From Benjamin Franklin to David Barclay, 12 February 1781
To David Barclay
Reprinted from John Coakley Lettsom, ed., Memoirs of John Fothergill, M.D. (4th edition, London, 1786), pp. 166–7; transcript: Q.E. Gurney (Norfolk, England, 1957)
Passy, 12 February 1781.
Dear Sir,
I condole with you most sincerely on the loss of our dear friend Dr Fothergill. I hope that some one that knew him well, will do justice to his memory, by an account of his life and character. He was a great doer of good. How much might have been done, and how much mischief prevented, if his, your, and my joint endeavours, in a certain melancholy affair,2 had been attended to!!
With great respect and esteem, I am, &c.
B. Franklin.
[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]
2. The unsuccessful secret negotiations in 1774–75; see our annotation of Waterhouse to BF, Jan. 10, above.