Beschreibung:

Note: More text to follow for this lot, on disk FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN, Signer. Letter signed ("B Franklin") to David Hartley Passy [near Paris, France], 19 October 1779. 1 1/2 pages, folio, 315 x 200mm. (12 1/2 x 8 in.), written in an elegant clerical hand, labeled at top of first page "(Duplicate [copy])." Fine condition. FRANKLIN PLEDGES HIS WILLINGNESS TO "SOFTEN THE RIGORS OF WAR" BY DEMONSTRATING "THAT CONFIDENCE WHICH NATURALLY OPENS BY DEGREES THE WAY TO PEACE" Franklin and Hartley correspond regarding the exchange of prisoners: "Having just received the Passport defined for the Cartel to make use of the Port of Morlaix, I take this first Opportunity of sending it to you, in hopes of releasing by more expeditious Voyages the poor Prisoners on both Sides before the Severity of Winter comes on. Besides those relayed on Parole, we have now more English Prisoners than you have Americans. In those Releases we have relied on the honour [ sic ] & Humanity of the Board and I am persuaded we shall not find ourselves deceived. You will always see me ready in every Step that may soften the Rigours of War to give the first Demonstrations of that Confidence which naturally opens by Degrees the Way to Peace..." The situation of the American prisoners in Britain and British prisoners in France had become for both Hartley and Franklin a particularly thorny problem. The British ministry officially regarded American prisoners as traitors. "They therefore ignored [Franklin's] willingness to issue paroles to British captives..." Through David Hartley Franklin urged the easing of the lot of the prisoners as a step toward reconciliation, sent small sums of money for their relief and sought permission for an American envoy...to inspect the conditions in which the American prisoners were kept...." (Esmond Wright, Franklin of Philadelphia, 1986, p.281-282.