To Benjamin Franklin from Jacob Duché, Junior, 6 May 1757
From Jacob Duché, Junior3
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Philada. May 6. 1757
Sir
As you kindly offered me your best Services before you left Philadelphia, which, as I had then no Commands to trouble you with; I declined the Honor of accepting, I now beg Leave to make Use of the Liberty you permitted me, to request you to take Charge of the inclosed Letters. I believe you are personally acquainted with the Gentlemen to whom they are directed, and may perhaps have an Opportunity of seeing them yourself. I wish you the highest Success in your laudable Undertakings, as I am well convinced that all your Actions hitherto have been immediately for the Public Good, and trust that in your future Conduct, you will still have that noblest of Ends in View.4
I am, Sir, Your assured Friend and very humble Servant
Jacob Duché Junr.
P.S. My Father sends his Compliments and best Wishes to you.
Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esqr.
Endorsed: Jac. Duché junr May 6. 57
3. See above, p. 170 n.
4. Duché was nineteen years old at the time of writing this commendation. Eleven days later he graduated in the first class of the College of Philadelphia. At the time of the newspaper controversies a year earlier he had been one of four students who had presented to the College Trustees a paper in support of Provost Smith, although his father was one of those Anglicans whom Peters had called “mere Franklinists.” See above, VI, 456–7 n; Montgomery, Hist. Univ. Pa., pp. 272–3. The present letter suggests that young Duché might by now have become a “Franklinist” himself, but less than a year later he was again supporting Smith.