Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-34-02-0178

To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 9 January 1781

From William Hodgson

ALS: American Philosophical Society

London 9 Jany 1781

Dear sir

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 Sterling,” I write him per to nights post to beg he woud remitt it to me as it is not so well to draw.7

I observe that you wish the allowance for provisions & Cloathes during the Months of Jany. Feby & March shou’d be equal to 16 p. per week per each Man, have you Sr considered how soon so large a distribution will swallow up the present remittance, there are not many short of Prisoners 500, so that in that proportion they will Require a supply of near £150 per month, I am sure I do not wish to narrow their Allowance if it can be continued, but I do see great Inconvenience in being very liberal for a short period & falling off afterwards, we split upon that rock in the expenditure of our first Subscription. I shall therefore take the Liberty of not allowing quite so much untill I hear further from you, & I find from the Prisons that both our worthy Agents agree in Opinion with me in this Matter.

I wish you health for many succeeding Years & that you may live to see the disireable work of peace accomplished in your day. I am with great respect Dr sir your most obedt Hb sevt

William Hodgson

Addressed: A / Monsr. Franklin / Passy

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7On Dec. 25 BF had ordered Grand to remit the money; see the entry of that date in BF’s journal, which is published under the date of Dec. 18. A Jan. 10 entry in Account XXVII (XXXII, 4) lists a payment to Hodgson by Grand of this sum.

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