To Benjamin Franklin from Marc-Antoine-Maximilien-Cesar Le Francq, 20 December 1778
From Marc-Antoine-Maximilien-César Le Francq5
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Montreuil sur mer ce 20. Xbre. 1778.
Monseigneur
échapé des mains de nos ennemis je prens la liberté de vous addresser le memoire ci joint,6 supliant Votre excellence de vouloir bien y jetter les yeux, et m’honnorer de ses ordres que j’attens avec autant d’empressement que j’en ai a vous prier d’agrèer les assurances des sentimens de la parfaite vénération et du profond respect avec lesquels je suis Monseigneur Votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur
Cesar Lefrancq
Notation: Cezar Lefrancq’s Memoire
5. His father, François Le Francq, had inquired about him the previous year: see XXV, 378, where the connection between that letter and the present one was overlooked.
6. In the enclosed four-page memoir (APS) the 22-year-old Le Francq describes his service aboard the Maryland Navy row galley Conqueror and command of the schooner Dolphin, his return to Europe on the merchantman Fox, and his capture by a Guernsey privateer and subsequent escape. He asks for help in returning to America or for a letter of recommendation to Sartine. Le Francq served as second lieutenant of the Conqueror from June 16, 1777, to April 21, 1778, at which time he took over the Dolphin: Archives of Maryland (72 vols., Baltimore, 1883–1972), XVI, 290; Edward C. Papenfuse et al., eds., An Inventory of Maryland State Papers, I, The Era of the American Revolution, 1775–1789 (Annapolis, 1977), p. 160; Calendar of Maryland State Papers, no. IV, part III, The Red Books, p. 31. Information kindly provided by William S. Dudley, Head, Early History Branch, Naval Historical Center, Washington.