To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 11 October 1783
From David Hartley
ALS: Library of Congress
London October 11 1783
Dear Sir
I beg leave to introduce to you by this letter the Revd Dr Scrope1 a Gentleman of a very respectable character & family in Wiltshire bordering upon Glo’stershire. He has likewise the honour of being one of his Majesty’s Chaplains. He is in an infirm state of health and is going in to France for change of climate. The State of his health makes it uncertain at what time he may be able to avail himself of an introduction to you. In these circumstances he has desired me to make him known to you. The very polite attention wch you always show to every English Gentleman makes it unnecessary for me to do any thing farther than to present to you the name and character of Dr Scrope & his request.2
I am Dear Sir with the greatest respect Your Most obedt humble Servt.
D Hartley
To Dr Franklin &c. &c. &c.
1. Richard Scrope (c. 1729–1787), D.D. Oxford University (1764), was a chaplain to George III from 1777 until his death: Joseph Foster, Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886 … (4 vols., London, 1887–88), IV, 1268.
2. On Oct. 24, writing from the Hôtel d’York, Scrope accepted BF’s invitation to dinner the following Sunday on behalf of himself, his wife, and his daughter (APS). His wife was Anne Lambert Scrope and their daughter was Harriet: Gent. Mag., LVII (1787), 644; LXXXIX (1819), 588.