From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 28 November 1763
To Jonathan Williams
Photostat: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Philada. Nov. 28. 1763
Loving Kinsman,
I receiv’d yours acquainting me that the Chair is shipt.9 It is not yet come to hand, but the Armonica is arrived safe, not a Glass hurt.1 I am much obliged by your Care of my little Affairs. The House, when repair’d, I would have you let to as good a Tenant and for as good a Rent as you can well get: and let me have the Account of Repairs, that it may be adjusted as soon as possible.2
My Wife and Daughter join in Love to you and yours, with Your affectionate Uncle
B Franklin
Mr. Foxcroft’s Compliments I am desired by him to add.
It is farther my desire and Direction, that the Rent of the House be applied to assist my Sister Mecom in the Maintanance of her unhappy Son, and I request you to pay it to her for that purpose as it arises.
B Franklin
Addressed: To / Mr. Jonathan Williams / Mercht / Boston / Free / B Franklin
Endorsed: Dr Franklin Novr 28 1763 F
9. When BF and his party traveled to New England in the summer of 1763, they used a “Kittareen [kittereen] Chair,” a West Indian term for a kind of one-horse carriage. He may have left the chair in Boston (perhaps for repairs) and had it shipped after him, or he may have commissioned Williams to buy a new one and send it to him. See BF’s Memorandum Book, 1757–1776 (above, VII, 167–8), entry of May 29, 1763, and William G. Roelker, ed., Benjamin Franklin and Catharine Ray Greene Their Correspondence 1755–1790 (Philadelphia, 1949), p. 35.
1. BF had brought an armonica home with him in 1762; see above, p. 119 n. Either he sent this one to Boston (probably by water) before his journey to New England in the summer of 1763 so that he could play it for his friends there, or had ordered another one sent from England directly to Boston, and Williams had now sent it to Philadelphia.
2. See above, p. 356, for Williams’ account of the expenses incurred in repairing the house formerly belonging to BF’s sister Elizabeth Douse and for the rent which it produced for the support of Jane Mecom’s insane son, Peter.