To Benjamin Franklin from William Temple Franklin, 27 November 1784
From William Temple Franklin
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Dover, 27th. Novr. 1784
My dearest Sir,
After various Delays we are at length arrived here, all well,4 and very anxious to embrace you at Passy; where we hope to be Wednesday or Thursday next.—5 We might have cross’d the Water to Night in the Packet, by which this goes,—but none of us like to pass the Night at Sea—& particularly in a Public Vessel: we have therefore freighted a Boat entirely for ourselves, & shall embark tomorrow Morg: as early as the Tide will permit.
I just write this to prevent your being uneasy concerning us—and that you would be pleased to give the necessary Directions for our Reception.
I am ever my dearest Sir, Your most dutiful & affectionate Grandson—
W. T. Franklin
Mrs Hewson presents you her best Respects.—
B. Franklin Esqr—
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre Plenipotentiaire / des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique / à Passy.— / près Paris.
Endorsed: W T Franklin’s Letters when in England
4. WTF and Hewson apparently agreed that he would meet her in Cheam on Nov. 21, but he did not show up and did not send word. Hewson wrote to him that she was leaving for Rochester and would meet him there on Nov. 23. On Nov. 24, frantic at not seeing or hearing from him, she wrote to inform him that she would not leave Rochester until she received word of his plans. It seems that WTF did not leave London until Nov. 25: Hewson to WTF, Nov. 18, [Nov. 21], and Nov. 24, 1784; William Alexander, Jr., to WTF, [Nov. 24, 1784]; all at the APS.
5. The party arrived on Thursday, Dec. 2: BFB’s journal, entry of Dec. 2, 1784. The next day TJ wrote to WTF to welcome him back and invite him for dinner (New Haven Colony Hist. Soc.).