Benjamin Franklin to William Petty, Earl of Shelburne, January 15, 1783

Passy, Jan. 15. 1783

Mariners are the hired Servants of Merchants, entrusted with their Property.

The corrupting of Servants, & hiring them to betray the Trust reposed in them, & rob their Masters of the Property confided to them, by sharing the Plunder among them, was one of the infamous Modes of making War against America adopted by the late Administration, 7 which ought to render them for ever detestable among good Men, who wish to see the Mischiefs of War diminished, and not augmented.

B F.