To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, 15 March 1785
From Lafayette
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Paris March the 15th 1785
Dear Sir
Inclosed Your Excellency will find a Letter from a Canadian who Requests I would Recommend Him to You—5 While I was with Congress, I wrote a public Letter Stating the Case of the Citizens of that province who Had Assisted us and were not paid—6 I Hope a Committee was Appointed to Consider the Affair— So far as Respects Mr. Calvet,7 I need not See the Lady, But Beg Leave to Sollicit Your Assistance in His Behalf.
The Convention Respecting Consuls Has Been Sent By You to America— But as I Have not Heard of its Having Been Received, Beg Leave to Suggest the idea of Sending a duplicate By this packet Boat.8
To Morrow or the day after I will do myself the Honour to wait Upon You, and with the Highest Respect am Your Affectionate friend
Lafayette
5. Not found. A week earlier, Lafayette had sent to WTF the latest news he had from America. Writing again in late April or early May (we surmise), he asked WTF for American news and sent more of his own, including the report that Congress had at last accepted BF’s resignation: Lafayette to WTF March 6, 1785; Lafayette to WTF undated; both at the APS.
6. Lafayette’s letter, addressed to the president of Congress, was dated Dec. 12, 1784: Idzerda, Lafayette Papers, V, 284–5.
7. Pierre du Calvet.
8. BF had already dispatched a copy with his Feb. 8 letter to Richard Henry Lee, president of Congress (above).