To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Pigott, [between 22 April 1784 and 18 May 1784?]
From Robert Pigott
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Hotel d’Angleterre [Fri?]day 4 O Clock.
[between April 22 and May 18, 1784?]1
Dear Sir
I had proposed myself the honor of dining to day at Passy, but Business of the day has prevented me of having that Pleasure As I propose going to England early on Sunday morning, I shall be proud to receive your commands and of executing any of your orders As I am with the greatest Respect & Regard dear Sir Your most faithful & obed Sert.
R. Pigott
Addressed: A Son Excellence / Dr. Franklyn / Passy.
1. The best we can do with this letter, given that the day of the week is nearly illegible (“Friday” is highly conjectural), is to assign to it a plausible range of dates. When writing to Benjamin Webb on April 22 (above), BF believed Pigott to be in Geneva. By Tuesday, May 18, when Webb wrote to BF (below), Pigott had written Webb three letters from Paris, the last of which indicated that he intended to leave for London the next day. As Pigott here tells BF that he intends to leave for England on “Sunday,” his third letter to Webb was probably written on a Saturday. May 8 is the most likely Saturday, given how long it took for a letter to reach Geneva from Paris.