To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 January 1777
From Jonathan Williams, Jr.
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Nantes Jan. 18. 1777
Dear and honoured Sir
I have written the inclosed because I feel myself very uneasy least I should be liable to the charge of double dealing but if you do not think a longer silence will be construed to my disadvantage, I confess it appears best that the Letter should not go. You know my only motives, and can best judge of the probability of my return or stay, I therefore beg the favour of you to send it to the post or not as you shall think best.6 I am your dutifull and affectionate Kinsman
J Williams Junr
Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Franklin LLD / a l’Hotel d’Hambourg / Rue Jacob / a / Paris
Notation: J. Williams 18 Jan 77.
6. The lost enclosure must have been a letter to his London partner, Walter Blunt. For the partnership see above, XXII, 268–9. The young man was still not sure on which side of the Channel his future lay, to judge by his phrasing here, and wished to keep open, if he could with propriety, the option of returning to the sugar business in London. BF forwarded the letter to Blunt, and soon after JW wrote his partner a second time: below, BF to JW, Feb. 5, and JW to BF, Feb. 16.