Benjamin Franklin to Marie-Françoise-Dominique Brouttin Mollien de Sombres, March 5, 1784

[after March 4, 1784] 8

That I am sorry I was not at home when she did me the honour of calling on me. That the Appointment of Consuls does not belong to me: but That whenever one is appointed for Dunkirk, I imagine it will be Mr Coffyn, who for seven Years past has constantly served the United States in taking Care of & relieving their poor Prisoners escaping from England & other very troublesome Services without any Reward or Recompence whatever.