From Benjamin Franklin to Gérard de Rayneval, 9 September 1781
To Gérard de Rayneval
LS:3 Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress
Passy Sept. 9. 1781.
Sir,
I have just received under Cover the inclosed Pacquet.4
I beg your kind Attention to the Papers I send herewith, relating to Passports.5
You will see by our latest Gazettes, which I inclose, a better Account of the Affair between the Marquis de la Fayette and Lord Cornwallis than we have hitherto had.6 Please to return them to me when you have done with them.
With the greatest Esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient and most humbble Servant
B Franklin
M. De Raynevalle
3. In WTF’s hand.
4. Probably those forwarded by Jonathan Nesbitt on Sept. 7, above.
5. Undoubtedly Ethis de Corny’s letter of Sept. 6 and perhaps also a copy of Mauger & Cie.’s memorandum of Aug. 20 (both of which are above); see BF’s Sept. 22 letter to Gérard de Rayneval.
6. The Battle of Green Springs on July 6, a minor British victory: Idzerda, Lafayette Papers, IV, 235–9; Pa. Gazette, July 25, 1781.