To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Cushing, 2 July 1784
From Thomas Cushing8
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Boston July. 2d. 1784
Sir
Governor Jefferson who sails for Europe by this Conveyance9 will be able to afford you every necessary Intelligence relative to the State of our affairs in America, it will therefore be needless for me to say any thing upon that Subject.—
I beg leave to Introduce The Honble Nathll. Tracy to your Acquaintance, a Gentleman of good Sense & who has for some time past been largely concerned in Trade & carried it on with great Reputation; He was a member of the Senate the last year, but at the close of it was oblidged to obtain leave to retire from that Bussiness, as his affairs required him to Prepare for a Voyage to Europe, you will find him a very Agreable Gentleman, I reccommend him your friendly notice, any civility you may shew him shall be gratefully Acknowledged. I wish you much Health and Happiness & that your negotiations may Issue to your own satisfaction & contribute to the lasting welfare & happiness of your Constituents.
I remain with great Respect Your most humble Servant
Thomas Cushing
His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esqr
8. The lieutenant governor of Massachusetts had last written in 1782: XXXVII, 694–5.
9. After learning that the French packet boat to Lorient would not sail until July 15 (two weeks later than he thought; see TJ to BF, June 19), TJ decided to take passage with Nathaniel Tracy on the Ceres, which left Boston on July 5. TJ, traveling with his daughter Martha and his slave James Hemings, landed at Cowes on July 25. After a brief stay in Portsmouth, they crossed the channel on July 30 and arrived in Paris on Aug. 6. From his accounts, it appears that TJ first visited BF at Passy on Aug. 10: Jefferson Papers, VII, 311, 357–8, 363–4; James A. Bear, Jr., and Lucia C. Stanton, eds., Jefferson’s Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany, 1767–1826 (2 vols., Princeton, 1997), 1, 558.