Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Colden, 6 August 1771

From Alexander Colden

ALS: American Philosophical Society

General Post Office New York Augt 6th 1771

Dear Sir

The 2d of last Month I wrote you by the Packet in Answer to yours of the first of May. I have since made strict search for Mr. Jessers letter but can’t find it.4

By order of Mr. Foxcroft Inclosed I send you the second set of those Bills, he sent last Packet. Mr. Foxcroft and Lady are both at Boston and in good health the last Letter [torn: I had from?] him.

By the Papers you will [torn: see that our?] New Governor Mr. Tryon is Arrived and taken the Administration of the Government upon him. His Aimable Disposition leaves no room to doubt we will be happy in having so worthy a Gentleman for our Governor. Lord Dunmore has sent his servants and Baggage to Virginia. When he goes to that Government not known.5 His Lordship at present is on a Tour to Lake Champlain.

The Lt. Governor Mrs. Colden and Familly [torn: join?] in Sincere Compliments with Dear Sir Your Very Obedient Most humble Servant

Alexr Colden

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

4See Colden’s earlier letter of July 2.

5Governors were being shifted in bewildering fashion, one from New York to Virginia and the other from North Carolina to New York. In his former governorship Tryon had just suppressed the Regulators; in his new one he was about to confront the Green Mountain Boys. See Drage to BF above, March 2; N.Y. Col. Docs., VIII, 252, 272–7.

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