monly said something to me concerning the things I used to send you, I apprehend you either have not received these, or do not like them. If you have any thing to say by me to your friends in America, send it, and I will take care to deliver it. Adieu, my dearest friend. I am ever yours, B. FRANKLIN. MCCCLXIV TO MR. LIMOZIN SOUTHAMPTON, 25 July, 1785. SIR: We arrived here on Sunday morning about 7 o'clock. I was not in the least incommoded by the voyage, but my children and my friend Mr. Veillard were very sick. I have just learned that our ship was at Gravesend the 22d and expected to be in the Downs yesterday, and therefore may be here sooner than was at first proposed, so that I have now no hopes of the goods being here in time to go in her. I therefore hereby desire you would forward them to New York in the packet, in case a packet sails from Havre next month, as has been proposed, and you have no vessel to sail directly for Philadelphia. The packets are indeed by the original regulations not allowed to take heavy goods upon freight, but I am persuaded Mr. Ruellan will at your request obtain the permission. I write to Mr. Grand to pay your account against me for disbursements and commission. And I desire you besides to accept my thankful acknowledgments. My best wishes attend you and your amiable daugh ter, being with great regard, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. MCCCLXV TO MR. RUELLAN SOUTHAMPTON, 25 July, 1785. DEAR SIR: We arrived here yesterday morning about 8 o'clock. I was not in the least incommoded by the voyage, but M. Le Veillard and my grandsons were all very sick upon the passage, though now recovered and well. Capt. Jennings staying here till to-morrow morning, and having heard since my coming here that the ship has sailed from London, I begin to fear it will be impossible for him to return in time with the rest of my baggage, supposing it to be now at Havre. I have forwarded your letter of credit to Messrs. Thellusson, and asked them to give me a credit here for fifty guineas, if I should want so much; but as my stay is like to be very short, I know not yet whether I shall have occasion to make any use of it. I am nevertheless extremely sensible of the kindness and generosity of your proceeding in that letter, as well as in every other point of your friendly entertainment and good offices at Havre, and the provision you laid in for us. I can at present only offer in return my thankful acknowledgments, requesting that if at any time I can be of any use to you in America, or to any friend of yours, you would be so good as to command me freely. Be pleased to present my respectful compliments to good Mme. Ruellan. I hope the children are better. I write to Mr. Limozin, desiring him to forward my goods by the packet, in case the next sails from Havre, as has been said, and no vessel offers sooner that goes directly to Philadelphia. If I remember right, the regulations of the packets forbid their taking heavy goods, but I suppose you may be able to obtain permission for mine, which will be an additional favor. With great esteem, etc., B. FRANKLIN. MCCCLXVI TO MR. HOLKER SOUTHAMPTON, 25 July, 1785. MY DEAR FRIEND:-I know it will give you and good Mrs. Holker pleasure, to learn that we arrived safe and well here yesterday morning, neither the journey by land nor the voyage by sea having incommoded me in the least. I have given you abundance of trouble with my little affairs, and am loth to give you any more, but cannot well avoid requesting you would be so kind as to show the enclosed account to Mr. Garvey when he returns to Rouen, and represent to him that the charge his nephew makes of commissions, three livres a box, only for the care of having my 128 boxes moved out of one boat into another, appears to me exorbitant, amounting to 390 livres, near as much as the expense of bringing them from Paris to Rouen, and three times as much as has been demanded of me for their freight between Havre and Cowes, loading and discharging included. If Mr. Garvey confirms the charge, which I think he hardly will, let him say so at the bottom of the account, and then send it with this letter to Mr. Grand, whom I hereby desire and authorize to pay it; because I would not leave any just claim upon me remaining in France; though I should wish to know if there are any circumstances I am unacquainted with that can make such charge appear reasonable. God bless you both, my dear friends, and believe me ever, with a heart deeply sensible of all your kindness, yours most affectionately, MCCCLXVII B. FRANKLIN. TO MR. GRAND SOUTHAMPTON, 25 July, 1785. DEAR SIR:-I wrote a few lines to you per post yesterday morning, to acquaint you with my arrival here, not in the least incommoded by the journey and voyage, but rather better than I have been for a long time past. Our goods that were sent down the river had not arrived at Havre when we left that place, and as I learn here that our ship was at Gravesend the 22d. and expected to be in the Downs yesterday evening, she may be here to-morrow, so that I now almost despair of getting them at Cowes in time to go in her, and they must be forwarded in the August packet if that sails from Havre, or wait some other opportunity. To me the disappointment will not be much, as the things I most immediately want came down by the Roulier, and are with me, but Mr. Houdon will be at a loss for his clay, etc. Mr. Limozin has the care of receiving and forwarding our things; but the business not being finished I could not settle the account with him, but have directed him to exhibit it to you, and I desire you would pay it. The person who manages Mr. Garvey's business in his absence has made a heavy charge against me as his commission. I have sent the account to Mr. Holker, desiring he would show it to Mr. Garvey on his return, and acquaint him that I think that charge enormous; but if he confirms it, then to send the account to you with my letter in which I desire you to pay it. To assist my grandson in a purchase he is making of his father now here, perhaps I may draw on you in favor of the father for forty-eight thousand livres, at thirty days' sight; in which case I would have you to sell six of my Actions of the Caisse d'Escompte, and add to the produce of that sale as much out of the balance of my account now in your hands as will make up the sum of forty-eight thousand livres. My best wishes attend you and yours, being with sincere esteem, dear sir, your most obliged friend and humble servant. B. FRANKLIN. |