1From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 10 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Having represented to Congress the Services rendered to our Prisoners by the Revd Mr Wren, I have the Pleasure of transmitting their Thanks, together with a Diploma from the College at Princetown, which I beg you would forward to him with my Respects. I shall not fail to recommend my Friend for the Consulship, being with unalterable Esteem & Affection...
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson: Two Letters, 19 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
(I) Copies: William L. Clements Library, Library of Congress; (II) AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: William L. Clements Library, Public Record Office; incomplete copy: Library of Congress Of the Credit I have lately ordered, thro’ Mr. Grand, of £400.. 15.. 0. sterling, I request you would hold 100£ at the Disposition of Mr. Laurens Prisoner in the Tower, & that you would acquaint Mr....
3From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 14 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have this Moment received your favour of Jany. 28. I had written to you the 20th. of the same Month, and enclosed a second passport for Morlaix. I hope to hear of its being come to hand, tho’ it was not when you wrote. I have written also lately to Mr. Hartly and Mr. Digges on the subject of our Prisoners.— I shall give Orders this Day for the sending away in the...
4From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 9 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Privately owned Your Favour of the 25th past, is but just come to hand. I think with you, that the making you pay 23£ for our Passport is a shameful Imposition. Your Secretaries had 200 of us; in exchange for as many of theirs indeed; but we had no Occasion for a quarter of the Number; and those that were wanted we gave away gratis. There is no bounds to the Avidity of Officers in old...
5From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 11 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favours of the 10th. and 28th. of march. The Method you propose of managing the Money for the Prisoners is perfectly agreable to me. You desired in your last that I would explain how it happen’d that no Prisoners went back in the last Cartel. I did not till this Day well understand it myself; or I should have answer’d sooner. When our Little Squadron...
6From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 8 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the past, and immediately gave Orders to Mr Grand to remit you One hundred and ten Pounds Sterling for the farther Relief of the Prisoners. I beg you would repeat my grateful Acknowledgments to your Friends at Portsmouth & Plymouth, for the unwearied Care & Pains they have taken in this troublesome tho’ charitable Work, and...
7From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 25 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 12th inclosing the Letters you mention which prove the Villainy of Digges. I have received two other Letters from him since that of which you have a Copy. I inclose Copies of these also. You will see in the last that he has the Impudence to pretend being mightily injured by my Protesting of his last Bill, and...
8From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 30 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Draft and copy: Library of Congress I recd your Favour of the 9th. Inst. I am convinc’d of the Reasonableness of your Remarks, and leave the Disposition of the Money entirely to your Discretion. As I had formerly written to Mr Digges on the same Subject, and on the Stoppage of our Correspondence wrote to you, I wish it may be convenient to you to see him, so as that you may not be both doing...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 1 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I received your respected Favour of the 20th past, & am shock’d exceedingly at the Account you give me of Digges. He that robbs the Rich even of a single Guinea, is a Villain, but what is he who can break his sacred Trust by robbing a poor Man and a Prisoner of Eighteen Pence given charitably for his Relief, and repeat that Crime as often as there are Weeks in a...
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 31 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan I have ordered another Sum into your hands for the Prisoners, and will keep you constantly supply’d so as that you may furnish them with a Shilling each per Week from the middle of November to the Middle of March. I hear nothing from Digges. Do you know what is become of him? I am...
11From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 20 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am much obliged by your kind Letter, informing me of the good Disposition of the Commissioners for the Sick and wounded. I believe they would do in all things what is humane, just and honorable, but I have not so good an Opinion of the Lords of the Admiralty, from whom Mr. Hartley had never been able to obtain a Yes or a No on the plain Question whether the written...
12From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 19 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your several favours of March 28. and may 12. I thank you for the Justice you did me at the sick and hurt Office, in the assurances you gave that it was not my Intention to deceive, nor my fault that an equal Number of Prisoners did not return with the Cartel. On my consenting to give up the 500 Prisoners we carried into Holland, I had the...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 4th. with the Account of the Expenditure of the 100£ in supplying the Wants of the Prisoners, which is very satisfactory. I beg you to accept my thankful Acknowledgements of your kindness to & Care of those unfortunate People, & let my Blessings be mix’d with theirs. By next Post I shall send you 150£ more, requesting you will continue...
14From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson: Extract and Note, [14 January 1783] (Franklin Papers)
(I) Press copy of copy: American Philosophical Society; (II) press copy of AL : American Philosophical Society It was in the Beginning of October that you inform’d me, the Prisoners would be immediately sent over hither to be exchang’d. There were then in the French Ports several American Vessels in which I could have sent them. I fear that I shall now be obliged to send a Vessel with them,...
15From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress In my last of the 8th Inst. I mention’d my ordering a Remittance to be made to you of 110£ Sterling, which I hope you have receiv’d. I am oblig’d to you for your Goodwill in the Hint you gave me by yours of the 8 May, concerning Money of Digges’s in the Hands of Bouffé & Co. here. The Attaching of it would have been an easy Way of recovering what He has...
16From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Sheffield Central Library On looking over the Letters you have favored me with, I see several particulars, that have been hitherto unanswered, thro the Multiplicity of Affairs which devour my Time & distract my attention; You hinted your Willingness to come over hither, in case the Journey cou’d be made usefull to the publick; I did not at that Time see any Probability of it—...
