From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 11 January 1782
To John Adams
ALS: Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress
Passy, Jan. 11. 1782
Sir
Your Excellency will see by the within7 the Situation I am in, & will thence judge how far it may be proper for you to accept farther Drafts on Mr Laurens, with any Expectation of my enabling you to pay them, when I have not only no Promise of more Money, but an absolute Promise that I shall have no more.— I shall use my Endeavours however, but am not sure of Succeeding, as we seem to have done what I long fear’d we should do, tir’d out our Friends by our endless Demands to pay Drafts unexpected and boundless.—8 With the Million mentioned I can continue paying to the End of February, & then, if I get no more, must shut up Shop. I have the honour to be, with great Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
His Excelly. J. Adams Esqr
Endorsed: Dr Franklin 11. Jan. 1782 ansd 25.— inclosed is a Letter from M. Le Cte. De Vergennes.
7. He enclosed a copy (in L’Air de Lamotte’s hand) of Vergennes’ letter of Dec. 31, which now is filed with the present letter at the Mass. Hist. Soc.
8. See BF’s letter to McKean of Nov. 5, 1781.