From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 7 October 1755
To William Strahan
ALS: The Scheide Library, Princeton, N.J.; duplicate: University of Toronto Library
Philada. Oct. 7. 1755
Dear Sir
Mr. Hall has wrote to you for a Fount of English, and a Fount with a Longprimer Face on a smaller Body for the Gazette, on my Account.9 Inclosed is a Bill for £109 8s. 4d. Sterling, drawn on the Revd. Mr. Saml. Chandler, which I doubt not will be readily paid.1 I know not well how my Account stands with you, and should be glad to see it: But suppose this Bill will leave a Ballance in your Hands, after paying for those Founts; so have taken the Freedom to draw a small Bill on you, payable to Nathll. Voogdt, and Co. Merchts. London for £2 17s. 6d. Sterling which they are to remit to Germany on a particular Occasion.
My Compliments to Mrs. Strahan, and to your promising Son, perhaps one day mine.2 God send our Children, however, good and suitable Matches; for I begin to feel a Parent’s Cares in that respect, and fondly wish to see them well settled before I leave them.
Adieu, my dear Friend, and believe me to be Yours most affectionately
B Franklin
P.S. The enclos’d Pamphlet is lately printed in Boston.3 You will find a Number of interesting Facts in it. At the End a little Piece of mine.
Addressed: To / Mr. William Strahan / Printer / London
9. Writing to Hall, Oct. 1, 1755, Strahan mentioned he had sent the type, which he had with difficulty got Caslon to finish, and had charged them to BF’s account. MS, APS. See below, pp. 466–7, for the delivery of this type.
1. This was to pay for the press and German type for the German Society (see above, V, 419–21). To Chandler (see above, V, 204 n), William Smith wrote, Oct. 3, 1755, “This day I have drawn upon you by order of the Trustees for £109 8s. 4d. payable to Benjamin Franklin, Esq., or order, being in part the value of the Dutch press …” Horace W. Smith, Life and Correspondence of Rev. William Smith, D.D. (Phila., 1880), 1, 96.
2. Another expression of BF’s and Strahan’s hope that their children would marry. See above, III, 479. To Hall on October 25 Strahan described Billy as “a tall Sturdy Fellow, and will … be soon useful to me in the Printing house.” MS, APS.
3. William Clarke’s Observations on the late and present Conduct of the French … in North America (Boston, 1755), to which BF’s “Observations concerning the Increase of Mankind” was appended. On a blank sheet of the letter Strahan has copied off the title page as though preparing it for the London edition.