1To 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...
2To 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...
3From 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...
4To 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...
5To 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...
6From 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...
7From 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...
8To 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...
9From 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...
10To 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...
11To 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...
12To 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...
13To 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...
14From 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...
15To 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...
16To 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...
17To 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...
18From 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...
19To 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...
20To 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...
21From 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...
22To 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...
23To 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...
24To 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...
25From 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...
26From 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,...
27To 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...
28To 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...
29From 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...
30From 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—...