From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper Johonnot, 19 August 1783
To Samuel Cooper Johonnot
ALS: Yale University Library
Passy, Augt. 19. 1783.
My dear young Friend,
I received your Letter of the 14th. Instant, and am glad to hear of your safe Arrival at Nantes; it gives me Concern however to learn that you were too late for the Boston Vessel. If you had gone in the first Diligence after you came here, as I directed when I sent Lamotte7 with you to Paris to secure a Place for you, which you would not suffer him to do, you would have been at Nantes in time to have gone in that Vessel which sail’d but two days before you got there for Boston, and might now have been far on your Voyage, and have sav’d your Father all the Expence of your waiting for the Philadelphia Ship, and of the Journey from thence to Boston, which your Wilfulness must now cost him. You are yet too young to reject safely the Advice of your Friends. You should continue to comply with it till you are wiser, which I doubt not you will be in time. In hopes of which I am still Your affectionate Friend
B Franklin
Mr Cooper Johonnot
Endorsed: Dr Franklin Passy Augt 19th Nantes Aug 26th
7. BF’s secretary Jean L’Air de Lamotte.