To Benjamin Franklin from George Scott, 23 September 1780
From George Scott
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Naples the 23d Sepr. 1780
Honourable Sir
I confirm the contents of my two letters which I had the pleasure to write you from hence on the 13th. & 17th. May last,5 to which I hope you paid the necessary attention. By the last post I received a letter from our very worthy friend Dr. P——who desires me, in case I shall return thro’ Paris, to communicate to you certain events respecting his parting from Ld. Shelburne, & his present sittuation; but as I think of going home by Sea, I shall not have the pleasure to pay my personal respects to you, & therefore, I have resolved to send you an exact copy of his letter here enclosed.6 I have engaged a passage in a Dutch Ship for Leghorn, & the Captain says he will sail tomorrow. I am with a lively esteem Honbl. Sir Your very Obedt Servt
Geo: Scott
Addressed: The Honourable / Benjn. Franklin Esqr. / Passy
Notation: George Scott. Naples Sept 23. 1780
5. XXXII, 383–5, 384n. The present letter is the last extant one from Scott.
6. Scott apparently enclosed a copy of a letter from Joseph Priestley dated Sept. 1. Priestley reported that he had been ill of a bilious disorder for nearly six months and hence almost incapable of writing and that he was going to live in Birmingham on the £150 per annum allowed him by Lord Shelburne (XXXI, 456n). Some friends talked of supporting him so he could pursue his experiments; otherwise he planned to take in boarders. He asked Scott to convey his respects to BF and acquaint him with the change in his situation. APS.