From Benjamin Franklin to Gérard de Rayneval, 10 August 1779
To Gérard de Rayneval
LS:7 Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress
Passy Augt. 10. 1779.
Sir,
The foregoing are the Articles requested by the States of Maryland & Virginia.8 If to these could be added Cloth, Linnen, Stockings, Shoes, & Hats for clothing 20.000 Men, and also ten thousand more Fusils, the whole addressed to the Congress,9 I am certain it would be a very seasonable & necessary Supply, as private Merchants have been lately discouraged from adventuring to send Cargoes of such Goods, by the numerous Losses of their Effects in going & returning, and I am not able to fulfil the Orders of Congress for want of Money. I have the honour to be, sir; Your most obedt. & most humble Sert.
B Franklin
M. Gerard de Raynevalle.
7. In WTF’s hand.
8. The foregoing virtually duplicated the list BF had sent Vergennes three months earlier and consolidated the Virginia and Maryland requests: XXIX, 416–17. For the background to them see BF’s covering letter: XXIX, 415–16.
9. BF had strongly criticized the requests of individual states to France for “great Quantities of Arms, Ammunition & Clothing” and recommended that such requests be channeled through Congress: XXIX, 557.