Matthew Ridley to William Temple Franklin, 1 August 1784
Matthew Ridley to William Temple Franklin8
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Paris August the 1st. 1784—
Dear Sir
You will oblige me by getting an Order from the Minister to let my Baggage pass9 a Note of which you have underneath & also for the Furniture I propose sending to America—1
I shall have the pleasure of seeing you on Wednesday.—Capt: Hughes a Relation of mine is with me, if agreeable I propose bringing him; but should you wish it not so, or that there will be any impropriety in it be free enough to let me know by a Line.— With best wishes I am Dear Sir Yr. Obed hble sert
Matt: Ridley
8. Ridley was packing his household in preparation for leaving France. His wife and their infant son had died in January, and he planned to return to Maryland as soon as he settled his financial affairs in London. That took him until 1786: XXXIX, 599n; Roberts and Roberts, Thomas Barclay, pp. 137, 141, 321n, 323n.
9. The request, dated Aug. 2, came from BF. Vergennes replied on Aug. 7 that regulations did not permit forgoing an inspection of the contents of Ridley’s trunks, but Ridley could avoid inspections by having his baggage sealed at the Paris customs office. The farmers general could then issue a permit that would protect his belongings from further inspection. Vergennes made this request of the farmers general the same day (Aug. 7), enclosing a copy of BF’s request. The farmers answered on Aug. 9 that the necessary orders had been given at customs regarding Ridley’s belongings. Abstracts of all these now-missing letters are at the AAE.
1. Ridley evidently appended to this letter two lists: what he was shipping to England and what was going to America. A press copy of them, translated into French and in the hand of L’Air de Lamotte, is at the APS.