From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling and Nathan Whiting, 12 March 1754
To Thomas Darling and Nathan Whiting
ALS: William L. Clements Library
Philada. March 12. 1754
Gentlemen
I wrote to you about a Month since, and sent you a Set of Bills for £15. 11s. 5d. Sterling, which I hope you have receiv’d.
Some Time in next Month I hope to have the Pleasure of seeing you at Newhaven, when any little Affairs between us may easily be settled.2
The Bearer, Mr. Bordley, is a Merchant of Maryland, deservedly esteem’d by all that know him.3 He is entirely a Stranger in Connecticut; and by showing him the Civilities of your Town, you will have the Satisfaction of obliging a very worthy Man; for as such I heartily recommend him to you.
I am, Gentlemen, Your most humble Servant
B Franklin
Messrs Darling & Whiting
Addressed: To Messrs Darling & Whiting Merchts Newhaven per favr of Mr Bordley
2. BF did not visit New Haven in April 1754, as he had expected.
3. Probably John Beale Bordley (1727–1804), lawyer and agriculturist, who was a merchant before entering public life and developing his plantation on Wye Island in Chesapeake Bay. DAB; Olive M. Gambrill, “John Beale Bordley and the Early Years of the Philadelphia Agricultural Society,” PMHB, LXVI (1942), 410–39.