From Benjamin Franklin to William Johnston, 16 October 1755
To William Johnston5
Draft: American Philosophical Society
Philada. Oct. 16. 1755
Sir
I have settled Col. Hunter’s Account and find a Ballance in my Hands of £835 0s. 3½d. Pensilvania Currency, which shall be paid to your Orders, if you find it necessary to draw on me.
I enclose you a Copy of a Letter I have just received from General Shirley, with a Copy of his Warrant to you for the Payment of such Sums to me as the Waggon Affair may require.6 Col. Hunter is expected here in a few Days, I suppose in his Way to meet you at New York according to his Appointment. This will delay my Journey down till he comes, as I want to see him, and fear I might miss him on the Way, not knowing on which Side of the Bay he purposes to travel.7 I hope when you meet, some Method will be found of transferring the Cash for Payment of these poor People, without much Trouble or Risque to him or you. I am, with much Respect, Sir, Your most humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr. Johnston
5. Deputy paymaster general of British forces in North America, Johnston escaped after Braddock’s defeat with a military chest and some official papers, accompanying Dunbar to Philadelphia. From there General Shirley ordered him to Albany where he remained most of the time thereafter. A letter of his, Sept. 23, 1755, which describes the campaign, the march to Philadelphia, and his favorable impression of Carlisle, Lancaster, and Philadelphia, is printed in English Hist. Rev., I (1886), 150–2, and reprinted as “General Braddock’s Campaign,” PMHB, XI (1887), 93–7. Smyth (Writings, III, 289) incorrectly identified the addressee as Sir William Johnson.
6. See above, p. 190.
7. This sentence is bracketed and crossed out in BF’s draft, probably further evidence that Hunter arrived in Philadelphia before BF sent his letter of the 16th.