I bore the journey to Havre, in one of the King's litters, very well, and the voyage also from thence hither in forty-five hours, though the wind was a great part of the time contrary. I shall be glad of a line from you, acquainting me whether you ever received two pieces I sent you some months since; one on your penal laws, the other an account of the residence of an English seaman in China. As you commonly 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. 1590. TO RUELLAN & CO.2 (L. C.) Southampton, July 25, 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, tho' now recover'd 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 ask'd them to give me a Credit here for Fifty 1 See supra, p. 200. —ED. 2 Bankers at Havre. - ED. 3 Peter Thellusson, Sons & Co., bankers in London. - ED. 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 extreamly 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 thankfull 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 Mad® Ruellan. I hope the Children are better. I write to Mr. Limozin,' desiring him to forward my Goods by the Pacquet, 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 Pacquets forbid their taking heavy Goods, but I suppose you may be able to obtain Permission for mine, which will be an additional Favour. With great Esteem, etc., B. FRANKLIN 1591. TO JEAN HOLKER (L. C.) Southampton, July 25, 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 Voyage by sea having incommoded me in the least. I have given you abundance of Trouble with my little Affairs, and am loth to 1 André Limozin, Havre banker, and United States agent for prizes. — ED. give you any more, but cannot well avoid requesting you would be so kind as to show the inclos'd Account to Mr. Garvey when he returns to Rouen, and represent to him that the Charge his Nephew makes of Commissions, three Livres per Box, only for the Care of having my 128 Boxes mov'd out of one Boat into another, appears to me exorbitant, amounting to 390 Livres, near as much as the Expence 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; tho' I should wish to know if there are any Circumstances I am unacquainted with that can make such a 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, B. FRANKLIN. 1592. TO FERDINAND GRAND (L. C.) Southampton, July 25, 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 since. 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 1 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 Pacquet 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 finish'd 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 favour of the Father for Forty-eight thousand Livres, at 30 Days' Sight; in which Case I would have you to sell Six of my Actions of the Caisse d'Escompte, and add to the Product of that sale as much out of the Ballance of my Account now in your hands as will make up the sum of 48,000 Livres. My best Wishes attend you and yours, being with sincere esteem, Dear Sir, your most obliged Friend and humble Serv1, B. FRANKLIN. VOL. IX-2 B 1593. TO ANDRÉ LIMOZIN (L. C.) Southampton, July 25, 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 22nd 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 daughter, being with great regard, sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. 1594. TO MRS. MARY HEWSON1 DEAR FRIEND, (P. C.) Southampton, July 26, 1785. I received here yours of the 23d Instant. I am sorry it did not suit you to go in the Ship with me, having engaged Places 1 From the original in the possession of T. Hewson Bradford, M.D. - ED. |