To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 25 July 1779
From Samuel Wharton
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Sunday Morning July 25th. [1779]
Dear Sir
I send your Excellency the within Letter, and parts of the Leidger,6 which may, perhaps, contain some News, That you have not received. The Letter is from a Gentleman of good Connexions & Information in London, and Therefore I would ask the Favor of its not being shewn.7
I am with great Regard your Exellency’s most affectionate & obt. Servant
Saml. Wharton
Addressed: A’ Son Excellence / Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin / &c &c &c / Passy
6. The Public Ledger, a Daily Register of Commerce and Intelligence, founded in 1760, offered mercantile news and advertisements: H.R. Fox Bourne, English Newspapers. Chapters in the History of Journalism (2 vols., London, 1887), I, 196–7, 250.
7. The letter, unsigned, was from Capt. Thomas Hutchins and dated July 9. It reported that the British fleet of thirty-seven ships of the line arrived at Torbay on July 6, and was due to sail the following day. Wharton endorsed the letter, which is now at the National Archives. A notation, “Intelligence from France,” indicates that BF included it among the intelligence reports he forwarded to Congress. Hutchins was arrested in late August for treasonable correspondence with BF: Digges to BF, Sept. 4, below.