To Benjamin Franklin from John Locke, 10 November 1778
From John Locke2
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Grand Saintmaan Britane3
Novembar the 10, 1778
Most honrabil docktor Sur
Thease Lines Comes to In form you that as I am hear and a Marican and a poor prisner & have a wife and famyly In a maricah I have Maid bold to Rite to you hoping that your honar will Excuse My In trusion In Riting to you hopin that your honar will be So kind as to have Me takin out of this onhappy Sitation & Sent befour Some Good a thority and Strict ly Examand In Regard of my behavour and Conduct Sens I left home so that if your honar Pleasis that I mite Go home again and try to doe Some thing to help Support my famyly and Country thair is now or was the thurd of this month a Noumbar of poor young fellars In prisan at denan and some of them was a Long with me and Some In other Ships that doth belong to a maraca So that If your honar Pleasis to have me Examand I Can tel what thair Names is and what part of a Maraca thay be Long to So No more at preassant but I am Sur your Most Humbil Sarvant
John Locke
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur franclin / ambassadeur d’amerique / A Paris4
Notations in different hands: John Locke to Dr. F. / Nov. 10. 78
2. A native of Cape Cod, Locke was included in the list of Americans serving on English whaling vessels (XXVII, 660n). In a letter to BF of Oct. 28, 1779 (APS), he described his capture and imprisonment in England. Released by virtue of his agreeing to join the whaling fleet, he was then captured by the French.
3. Presumably St. Méen le Grand, in Brittany, just south of Dinan.
4. “3 [l.t.?]. 3” is written on the back of the address sheet.