To Benjamin Franklin from John Coakley Lettsom, 15 July 1783
From John Coakley Lettsom
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London July 15. 1783
Esteemed Friend
John Lister,3 a respectable Friend (Quaker) has just informed me that he sets off for Paris tomorrow; and I embrace the opportunity of acknowledging the favour of thy Letter, inclosing one of Dr. Fothergills herein returned,4 tho’ I regret that I have not time by his sudden departure, of writing more fully in answer to thine.
My Friend Lister will spend about a week in Paris, & will convey any thing for England thou may wish to entrust him with. He is kind enough to take my Acct. of Dr. Fothergill; the use I have made of thy Letter, will, I hope meet with thy approbation, as well as my political ideas.5
I am respectfully
J. C. Lettsom
Addressed: Benjamin Franklin / at Passey / near Paris
3. Possibly the former watchmaker, who was now a wine merchant in Lothbury: ODNB, under Joseph Jackson Lister; Bailey’s Western and Midland Directory … For the Year 1783 (Birmingham, 1783), p. 97.
4. XXXIX, 294–5.
5. Some Account of the Late John Fothergill … had just been published: XXXIX, 294n.