To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Bridgen, 23 October 1782
From Edward Bridgen
ALS: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
London Octr 23 1782
I was much obliged by the honour of your Excellency’s favour of the 25th: of last Month5 which did not arrive until the 9th. Currant.
I feel myself much indebted to you My Dr: Sir for the kind interest you have taken in my affairs in No: Carolina:6 I fancy nothing will now be done until a Peace is made, which is not far off. On this Account I now beg leave to trouble your Excellency, with the Proposals, formerly hinted at, respcting the Copper Coinage for the United States, which if you Sir approve, I beg you would have the goodness to forward to Congress by the first good Opportunity.7
I think the proposals are advantageous to the States, however if, upon enquiry, the buisness can be done more advantgeously in any other Country (for I am certain that it cannot here) I have nothing more to say, but that I should be happy to be in posession of Some of the first coin.
I have a Seperate paper on the Subject of the Designs, which I shall take the liberty to Trouble you with the next good opportunity I have, which I hope will be soon; but at present I have not time to transcribe it.
I also have receiv’d a letter from Mr Bowens respecting the Case of Books & Maps Sent by the Governor to your Excellency; giving me an Acct that the Capt: had lost the Case, and requesting to know its Value?8 I accordingly wrote to the Govr: immediately, to know its Value, but have receiv’d as yet no Answer: therefore must request Sir that you would send Mr Bowens of what Value the Case was?
I have the honour to be with great respect and Esteem Your Excellency’s much obliged & Obedt Servt
Edward Bridgen
His Excellency Benjn: Franklin Esqr
5. Not found.
6. BF wrote the governor of North Carolina to request that Bridgen’s confiscated land and slaves be restored: XXXVII, 703.
7. Bridgen enclosed the proposal that he had alluded to on Sept. 6, above. Dated Oct. 23, it was a copy of what he and his partner John Waller had presented to Henry Laurens in May, 1782, and were now offering to Congress “through the hands of Benjamin Franklin Esqr.” They proposed to supply Congress with round copper blanks of any size or, alternately, to mill and strike copper coins according to whatever drawings Congress might supply (National Archives). See also Laurens Papers, XV, 512n.
8. Thomas Pownall sent the case of books and maps to Bridgen, who was to forward it to BF through François Bowens: XXXVII, 371. See also BF to Pownall, [September, 1782].