1To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 17 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd yours of the 11th Instant as also a preceeding Letter inclosing Dr Wrens Diploma, which I forwarded to him immediately, as I have also that to Dr Withering & shall discharge the Draft in his favor when presented— Church Bells are sold by weight ½ [1s. 2d.] per lb. or £6..10.8 per Cwt. [hundred weight] when wanted, the weight of the Tenor Bell must be...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 23 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd your favor of the 26th Ultimo & have been endeavouring all in my Power ever Since to find out the Value of the two Ships you mention, but hitherto I have not been able to succeed, I find these Ships were released by the Court of Denmark, but so long a Time has elapsed, that those who did the Insurance cannot easily turn to the Acc’t indeed the Union...
3To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 30 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd your kind Letter of the 9th per Mr Jay, who has been somewhat indisposed since his arrival, you may be assured if it lies in my Power to be in the least usefull to him I shall have great Pleasure therein— I shall pay Mr Vinys Bill for your Chariot Wheels & know of no better mode of Conveyance for them than by Rouen— Inclosed you have your Acct with...
4To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 24 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to introduce to your Notice & Civilities the Bearer Seward Esqr & his Friend Mr Graves, they are Gentlemen of Fortune & Letters going to France for their Pleasure, not the least of which will be that of paying their respects to you. Mr Seward is a Member of our old Club & well known to most of your Friends here, every attention you shall pay him...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 18 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty of inclosing you the Act for the Repeal of the prohibitory acts relative to America the Bill rec’d the Royal assent Yesterday, there is another act in some degree of forwardness for taking away the necessity of certain documents that American Ships were required to bring— I hope it will be all that at present is necessary to remove the...
6To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 25 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I reced your kind favor of the 9th & have to return you many thanks for your advice relative to our Ship to which shall strictly conform Mr Vaughan & myself think ourselves very particularly obliged for your Recommendatory Letter to Mr Livingstone— I sent you a copy of the first draft of the intended Bill for opening a Trade to America, I thought it wou’d...
7To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 6 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a few days ago on the Subject of our Ship to America craving your Advice & Assistance wh. I hope you will be so obliging as to favor me with a speedy Answer— I now inclose you the Draft of a Bill now in the House & which no doubt will pass into a Law, for restoring Trade betwixt this Country & America it is formed upon liberal principles & will...
8To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 25 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter reports what proved to be a fatal setback to American hopes that Britain would adopt liberal trade policies toward the United States or would include such provisions in a revised final peace treaty. In the early morning hours of February 22, after an all-night debate, the House of Commons voted to approve the provisional peace treaties but...
9To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 26 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have Rec’d your favor of the 14th per Mr Oswald & am much obliged to you for your friendly Intentions, I have the Satisfaction to inform you that after all the Alarms & Apprehensions the upshot was tolerable, much better than I expected. I without delay waited upon the Secretary of State with the discharges of the Officers you sent me & he readily...
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 8 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the pleasure of writing you some time ago per a friend in which I informed you how much I was hurt to find that Congress had refused to comply with the agreement made here for the Exchange of Prisoners, I have not since then been favored with any of yours. This day I have been at the Secretarys Office again relative to the Exchange of...
11To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 12 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the pleasure to acquaint you that we arrived safe here after a quick passage, but not Time enough I fear to undo what had been done wrong in consequence of premature advice, however still much depends upon future contingent Events, if the final arrangement takes place, all may yet be well, shou’d it happen otherwise, without previous information the...
12To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 14 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I duly reced your favor of the 4th. & am much obliged to you for writing to L’Orient, from whence I have not yet heard—it gives me much Concern that our great Folks here neglect their Business so much, they did absolutely agree with me three months ago. To send away the Prisoners immediately , I have been teizing Nepean the Under Secretary to Mr Townshend,...
13To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 14 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have recd your two favors of the 25th & 30th Ultimo, it rejoices me much to hear you are getting the better of your late Complaints, the World cannot afford to part with you yet— You must not sing the Nunc Dimittis, untill you have compleated that great & glorious work which is to teach future Kings & Ministers that the Liberties & propertys of Mankind...
14To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 26 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Not having any thing particular to Communicate I have deferred too long paying my tribute of thanks for the Civilities I recd from you during my short stay at Paris— I saw the Minister soon after my Return, who was much upon the Fish to know why I paid you a Visit, I turned it off, by saying we had a long Acc’t to settle & that I flatterred myself my...
15To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 19 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you yesterday, in which I acquainted you that I shou’d go to the Secretary’s Office, in order to have the pacquet, which I had made up for you, forwarded by a Courier if any was going. I accordingly went & saw the Earl of Shelburne who entered into a Good deal of Conversation about you & Peace, protested & vowed in the fullest manner & in the...
