From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 September 1758
To Deborah Franklin
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London, September 21. 1758
My dear Child,
I have wrote you a long Letter of 3 Sheets per Duncan, and sent also in a large Pacquet directed to you, a great Number of Letters for my Friends. By Bolitho I shall send you some Stuff for Chair Bottoms, and an Iron Oven if I can get it on board.5 Seal the enclos’d before you forward it. I have this Day got a most violent Cold, but hope it will wear off without any Sickness.6 Billy not yet return’d from the Country. We have lately met with a small Rebuff in France. The Troops are return’d.7 Mr. Shutz’s Brother has the Birmingham Things in his Care.8 I am, Dear Debby Your ever loving Husband
B Franklin
Addressed: To / Mrs Franklin / at the Post Office / Philadelphia / per the Carolina / Capt. Duncan
5. See above, pp. 133–46, for the long letter, and below, p. 226 n, for the arrivals of Captains Duncan and Bolitho in Philadelphia. The “Pacquet” probably contained the several letters of the 16th. BF paid £1 10s. 8d. for eight yards of cotton, perhaps for chair bottoms, on Sept. 21, 1758, and on October 26 paid £5 7s. 8d. for the oven. “Account of Expences,” pp. 34, 36; PMHB, LV (1931), 114–15.
6. William Strahan wrote David Hall, Sept. 26, 1758, “Mr. Franklin I saw yesterday. He has got a little Cold, which has obliged him to keep at home this two or three Days. He is really a most sensible and amiable Man.” APS.
7. A poorly led British force at the Bay of St. Cas, Brittany, suffered heavy casualties in re-embarking on Sept. 11, 1758. Gipson, British Empire, VII, 136–7.
8. See above, pp. 144–5.