To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 1 March 1782
From William Hodgson
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London 1 March 1782
Dear sir
I wrote you a few posts ago,7 I there mentioned that my funds were more than exhausted, & the demands continue. There is some hope of relief Mr Burke having obtained leave of the House to bring in a Bill for a general Exchange of Prisoners8 & there is some hope of Success, tho’ I must own I am not very sanguine in my expectations unless we have a Change of Men, which perhaps may be the Case after what passed last night9 which being matter of public Notoriety I need not mention to you, If it shoud produce any change of measures that desireable Object Peace may still be within our Reach; Mr L—— [Laurens] in answer to a Note I sent him of the present opportunity says “he considers himself as restricted from writing to persons abroad, but that he is attempting to do good & will do all in his Power;”— You know If I can be of any use you may Command my utmost Attention being most truly— Yrs Sincerely
William Hodgson
Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin1
7. On Feb. 22, above.
8. On Feb. 26 Burke was granted leave to bring to the House of Commons his bill “for the more effectual exchange of American prisoners”: London Courant, Noon Gazette, and Daily Advertiser, Feb. 27.
9. The vote described in Burke’s letter of Feb. 28, above.
1. On the address sheet and on the back of the letter are sketches we cannot interpret.