From Benjamin Franklin to Elizabeth and Benjamin West, 16 August 1780
To Elizabeth and Benjamin West
ALS: McGill University Library
Passy, Augt. 16. 1780
I received by the hand of Mr Strange,4 and contemplated with great Pleasure, the Representations of my dear Friends Mr and Mrs West, & their Children,5 contain’d in the fine Print they have been so kind as to send me.6 I pray God to bless them all, particularly my Godson, and grant them to live as long as I have done, & with as much Health, who continue as hearty as a Buck, with a Hand still steady, as they may see by this Writing. I hope yet to embrace them once more in Peace: In the mean time I wish them every kind of Felicity, being with sincere Respect & Esteem Theirs affectionately
B Franklin
Mr & Mrs West
Addressed: To / Mr West / History Painter / London
Notation: Dr. Franklin
4. Robert Strange, who frequently carried correspondence between BF and his friends in England: XXXI, 404n.
5. The painter and his wife had been friends of BF’s in London. Their children were Raphael Lamar and Benjamin, Jr., BF’s godson: XVII, 195n; XIX, 274, 373.
6. The engraving is described in our List of Illustrations.