To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Powel Griffitts, 6 October 1782
From Samuel Powel Griffitts3
ALS: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Lyons October 6th. 1782.
Honoured Sir,
I arrived here Yesterday from Geneva, where I left young Mr. Bache very well the Day before. He, as well as his School-Mate, Mr. Johnnot were very happy to hear from you: They both appear to be contented with their Situation & what is more Monsieur Marignac seems very well satisfied with their Conduct—4 He treats them as Friends, & they repay him with Respect and Attention— The City is at present very still & free from Disorders.
Mr. Mayo joins with me in Compliments and best Wishes for your Health—5 We should both be very happy to hear of its being perfectly re-established— With the greatest Respect & Consideration, I remain Your much obliged hble. Servant
Saml. Powel Griffitts
His Excelly. Doctor Franklin
3. After having spent a year in Paris to continue his medical studies, Griffitts (XXXV, 246–7) was on his way to the University of Montpellier, where he attended a course of lectures. (He wrote WTF from Montpellier on Oct. 31; APS.) In 1783 he took courses at the University of Edinburgh and returned to Philadelphia the following year: Gouverneur Emerson, Biographical Memoir of Dr. Samuel Powel Griffitts (Philadelphia, 1827), pp. 7–8; Whitfield J. Bell, Jr., “Philadelphia Medical Students in Europe, 1750–1800,” PMHB, LXVII (1943), I, 15, 24.
4. The day Griffitts arrived BFB took him to the bell tower of the Cathedral of St. Peter to view the city. The following day he and Johonnot met Griffitts for lunch and accompanied him partway to meet the coach to Lyon: BFB’s journal for Oct. 3 and 4 (APS).
5. Joseph Mayo, a contemporary of WTF’s, had been traveling around Europe for about a year: XXXV, 375n, 649. On Aug. 8, he wrote WTF from Dijon that he expected soon to go to Besançon or Lyon (APS).