Commissioners formally request French aid, January 5; Louis XVI approves response to commissioners January 9, and January 13 they receive verbal promise of two million livres. Moves to Paris suburb of Passy about February 27, where he remains during French mission. Elected to Royal Medical Society of Paris, June 17. Combats reports of British victories spread by English Ambassador Lord Stormont by making his name a laughingstock: asked in August if it was true that six battalions in Washington's army had surrendered, Franklin replies, "No, Monsieur, it is not true; it is only a Stormont." Downplays the significance of Sir William Howe's taking of Philadelphia by commenting "it was not he who had taken Philadelphia, but instead Philadelphia had taken him." August 25, orders fifty pounds of type, evidently intending to set up small printing press at home; quantity of type indicates he was planning to print only small notes, forms, and documents. (Purchases additional type in 1778 and 1779, and occasionally employs printers from 1779 to 1783 to work on larger documents, pamphlets, and books. Probably prints small pieces, including the bagatelles, himself.) News of British defeat at Saratoga in October arrives December 4, and spurs negotiations leading to French alliance, Establishes several circles of friends in Passy area, including Louis Le Veillard, Madame Brillon de Jouy (to whom he writes flirtatious letters and bagatelles), La Comtesse d'Houdetot (Jean Jacques Rousseau's mistress), and especially the widow Madame Helvétius, whose salon includes Anne Robert Jacques Turgot, France's finance minister, and other notable French intellectuals.