Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-40-02-0129

From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Franklin Bache, 23 June 1783

To Benjamin Franklin Bache

ALS: University of Pennsylvania Library

Passy, June 23. 1783.

My dear Child,

I received your late Letter,3 and am pleas’d to see that you improve in your Writing. I have also receiv’d the little Drawing of a Country-house, which seems to be prettily done, and shows that you advance also in that Art. I write by this Post to Mr. Marignac, requesting that he would permit you to come and see me and stay with me during the Vacation of the Schools.4 I hear you have been sick,5 but I hope you are recover’d and strong enough to undertake the Journey; and then it may do you good, and help to confirm your Health. Your Cousin remembers his Love to you, and I am ever your affectionate Grandfather,

B Franklin

My Love to Johonnot I have lately heard from his Friends and yours who are all well.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

3Missing. It must have been written between BFB’s of May 30 and June 20.

4Not found.

5BF undoubtedly heard this from Matthew Ridley, who had just seen BFB in Geneva and had wanted to bring the child back to Paris with him; see BFB to BF, May 30, and Robert Pigott to BF, June 27. Ridley arrived in Paris on June 13: Matthew Ridley’s Journal, entry of June 13, 1783 (Mass. Hist. Soc.).

On June 2, in Ridley’s absence, his clerk Nicolas Darcel sent BF three bills for acceptance: no. 1902 for 300 l.t. and nos. 551 and 552 for 60 l.t. each. On July 15 Darcel sent nos. 1960, 1961, 1963, and 1964, listed at 90 l.t. each. (Both letters are at the APS.) According to the ledger of loan office bills accepted by BF (XXXVII, 439n), a set of the former group had been paid on Feb. 11. A notation on Ridley’s letterbook copy of the June 2 letter confirms this (Mass. Hist. Soc.). As for the latter bills, no. 1960 had been paid on Jan. 20, 1783, and the other three on Sept. 30, 1782; all four were for 60 l.t.

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