Franklin's Certification of Isaac Cazneau's Oath of Allegiance (unpublished)
[April 16, 1780]

I do acknowledge the thirteen United states of America namely, New hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pensilvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free, independent and sovering states; and declare that the People thereof owe no Alledgiance or Obedient to George the Third King of Great Britain; and I renonce, refuse and abjure any alledgiance or Obedience to him, and I do swear that I will to the utmost of my power support, maintain and deffend the said united states, against the said George the third, king of Great Britain and his heirs and Successors and his and their Abettors, Assistants and adherents. So help me God.

Isaac Cazneau

[In BF’s hand:] Sworn before me at Passy this 16 Day of April 1780
B Franklin
Minister Plenipoteny
from the United States
at the Court of France
634277 = 032-259a001.html