Franklin is chagrined by the letters concerning Captain Gillon and Mr. Searle. Gillon will probably stay at Corunna as he did at Amsterdam and sell U.S. goods as he did those of South Carolina to defray his expenses and then leave with many of his creditors unpaid. Asks Jay to aid Captain Jackson. Encloses his letter and a letter from Vergennes to Montmorin for the same purpose. Enclosure: W. Jacks on to Benjamin Franklin, 26 September, 1781. Gillon has violated his contract with Colonel Laurens. Colonel Searle, Colonel Trumbell, and Jackson were kept prisoner on board until the Captain of a French frigate intervened. We were thus prevented from telling the merchants that most of the bills drawn upon Franklin were not valid. Thanks Franklin for his precaution in preventing the embarkation.
Subjects
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783; Jay, John, 1745-1829