To Benjamin Franklin from Matthew Ridley, [23 December 1782]
From Matthew Ridley
AL: American Philosophical Society
Rue de Clery. Monday Evening [December 23, 1782]6
Mr. Ridley presents his Respects to Dr. Franklin & begs the honor of his Company at Dinner on Wednesday the 25. Currt.— M R begs Leave to inform Dr. Franklin it will be a Christmas dinner &, the principal dainty a Round, of Beef7
Addressed:8 A Son Excellence / Son Excellence Monr. Franklin / a Passy
6. The only year that Dec. 25 fell on a Wednesday during Ridley’s stay in France was 1782.
7. BF evidently did not attend. Ridley’s diary (entry of Dec. 25) indicates that the guests were JA, John and Sarah Jay, Henry Laurens and his son Henry Laurens, Jr., John Thaxter, Jr., Charles Storer, Edward Bancroft, and Edmund Jenings (Mass. Hist. Soc.).
8. Written on the address leaf are the following notes in an unknown hand: “Thomas Spencer taken prisoner on board the Ship Commerce of Liverpool by the Buccaneer private Ship of War. & carried into Port L’Orient. / James McTeer master of the Commerce”. For the capture of the Commerce and BF’s condemnation of the prize see our annotation of Williams, Moore & Co. to BF, Oct. 9.