From Benjamin Franklin to James Hutton, 18 August 1784
To James Hutton
ALS: Moravian Church House, London
Passy, Aug. 18. 1784
Dear Friend,
This will be delivered to you by my Grandson, a good Lad, whom you may remember to have seen with me here. I beg Leave to recommend him to your Civilities and Counsels. He goes to London chiefly to pay his Duty to his unfortunate Father. By his Return I hope to hear of your Welfare; and I wish also to hear of the Welfare of our Brethren in Labrador, and how they go on; whether they find that Country capable of any Cultivation, and are like to continue that Settlement.2 I thank you for the Receipt you sometime since sent me for the Stone.3 I have practis’d it, but I do not find that the various Things I have try’d have much Effect; and my Malady being tolerable I leave it a good deal to itself. Adieu my dear Friend. I am ever, Yours most affectionately
B. Franklin
Mr Hutton
2. BF had provided passports for ships carrying supplies to the Moravian missions in Labrador; for his most recent correspondence with Hutton about the missions see XXXIX, 24–5, 544.
3. The undated extract of a letter mentioned in XXXIX, 25n. The remedy, supposedly used by Italian physician Giorgio Baglivi, as well as by Hutton’s own father and Hutton himself, called for the ingestion, drop by drop, of three ounces of hot water daily, 30 minutes before dinner.