Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-40-02-0355

To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 2 September 1783

From David Hartley

ALS: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: William L. Clements Library

Hotel de Yorck Sept 2 1783

My Dear friend

I find that the Answer wch I received in form from the American Ministers to that note wch I transmitted by Mr Adams, runs, that they will come to my Lodgings at Paris, tomorrow morning, for the purpose of signing the Treaty in Question. Mr Adams and Mr Jay understand it so and propose to come.9 Upon so great a Crisis leading to the Reconciliation of our two Countries I shall be very happy to see you too. I hope the inconvenience will not be very great to you, or in any degree commensurate to the occasion.

I am ever Your most affectionate friend1

D Hartley

To Dr Franklin &c &c &c

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

9The only extant versions of the commissioners’ Aug. 30 response to Hartley’s letter of Aug. 29 are copies that do not indicate signatures. If it was delivered without any, that would explain Hartley’s clarification here.

1WTF answered this note on behalf of his grandfather. BF would “do his utmost” to be present at the signing the next morning. In addition, WTF accepted Hartley’s invitation (now missing) for “Thursday next”: WTF to Hartley, Sept. 2, 1783, Clements Library. For BF’s current sufferings with the stone and gout see Pierres to BF, Aug. 25. The Thursday invitation was undoubtedly for Sept. 4, when JA wrote his wife, “To day We dined with Mr. Hartley and drank Tea with the Duchess of Manchester. Thus you see We are very good Friends, quite free, easy and Social”: Adams Correspondence, V, 233.

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