1To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 24 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to introduce to your Notice & Civilities the Bearer Seward Esqr & his Friend Mr Graves, they are Gentlemen of Fortune & Letters going to France for their Pleasure, not the least of which will be that of paying their respects to you. Mr Seward is a Member of our old Club & well known to most of your Friends here, every attention you shall pay him...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 18 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty of inclosing you the Act for the Repeal of the prohibitory acts relative to America the Bill rec’d the Royal assent Yesterday, there is another act in some degree of forwardness for taking away the necessity of certain documents that American Ships were required to bring— I hope it will be all that at present is necessary to remove the...
3To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 25 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I reced your kind favor of the 9th & have to return you many thanks for your advice relative to our Ship to which shall strictly conform Mr Vaughan & myself think ourselves very particularly obliged for your Recommendatory Letter to Mr Livingstone— I sent you a copy of the first draft of the intended Bill for opening a Trade to America, I thought it wou’d...
4To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 6 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a few days ago on the Subject of our Ship to America craving your Advice & Assistance wh. I hope you will be so obliging as to favor me with a speedy Answer— I now inclose you the Draft of a Bill now in the House & which no doubt will pass into a Law, for restoring Trade betwixt this Country & America it is formed upon liberal principles & will...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 25 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter reports what proved to be a fatal setback to American hopes that Britain would adopt liberal trade policies toward the United States or would include such provisions in a revised final peace treaty. In the early morning hours of February 22, after an all-night debate, the House of Commons voted to approve the provisional peace treaties but...
6To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 26 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have Rec’d your favor of the 14th per Mr Oswald & am much obliged to you for your friendly Intentions, I have the Satisfaction to inform you that after all the Alarms & Apprehensions the upshot was tolerable, much better than I expected. I without delay waited upon the Secretary of State with the discharges of the Officers you sent me & he readily...
7To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 8 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the pleasure of writing you some time ago per a friend in which I informed you how much I was hurt to find that Congress had refused to comply with the agreement made here for the Exchange of Prisoners, I have not since then been favored with any of yours. This day I have been at the Secretarys Office again relative to the Exchange of...
8To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the pleasure to acquaint you that we arrived safe here after a quick passage, but not Time enough I fear to undo what had been done wrong in consequence of premature advice, however still much depends upon future contingent Events, if the final arrangement takes place, all may yet be well, shou’d it happen otherwise, without previous information the...
9To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 14 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I duly reced your favor of the 4th. & am much obliged to you for writing to L’Orient, from whence I have not yet heard—it gives me much Concern that our great Folks here neglect their Business so much, they did absolutely agree with me three months ago. To send away the Prisoners immediately , I have been teizing Nepean the Under Secretary to Mr Townshend,...
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 14 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have recd your two favors of the 25th & 30th Ultimo, it rejoices me much to hear you are getting the better of your late Complaints, the World cannot afford to part with you yet— You must not sing the Nunc Dimittis, untill you have compleated that great & glorious work which is to teach future Kings & Ministers that the Liberties & propertys of Mankind...