Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, November 11, 1784

Passy, November 11th. 1784.

Dear Friend,

I received your kind Letter of August 13th: with the Papers annexed, relative to the Affair of Longchamps. 9 I hope Satisfaction will be given to Mr: Marbois. The Commissioners have written a joint Letter to Congress. 1 This serves to cover a few Papers relative to Matters with which I was particularly charged in the Instructions. I shall write to you fully by the next Opportunity, having now only Time to add, that I am, as ever, Yours most Affectionately,

( SIGNED ) B. Franklin .

P.S. To explain the Papers. I had first sent to Count Vergennes, by my Secretary, a Copy of the Instruction of May 11th: He seems to have thought it should have come to him in a more formal Manner, and wrote me the Letter A . I accordingly sent it to him in B . and received his Answer in C . 2

I executed the Instruction of Octr: 29th —83, as soon as I knew the Commissions for treating with the Emperor, &c. were issued, which was not till July —84. The three Letters between the Emperor’s Minister and me are what passed on that Occasion. 3

To Chas. Thomson, Esqr.