From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 2 December 1772
To Cadwalader Evans
ALS and letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society
London, Dec. 2. 1772
Dear Doctor,
I am much concern’d to hear of your Illness, and hope that long before this time you have been able to execute your Intentions of Riding, and have recovered your usual Health and Vigour.
I received your Favour of Oct 21. with the Bill enclos’d drawn by Order of the Managers for promoting the Culture of Silk, on me, for £152 0s. 9d. in favour of James & Drinker and yourself: and am glad the Purchase I made was satisfactory. As this Sum exceeds my Disbursement, the Overplus will wait your Orders; and particularly I wish to have Directions what I am to pay Mr. Wheeler for his Diligence and Trouble in the Transaction, which really was considerable.5
The Truss was sent; I am vex’d that it did not come to hand, and must enquire what became of it.6 With great Esteem, I am ever, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately
B Franklin
Dr Cadr Evans
Addressed: To / Dr Cadwalader Evans / Philadelphia / viâ N York / per Packet / B Free Franklin
5. BF’s purchase was the £115 15s. 6d. he had spent for the city lot in Philadelphia; the £152 was what he had received for the silk; the “Overplus” was slightly more than £36. See above, BF to Wheeler, April 3, to Evans and to James, June 3; BF to James below, Dec. 2; Ledger, p. 59. What the Managers were doing, if we reconstruct the bookkeeping correctly, was transferring the proceeds of the silk from their account with BF to Evans’ account with him (though why the firm of James & Drinker was involved we have no idea); the purpose was to cancel Evans’ debt to BF for the lot. Out of the £36 surplus BF subsequently paid Wheeler £21 for his services: loc. cit.; Jour., p. 46; BF to the Managers of the Silk Filature below, Jan. 6, 1773.
6. See BF to Evans above, Aug. 22, and below, Feb. 10, 1773.