To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 24 April 1758
From David Hall
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society
Philadelphia 24th April 1758
Dear Sir
Yours of December the 9th.3 I receiv’d per the Packet, by which was glad to hear of your Recovery. I am sorry you can get no good Hand to send over, and bad ones are not worth having.4
I have sent Mr. Strahan by this opportunity a Bill of Exchange, out of which he will pay you One Hundred Pounds, which makes the Eighth Hundred sent you since you left Philadelphia.5 When you have receiv’d the Money, you will please to notice the same to me.
We have lately printed Four thousand Pounds for the lower Counties; and this Day Week begin to print the £8000. for them granted at their last Sitting.6 I am Yours
D Hall
To Benjamin Franklin Esqr. Via New York per Packet
Copy per the Packet Via New York7
3. See above, VII, 287–8.
4. Hall (above, II, 409–10 n) had asked for help in finding a compositor and William Strahan (above, II, 383–4 n) had explained that the great demand for them in London had driven their wages so high that American employment was not attractive. He advised Hall to “breed up one of your own people.” Strahan to Hall, Feb. 22, 1758, APS.
5. See above, VII, 235–6, for a summary of Hall’s remittances to BF in England.
6. Hall was printing paper currency for the Delaware government.
7. Since an embargo was in effect at this time, the government packets were virtually the only ships sailing for England. Hall recorded in his letterbook that he also wrote WF on this date.