Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-19-02-0016

From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 13 January 1772

To Jonathan Williams, Jr.

ALS: American Philosophical Society

London, Jan 13. 1772.

Dear Jonathan,

I received yours of Sept. [blank] and Nov. 4. It gave me great Pleasure to hear of your safe Arrival and Entring on Business with such Appearance of Success. I wish you every kind of Prosperity.

Agreable to your Request after making a rough Sketch of the Account which I now send to your Father, I paid the Ballance appearing in my Hands £83 3s.d. to Mr. Warren on your Account. He had call’d on me to know what he was to expect when the Bills should be paid, so imagining he might want the Money, I paid him the full that would be in my Hands; tho’ before I paid it, Josiah had told me he should want 40 Guineas more: But this I chose to advance him on a new Account, rather than diminish so much the small Payment to Mr. Warren.5 Your Uncle has never said anything to me of the £149. you desired him to pay me; and I have not ask’d him, understanding that he cannot at present spare it.6

All your Friends here rejoice to hear of your Welfare, and send their best Wishes. I hope you will adhere strictly to your Ready-money Plan, which in my Opinion is too good to be parted with, as leading directly to Success in your Business.7 I am, Your affectionate Uncle

B Franklin

Addressed: To / Mr Jonathan Williams, junior, / Mercht / Boston

Endorsed: Doctr Franklin London Janry 13—1772

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

5See the preceding document and Jonathan’s reply to BF below, April 10.

6For John Williams, the customs inspector, see above, XVII, 212 n. He seems to have been in perennial financial difficulties at this time; see BF’s letter to him below, Aug. 15, 1773.

7Although the two letters that BF was answering have disappeared, it seems clear that BF had recommended the plan; for Jonathan’s discussion of it see his reply cited above.

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