From Benjamin Franklin to Mr. Pomeroy, 1 August 1767
To Mr. Pomeroy8
Draft: American Philosophical Society
Cravenstreet Augt. 1. 67
Sir
I yesterday had the Pleasure of receiving the enclosed from Dr. Robertson, Principal of the University of Edinburgh, in answer to mine relating to Mr. Cooper, of which I send you a Copy.9 I feel myself happy in having been any way instrumental in procuring an Honour so justly due to that Gentleman’s uncommon Merit.1 As soon as I receive the Diploma, I shall hand it to you for Conveyance to Boston. I am, very respectfully, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr. Pomeroy
8. Senior partner of the firm of linen drapers, Pomeroys & Hodgkin, of 144 Leadenhall Street, who on March 18 had sent BF two of Samuel Cooper’s sermons for use in getting him an honorary degree; above, p. 92. Pomeroy’s first name has not been found.
9. As the letter immediately following makes clear, BF had applied to his old friend, William Robertson, recommending an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity for the Reverend Samuel Cooper, minister of the Brattle Square Church in Boston, and Robertson had replied favorably. Neither of these letters has been found.
1. Readers attentive to BF’s choice of words when writing with some degree of formality will be interested to know that in this sentence he first wrote in the draft “an Honour so long and so eminently due to that Gentleman’s distinguished Merit.” He then struck through the words identified here by italics and substituted “justly” and “uncommon” in their respective places.