16To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 18 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have recd yours of the 18th, but not that per Mr Young, I immediately set about procuring you the necessary Information Relative to the Marquis de Fayette & inclosed you have an Acc’t of the Wine & Salt as per Catalogue for Sale which I hope will be fully Satisfactory— if any thing further I mean Oath & Notarial Certificate shou’d be necessary, please...
17To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 13 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Since my last in which I acquainted you with my having rec’d the £200 got by mistake into my namesakes hands in Aldersgate —&c—I have recd your esteemed favor of the 14th Ultimo— I made application immediately for the two Men on board the Conquistador & was promised that if there, they shou’d be discharged & sent in the next Cartel Vessell— The...
18To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 20 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society At the Instance of a very worthy Friend, I take the liberty of introducing to your Notice, Mr Robt. Milligan, of Cecil County in Maryland; a young Gentleman, I am assured, of great worth & Character, who has been for some years studying the Law in this Country, & now designs to visit Paris on his return to America. From this discription, I am confident, he...
19To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 7 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have recd your favor of the 27th Ultimo & your preeceeding Letter with an Acc’t of a Bill you intended for me having been recd by a Namesake of mine for £200— I have rec’d the Money from him tho a good deal alarmed at first at the Circumstances. Administration have given Clothing at their expence to the amount of 20s each man indeed I cou’d not have that...
20To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 10 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have duly rec’d your sundry favors to the 27th Ultimo the exchange of Prisoners I hope will take place in the course of next week— The Transports I am told are ready & there remains nothing to be settled so that as soon as the necessary Forms of Office are gone thro’ I expect they will be sent away. Administration have at my request given directions to...
21To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 14 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am still deprived of any of your favors, tho’ very anxious for your next Letters, having wrote you several, since the late happy Change, in the Administration of this Country. I now enclose you, the Sketch of an Agreement (if it meets yr Ideas) relative to the exchange, of the American prisoners, [ in the margin: in Agitation betwixt me & Mr Nepean under...
22To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson: Two Letters, 9 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last on the 22 Ultimo I have rec’d your favor of the 31 March, inclosed I send you a Copy of the Memorial I had delivered to the Lords of the Admiralty prior to the reception of your Letter & also of the note I have rec’d from Ld shelburne relative to this Business— you may conclude it done, as soon as the official Forms can be got...
23To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, [22 March 1782?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd yesterday from Mr Grand your Remittance for £300 for the use of the Prisoners, this together with the former Remittance in Jany makes in all £460..10 s. recd this Year, from the Number of Prisoners which I have before informed you were about 1000 Men, you will easily judge that I was all the amount of this last remise in advance prior to my receiving...
24To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 1 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a few posts ago, I there mentioned that my funds were more than exhausted, & the demands continue. There is some hope of relief Mr Burke having obtained leave of the House to bring in a Bill for a general Exchange of Prisoners & there is some hope of Success, tho’ I must own I am not very sanguine in my expectations unless we have a Change of...
25To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 22 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you on the 15th Ultimo to which I beg to be referred— Since I am favored with yours of the 7 Jany enclosing a Bill for £10.10 by a Mr Wyld—this Bill was not honoured but understanding the drawer lived in Chesshire I caused him to be informed that if he did not provide for the Payment some way or other I must cause him to be arrested, this has...
26To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 15 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you fully on the 20th Ultimo since when I am not favored with any of yours, a duplicate of your former Letter I rec’d per Mr. A—— who I am sorry to learn has been arrested & is now in Confinement at the suit of Messr. W. & Co— Mr Laurens has been enlarged, but not discharged, having given Bail & entered into recognizance, to appear on a future day,...
27To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 21 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I duly reced your favor of the 19th Ultimo with the sundry inclosures for which I return you my best thanks, Mr. Grand has remitted me £400..15. on your Acco’t for the use of the Prisoners, I have acquainted Mr Vaughan with your directions concerning the supplying of Mr Laurens, he has been acquainted therewith, but hitherto no application has been made to...
28To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 30 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I now remain without any reply to my Letters of the 4th & 18 Sepr, at which I am rather surprised, I find however that Major Cowley concerning whom I wrote has obtained his Parole by which it appears the Black Princess acted under a French Commission he being released as such— The Commissioners of Sick & Hurt sent for me a few days ago & informed, that they...
29To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 18 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the pleasure to write you on the 4th Currt to which I refer— Yesterday the Commissioners of Sick & Hurt sent to desire to see me, I waited on them & they wished me to write you to discharge from his Parole Major Cowley of the 22d Regt taken by the Black princess & carried into Cherburg & now on Parole at Vellona [Valognes], they offered to...
30To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 4 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I duly recd yours of the 8th August, I forgot in my foregoing to inform you that Mr Trumbull had been discharged, indeed I concluded you must have known it from himself as he has left this Country— he repaid me the £10. 10 I let him have. Immediately on receipt of yours I made it my business to find out Mess. Gouverneur & Curson, I went to new Prison to...