1To George Washington from William Hodgson, 24 October 1797 (Washington Papers)
Agreeably to your desire I subjoin the advances I charge on the different Goods, at the usual Credit of six Months, and for Cash. For the present I am deficient in Irish Linens & but a few pieces of the coarser Linens remain—the former however I am in daily Expectation of being supply’d with. With great Respect I am Sir Your mo. Ob. Servt ALS , DLC:GW . William Hodgson (1765–1820) came from...
2To 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...
3To 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...
4From 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...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To 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...
9From 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To 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...
13From 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,...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16To 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,...
17To 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...
18To 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...
19To 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...
20To 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...
21To 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...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24From 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...
25To 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...
26From 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...
27To 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...
28From 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—...
29To 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...
30From 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...