From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 31 December 1756
To William Strahan
ALS: Free Library of Philadelphia
Philada. Dec. 31. 1756
Dear Sir
This serves only to cover a Bill of Exchange drawn by B. Mecom on you, upon a Supposition that you have receiv’d Bills he sent you from Antigua for about £120 more than the Ballance of your Account.2 If those Bills are not come to hand or not paid, you need not be at the Trouble of Protesting this Bill; but let it lie in your Hands till you hear farther from me. If those Bills are paid, then please to carry this £100 to my Account. B. Mecom has settled honourably with me, and bought my old Printing-House that he had at Antigua. He wants some new Letter which he now writes for. Lest his Bills abovementioned should fail, I have given him a Draft on my Friend Collinson for Fifty Pounds Sterling which he now sends to you. He purposes to set up in Boston.3 My Respects affectionately to you and yours, particularly my Son Billy.4 It gives me great Pleasure to learn by your last that he is become so capable of Business.5 I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient Servant
B Franklin
Addressed: To / Mr Wm Strahan / Printer / London
2. See above, VI, 467, 477.
3. See immediately above.
4. A reference to the proposed marriage between William Strahan, Jr., and Sarah Franklin, which the two fathers often mentioned but which never took place.
5. Strahan’s letter to BF not found; but on Sept. 11, 1756, Strahan had written to David Hall that by the departure of a senior employee he had lately had “a good Opportunity of bringing Billy forward in the Business, who now supplies his place extremely well, and vastly beyond my Expectation, or what could reasonably be hoped from one of his Years.” APS.