To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 21 August 1772
From Arthur Lee
AL: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Monday. 21. Augt. 1772.
Mr. Lee’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin. The Gentleman who deliverd him the inclosd Letter, having informd him, that the Bearer of it from Mr. Cushing was under an express injunction to deliver it to Dr. Lee in the absence of Dr. Franklin, as the Contents requird immediate attention; Mr. L. took the Liberty of opening it.2 The Contents however appear to Mr. L. to be such, as may well wait for Dr. Franklin’s better judgment.
[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]
2. For Lee’s association with BF in the Massachusetts agency see above, XVII, 257–8; this is the first extant communication between them. We have no idea who carried Cushing’s letter, but it was undoubtedly that of July 15 above; BF replied below, Sept. 3.