From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 14 February 1780
To John Bondfield
Copy: Library of Congress
Passy, Feb. 14. 1780.
Sir,
I request that you would enquire into the facts represented in the enclos’d Petition, and if you find them true, that you would defray the reasonable Expences of the poor Man’s sickness, and make a Present to his friend of Two Guineas as a small Acknowledgment of his Hospitality and kindness.5 I have the honour to be, sir, &c.
Mr. Bondfield.
5. From Bondfield’s reply of Feb. 25 we gather that the petition was from a Thomas Tolmond; see below. On Feb. 14 BF provided assistance to another American who had been ill, as recorded in his Cash Book: “To Moses Bigger an American Sailor out of the Hospital at Dunkirk, and going to L’Orient 2 Louis d’Or—48 l.t.” Bigger had spent almost two years in Forton before being exchanged: Kaminkow, Mariners, p. 17