To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Bridgen, 4 September 1784
From Edward Bridgen
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London Sepr 4 1784
Will you my Dear Sir excuse the liberty I hereby take to introduce to yr: Excellency the bearer Mr Canning as a particular friend of mine and of Liberty2 he being very desirous of paying his respects to so eminent a person and any civillities you may have the goodness to shew him I shall esteem as personally done to Yr: Excellency’s much obliged & Obedt Servant
Edwd: Bridgen
Addressed: His Excellency / Benjn. Franklin Esqr / Minister Plenipotentiary / of the United States of No: America / Passy / by favour of Stratford Canning Esqr
Notation: Edwd. Bridgen Sept. 4 1784.—
2. Born in Ireland, Stratford Canning (d. 1787) was a London merchant active in Whig politics: ODNB, under his son Stratford Canning (1786–1880); Stanley Lane-Poole, The Life of the Right Honourable Stratford Canning, Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe … (2 vols., London, 1888), I, 4–6; Patrick O’Sullivan and Craig A. Bailey, “London & the Union: Ireland’s Capital, Ireland’s Colony,” in Hearts and Minds: Irish Culture and Society under the Act of Union, ed. Bruce Stewart (Gerrards Cross, Eng., 2002), pp. 299–301.