Benjamin Franklin Papers

From Benjamin Franklin to David Barclay, 12 February 1781

To David Barclay

Reprinted from John Coakley Lettsom, ed., Memoirs of John Fothergill, M.D. (4th edition, London, 1786), pp. 166–7; transcript: Q.E. Gurney (Norfolk, England, 1957)

Passy, 12 February 1781.

Dear Sir,

I condole with you most sincerely on the loss of our dear friend Dr Fothergill. I hope that some one that knew him well, will do justice to his memory, by an account of his life and character. He was a great doer of good. How much might have been done, and how much mischief prevented, if his, your, and my joint endeavours, in a certain melancholy affair,2 had been attended to!!

With great respect and esteem, I am, &c.

B. Franklin.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2The unsuccessful secret negotiations in 1774–75; see our annotation of Waterhouse to BF, Jan. 10, above.

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