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Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 to Silas Deane

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02301 Author/Creator: Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 Place Written: Paris, France Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 April 1778 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket Height: 23 cm, Width: 19 cm Order a Copy

Franklin writes to Deane about an angry letter he received from Arthur Lee, who along with Franklin and Deane was on a diplomatic mission in France. Lee was mad at Deane for "going without acquainting him of it" and also angry with "the Court's sending a Minister to Congress without advising him." Not being trusted by Deane, Lee was kept ignorant of the secret supplies being sent to America via Hortalez & Cie. Lee sent reports to Congress about Deane's supposed embezzlement and helped bring about Deane's recall. He was replaced by John Adams, who Franklin notes in this letter, has not arrived yet. Advises Deane to burn the proposal put forth by the "Negociator."

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
Deane, Silas, 1737-1789
Lee, Arthur, 1740-1792
Adams, John, 1735-1826

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