To Benjamin Franklin from James Hutton, 2 March 1784
From James Hutton
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Pimlico March 2. 1784.
Dear Sir
The Bearer of this, George Livius Esqr,1 is a many years friend of mine, and one whom I very much Love, as He is going to Paris, I am very glad of the opportunity of calling myself to your Remembrance, and of sending you an extract of the last Appendix to the Monthly Review, which is in one of your Branches of usefulness.2 I beg you to recieve my worthy friend as a Portion of myself. He is well acquainted with our Brethren, and has shewn those in the East Indies many kindnesses. This will certainly give him a Distinction in your Eyes.3
I saw Dolly Blunt last Sunday well in Spirits, and saw Mr West the Painter & his Wife, He is painting five pieces for the Kings House or Chapel at Windsor.4 I saw there young Trumbull, who had just finishd an excellent Portrait of your acquaintance Mr Temple.5 I think Trumbull will do well. I saw a most exquisitely fine marble Bust of you at Mr West’s, I never saw a finer or more ressembling.6 You say in that Bust—ye are very welcome to claim all ye please. I do not care. Something like what you said to me in Jan. 1778.7 Good morrow, Dear Sir I am your most obliged and Obedient Servant8
James Hutton
Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin / Passy / near Paris / with a small parcel.
1. George Livius (1743–1816), the younger brother of Peter Livius (XX, 325–6), was an active supporter of the Moravian Church. He had recently returned to England after a decade in India: Walter A. Reichart, “Washington Irving’s Friend and Collaborator: Barham John Livius, Esq.,” PMLA, LVI (1941), 514–15; J. C. S. Mason, The Moravian Church and the Missionary Awakening in England, 1760–1800 (Woodbridge, Eng., and Rochester, N.Y., 2001), pp. 81–2.
2. Article VIII of the appendix to the most recent volume, covering the second half of 1783, summarized Faujas de Saint-Fond’s Description des expériences de la machine aérostatique de MM. de Montgolfier … (XLI, 81–2), and chronicled the balloon experiments conducted in December, after Faujas’ book was issued. That review was followed by an article criticizing Faujas’ speculations on the gas used in Montgolfier’s balloons, and offering a different explanation. Though the critique was unsigned, the editor, in denying that national prejudice had informed it, attributed the piece to a “distinguished philosopher who … is not a native of this country.” As the article named BF as one of the signatories to the affidavit of Montgolfier’s first manned balloon experiment (XLI, 210–12), Hutton would have known of BF’s involvement. Though Hutton’s enclosure is missing, it is likely that he sent an extract of this article: Monthly Review, LXIX (1783), 561–8.
3. The sole surviving note from Livius to BF, written on a “Friday morng.”, informed BF that he would not be able to visit on Sunday, but would call early the next week “to receive [BF’s] commands for London”: George Livius to BF, [after March 2, 1784] (APS).
4. Over more than two decades, possibly beginning as early as 1778, West executed or began paintings for two chapels, an audience chamber, and other settings at Windsor Castle. At least two paintings and a number of preliminary works were completed by 1784, and any number of others may have been under way by the date of the present letter; see Helmut von Erffa and Allen Staley, The Paintings of Benjamin West (New Haven and London, 1986), pp. 89–102, 577–81.
5. John Temple (X, 389–90n). John Trumbull was at this time a student of West’s. The master evidently gave his “approbation” of this portrait shortly after Hutton saw it: Irma B. Jaffe, John Trumbull: Patriot-Artist of the American Revolution (Boston, 1975), pp. 56–7, 62–3, 311.
6. West himself praised the likeness in a letter to BF: XXXVII, 236.
7. When Hutton had visited BF on an unsuccessful mission to broker peace between America and Britain: XXV, 401–2, 402–3n.
8. At the bottom of the sheet BF wrote “Sir Charles Raymon & Co Bankers London”. Sir Charles Raymond was at this time the principal of Raymond, Harley, Lloyd and Cameron: F. G. Hilton Price, A Handbook of London Bankers … (1876; reprint, New York, 1970), p. 73.