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Sale 49
Lot 815
Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790) Founding Father; Signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Paris, and the U.S. Constitution; diplomat, statesman, printer and inventor. Autograph Letter Signed twice in the text, once as ("Mr. Franklin") and once as ("Mr. F"), 1p, 9¼ x 7½ in., Passy (France), 2 Mar. 1785. Fine; boldly written, with minor toning and light creasing at lower right.
In full: "Mr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Partridge, & begs his Care of the enclos'd Letter to Govr. Pownall now at Marseilles, it relating to the Affairs of Mr. Barry. Mr. F. takes the Liberty Mr. Partridge was so good as to allow him of sending a packet to his Care for Mr. Barry; and he heartily wishes Mr. & Miss Partridge a prosperous Journey. Passy, March 2, 1785."
This letter was written from Franklin's home outside of Paris, six months before he returned to the United States, after spending nine years in France. He was sent by Congress in 1776, as one of a committee of three, to negotiate a treaty with France. In September 1778, he was appointed sole minister plenipotentiary to France, and in 1781, he was appointed commissioner, along with John Jay and John Adams, to negotiate peace with Great Britain. The final peace was signed September 3, 1783. After returning to Philadelphia, Franklin was president of the Pennsylvlania executive council (1785-87), and was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Thomas Pownall, to whom the letter was sent, was the former colonial governor of Massachusetts (1756-60), and a good friend of Franklin's and of America, even during the Revolution. John Barry (1745-1803) whose affairs Franklin mentions, was a naval officer during the American Revolution; his fame was second only to that of John Paul Jones. In 1776, he was appointed to command the brig Lexington and captured the British tender Edward, which was the first ship ever taken by a commissioned officer of the U.S. Navy. In 1778, Barry became commander of the Raleigh, which was pursued and driven ashore by a British man-of-war. In 1781, as commander of the Alliance, he captured the British ships Trepassy and Atlanta. As a result of his outstanding record, Barry was named senior captain, the highest post in the Navy at that time, and was given the courtesy title of commodore. In 1794, he was made commodore of the United States, one of the Navy's new flagships. From 1798 to 1801, he directed American naval operations in the West Indies.
Estimated Value $13,000 - 15,000.
From the private collection of Dr. Hiri Etessami.
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