To His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esqr. Minister Plenipotentiary of the Thirteen United Provinces of North America To the Court of france.

The Humble Petition of James Le Tellier of Caen in Normandy.

Sheweth, that having lived many years in England and being Settled in London, He in the year 1768, Married Ann Easmond of the parish of St. Michael of Cambridge. That the sd. Ann now his Wife, lost her father and mother in her tender years and was left to the Care of a Grand Mother and other relations. That she did live for some time with one of them Named Wm. Scarfe, a Married man, a Tradesman and a House Keeper in the sd. Town of Cambridge. That about 22 or 23 years ago, this same Scarfe, left his wife and went abroad; and his wife dying a twelve month after he was gone, no body knowing what was become of him, her heirs took her effects that she had partly designed for Ann Easmond.

In february 1775, Mr. Scarfe made his appearance again into England, being appraised of the Death of his wife, He went to Cambridge on purpose to Enquire after Ann Easmond; he was in Company of one Mr. Sanders a Clergyman as it has been reported, they only staid there three days, and Mr. Scarfe kept himself so secret that he would not be known by nobody but to an old woman with whom he Sejourned: as Soon as he had procured himself the Direction of the Petitioner, he repaired to London, Came to the Petitioner’s House and found Ann Easmond to whom he Said he had been all over India and the Japan Island, that he had had a great deal of troubles and fatigue, but had made a pretty handsome fortune to live upon the remain of his days; that he was a going upon an other little voyage to settle intirely his affairs and would return in five or six months and would Spend the remain of his days with the Petitioner. That as he was Subject to fits of apoplexy, he would make his will, & all in favour of Ann Easmond except few legacies, and especially for Sanders the Clergy man, who had been of great Service to him and was Still a going with him; this interview happened the 4th. of March 1775, The 6th he produced his will and gave it to read to Ann Easmond, and after gave it to the Clergy-man who was to put it into the hands of a voucher, but who is it or not is what the petitioner has never been able to learn; in Short that very Same day, Mr. Scarfe and his Companion Sat off without mentioning where, Said only he would write in a Short time, and has never been heard of since, but in the following Manner.

The petitioner’s wife, receives by the london Peny Post a letter dated may the 15th. wrote by a Strange woman, that her Husband had been in America and there Met Mr. Scarfe, who told him, he had met with a Storm at Sea, was Cast a great way out of his way, and was taken up by a Ship bound to America, that he told all his affairs to her Husband, concerning his fortune, that Mr. Sanders had turned out a great rogue; and instead of leaving the will into the hands of a Master voucher in Grays Inn he had kept it and altered it in his own favour, that the petitioner’s wife’s oncle had discovered it by meer accident tored it in the face of Sanders and Swore that no body Should ever injoy a farthing of his but Ann Easmond; & that Sanders was Since dead; that Mr. Scarfe was worth above 40000£: that he gave Several things of value to her Husband to deliver them Safe into the hands of the petitioner’s wife and that instead of it he had Sold them to a Jew, that her Husband owned her all that upon his death bed &c. and she Could wish she might make an an atonement, but She dont Say who She really is, nor where She is to be met with: However as every thing She mention is Similar to what Mr. Scarfe Mentioned to Ann Easmond, The Petitioner begs your Excellency to procure him the Means of making proper inquiries in the united provinces, as there are reasons to Suspect some bad dealing on the part of Sanders; Mr. Scarfe, might be then, of the age of 60 or 63 years old and Sanders between 30 and 40.

Another affair Something Similiar to the above, makes your Petitioner the More inquisitive.

An ex jesuiste, arrived about 3 Months ago at Caen, the Native place of your petitioner; he went at an Hotel Called la Place Royal, the Keeper’s Name is Le Tellier; as soon as he went in the House, he demanded to Speak with the Landlady,—Madam, Said he are you the wife of one Mr. Le Tellier of Caen in Normandy, She answering in the affirmative, well says he, I inform you that you or some of your family are heirs of a Considerable Estate in America, I am Sure it must be you, a relation has left above 800,000 livres, I will put you in the way and give you all the necessary instructions to recover it, the landlady who has no expectations that way, looked upon him as a Sharper and abused him; he being affronted took his bagage away and left her: Some of the relations of the petitioners hearing of this, thought it might Concern his wife, therefore, have used all their Endeavours and have found him out; they have made Several applications to know the Name of the deceased, the place where he died and in what part of America, but all their Solicitations have been to this day fruitless, he says there is Such fortune belonging to one Le Tellier, but will give no instructions, seems to repent of having Said So much, and would intimate as if one would allow him a Share for his Trouble, However he is of a very good family and has the most distinguished Conections.

The Petitioner, Crave therefore, for the assistance of your eminent Parts in this very intricate yet an important affair, and would esteem himself very happy, if you was pleased to grant him a quarter of an hour hearing, because he may be more explicit in words of mouth than by the dictates of his pen: and let the success be what it will, he will ever join in Prayers with his wife and Numerous family, for your Excellency, as in Duty Bound.

The Petitioner’s address, at Mrs. David’s the Hotel D’Ecosse rue des Noyers près celle des Anglois.