The American Commissioners to Vergennes
LS: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Harvard University Library
Versailles, Aug. 12. 1777.
Sir,

We understand with great surprize that one of our Countrymen, Mr. Hodge, a Merchant of Philadelphia, is apprehended at Paris with all his Papers, and carried away by Officers of the Police.

As Mr. Hodge is a Person of Character, connected with the best Houses in our Country, and employed here by a Committee of the Congress for the purchase of Merchandise we cannot conceive him capable of any wilful Offence against the Laws of this Nation: and our personal Regard for him, as well as the Duty of our Station, obliges us to interest ourselves in his Behalf, and to request, as we do most earnestly, that he may be immediately restored to us. We have the honour to be, with the greatest Respect, your Excellency’s most Obedient and most humble Servants.

B Franklin
Silas Deane
Arthur Lee
His Excy. the Count de Vergennes
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