To Benjamin Franklin from John Blair, 13 January 1767
From John Blair9
AL: American Philosophical Society
Princes Street Leicester fields
Tuesday Morn Jany 13th [17671]
Dr. Blairs Compliments to Dr. Franklin and begs leave to acquaint him that Lady Irwin2 and one or two Ladys with her propose making him a Visit next Tuesday at twelve if agreable. Mr. George Lewis Scott,3 and Mr. Strahan of Suffolk Street4 are to be of the Party.
Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin / Craven Street
9. For Dr. John Blair, the chronologer and divine, see above, XIII, 517 n.
1. So dated because January 13 fell on a Tuesday only in 1761 and 1767, during BF’s second mission. Perhaps this note and that of February 28 below should have been assigned to the earlier year.
2. Possibly the wife of Charles Ingram (1727–1778), M.P. for Horsham, 1747–63, who succeeded his uncle as Viscount Irwin (Irvine) in the latter year. He had been groom of the bedchamber to George III as Prince of Wales and as King from 1756 until 1763. Through his connection with the royal household he could have met Blair, who had been chaplain to George III’s mother and tutor in mathematics to his brother, the Duke of York. Namier and Brooke, House of Commons, II, 665–6.
3. George Lewis Scott (1708–1780), F.R.S., 1737, was trained as a lawyer, but was celebrated for his knowledge of mathematics. In 1750 he was made a sub-preceptor to the future George III and his younger brother and in 1758 was made a commissioner of the Excise. DNB.
4. Not identified; apparently not a connection of William Strahan.