From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Shelburne, 25 August 1784
To the Earl of Shelburne
ALS: Reproduced in Christie’s auction catalogue, “Important Autograph Letters from the Historical Archives at Bowood House” (London, Oct. 12, 1994), p. 39.
Passy, Aug. 25. 1784.
My Lord,
I have had the Pleasure of seeing Lord Fitzmaurice several Times.5 I congratulate your Lp. sincerely on your having so promising a Son. He will I am persuaded make a valuable Man, and be a Comfort and Honour to you in your Old Age.
The Bearer, Wm. Temple Franklin, is my Grandson and Secretary. He is to stay in London but a short time, is a good young Man, and will be very sensible of any Civility your Lordship may think fit to show him.
Please to accept the enclos’d Pamphlet,6 curious for the Subject, a pretended Magnetisme animale, by which a Charlatan has made a great Fortune here in a short time.
With great & sincere Respect, I am, Your Lordship’s most obedient & most humble Servant
B. Franklin
Lord Shelburne
5. Shelburne’s son, Fitzmaurice, came to Passy on July 22 and called again five days later. This much is known from the surviving fragments of BF’s journal, the last entry of which is July 27: XLII, 377–9. Fitzmaurice would stay in Paris until early October: L’Air de Lamotte to WTF, Oct. 3, 1784, APS.
6. The report of the royal commission to investigate animal magnetism: XLII, 475–93.