmP: Franklin Papers); addressed: “Mr W. T. Franklin at Passy near Paris favd by Mr Blodget.”; docketed: “M. John Adams Brest Mars 24. 1779.”

1.

Temple Franklin's letter (Adams Papers) contained routine news from Paris. More interesting, was the enclosure sent by Jean Baptiste Leroy, a physicist, experimenter in electricity, member of the Academy of Sciences, and intimate of Benjamin Franklin (Hoefer, Nouv. biog. générale ). Entitled “Description des Arts et Métiers,” its four printed pages contain the titles and prices of books written by members of the Academy. Various titles in the list are marked and there are notations, now canceled, in the upper and right margins of the first page.

 2.

See the preceding letter.

 3.

Nathan Blodget, purser of the Alliance ( Cal. Franklin Papers, A.P.S. , index).