17From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 7 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 21st. past, in which you acquaint me that the Money is almost expended. I have therefore this Day ordered 150 £ more into your hands thro’ Mr. Grand. I send you also enclosed a little Bill of Ten Guineas, for which I advanced the Money to a Mr. Wyld, who was recommended to me as an honest Man, by Mr. Clegg, on whom it is drawn. You will...
18From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received your favour of the 11th. Instant. I am much oblig’d by your immediate Application to The Board of sick and hurt after the Receipt of mine of Jan. 20th. and Very glad to hear that another Cartel is soon to sail from Plymouth with 100 Americans. The English Prisoners to exchange for them, will be ready at morlaix.— And I am authoriz’d to repeat what...
19From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 25 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your Favour of the 11th. Instant. I have only time by this Oportunity to enclose and send you the Receipts of the Capt. of the Cartel, for some English Prisoners I have lately releas’d. There were a Number sent before, of which I can not find at present the Receipt. I shall continue sending as they may arrive, in order to settle my particular Account...
20From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 9 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour of the 20th. Past, containing the account of Prisonners as it stands between the Board & me. I do hereby agree that Capt. Scott of the Golden Eagle Privateer, taken by Capt. Harrabin of the General Pickering, and carried into Bilbao, and allowed to go to England on his Parole, be considered exchanged by one of the 119 Americans Landed at...
21From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 27 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Public Record Office You mention that Administration have at your request given Directions to the Navy agents at the several Ports of Embarkation to supply the Prisoners with Slops to the Value of 20 s. each.— Please to inform me whether this is the Goodness of Government, or whether you have engaged to pay it? I have been so incessantly occupied, as not to be able to write by those...
22From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 8 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 20th past. That of the 8th of May came regularly to hand. I thought I had before acknowledged it. At least I wrote a Letter which answer’d a part of it, that related to Bouffé & fils, acquainting you that they were broke. Digges has not appeared here. I am sorry for Mr Day’s Loss by him. Is there no way of getting at him...
23From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 26 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Public Record Office Your two Favours of the 9th Instant came to my hands but a few days since. I had written so fully to you by the preceeding Post, sending at the same time the Passports and Powers you had demanded, which I hope will be sufficient, that I find little left to answer. I am much pleas’d with the memorial you presented respecting the Prisoners, and thank you heartily for...
24From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 15 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress It being long since I have had the Pleasure of hearing from you, & understanding that a Packet Boat has been lost; I fear some of my late Letters may have miscarried, and therefore send the above Copies. With great Regard, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant Hodgson’s last extant letter, written...
25From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: William L. Clements Library It is long since I have been able to afford myself the pleasure of writing to you; but I have had that of receiving several Letters from you, and I sent you in consequence a credit for 300 £ which I hope you received. I am sorry that you had been obliged to advance: The trouble you so kindly take is sufficient. I just hear from Ireland, that there are 200 of...
26To 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...
27To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 4 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I rec’d your favor of the 24th Octr with the accot of Prisoners Released which I laid before the Board of Sick & Hurt & they are allowed in Acc’t, there remains due from you 41 Prisoners to make up the Number of the last Cartel, & untill that Debt is paid it is in Vain to expect any more exchanges. Inclosed you have an Acc’t of the expenditure of the one...
28To 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...
29To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 10 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have to acknowledge the reception of your Letters of the 14 & 26 Ultimo, & also one from Mr Grand with bill enclosed £100 to be applied to the relief of such prisoners as may be in the greatest distress— The Inclosures by the same conveyance were forwarded— I am very glad you have taken Notice of Mr Wren, his Zeal his Activity & Diligence are great beyond...
30To 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...
31To 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...
32To 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...
33To 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...
34To 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...
35To 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...
36To 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...
37To 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...
38To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 28 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the pleasure to write you on the 23d of Novem under Cover to mons Grande, which I fear much did not come to your hands, otherwise I presume you wou’d have done me the favor of a Reply— I have subjoined a Copy of that Letter, & nothing att all having been done nor a Syllable passed betwixt Mr Hartley & the board of Sick & Hurt from that Time to...
39To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 29 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the pleasure to write you on the 8 May since when I am without any from you— I have had a Letter from Digges wherein he says that he intends to go to Passy to justify himself— but every day allmost produces fresh matter against him— I have a Letter from the Agent at Plymo Mr sawrey who complains that by Digges Order he furnished one Lambert a...
40To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 20 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd yours of the 8th Current in Answer to mine of the 29 June. I wrote you a prior Letter on the 8 May which you do not acknowledge pray let me know if it came to hand— As yet I have not heard from Mr Grand— Upon receipt of yours I immediately waited upon the Board of Sick & Hurt who informed me they had just dispatched an order to Edinburg for the...
41To 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...
42To 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...
43To 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...
44To 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...
45To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 23 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society The redress of some grievances under which the American Prisoners at Forton laboured, called me this morning to the office of the Commissioners for Sick & Hurt. During the Time of our Subscription I have had frequent occasion to attend them & in the main have found them Men disposed to act as fairly & openly as cou’d well be expected & I cannot but...
46To 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...
47To 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...
48To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 9 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am favored with yours of the 18th past with advice that you intended the succeeding post to lodge £150 to be applied to the Releif of the American prisoners in the distribution of which you may rely on my care & attention, I have in consequence recd a Letter from Monsieur Grand informing me “that il tenait á [ma] disposition cent cinquante Livres...
49To 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...
50To 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...