To Benjamin Franklin from Jean de Neufville & fils, 2 October 1780
From Jean de Neufville & fils
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Amsterdam the 2d. October 1780.
Honourd Sir!
My it please your Excellency, that on examination of those bills, which we shall have to pay in the Month of decemr: next, we found they were only amounting to Bk. Mey [Bank Money]5 f. 12316—instead of f. 12366—as we adviced wrong by our last of the 25th. September and that we have now taken the liberty to draw in consequence on Your Excellency our three Bills for.
| écus | 2000 |  |
to our own order at three usance |
| 3000 | |||
| 4295:5:8 |
écus 9295:5.8 amounting at 53 grooten to the mentiond Summ of Bk. Mey f. 12316.6 We beg leave to recomand them to your Excellency’s protection and Acceptance. The Charges of brokerage and postage which naturaly attends them, will be found in future, desiring we might be able to show your Excellency at all opportunities our most devoted regard, we have the honour to be respectfully Honourd Sir Your Excellencys Most obedient and Most humble Servants
John DE Neufville & Son
Endorsed: Answer’d Oct 57
5. The Bank of Amsterdam (Wisselbank van Amsterdam) listed its transactions in bank money, whereas businessmen listed theirs in current money, which was worth somewhat less: John J. McCusker, Money and Exchange in Europe and America, 1600–1775: a Handbook (Chapel Hill, 1978), pp. 43–4.
6. I.e., 53 grooten per écu. At current exchange rates 9,295 écus, 5s., 8d. was equivalent to 12,316 f. bank money; see our annotation of the firm’s Nov. 2 letter. Our thanks to Professor John J. McCusker for his assistance on both letters.
7. We have no record of a response. It is unlikely that BF could have received this letter by Oct. 5.