From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 27 October 1771
To William Strahan
ALS: Princeton University Library
Edinburgh, Oct. 27. 1771
Dear Friend,
Thro’ Storms and Floods I arrived here on Saturday night, late, and was lodg’d miserably at an Inn: But that excellent Christian David Hume, agreable to the Precepts of the Gospel, has received the Stranger, and I now live with him at his House in the new Town most happily.2 I purpose staying about a Fortnight, and shall be glad to hear from you. I congratulate you on certain political Events that I know give you Pleasure. Let me know how it is with you and yours, how my Wife3 does, and Sir John Pringle, and our other Friends. With sincerest Esteem I am, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately
B Franklin
Addressed: To / William Strahan Esqr / Newstreet / Shoe Lane / London / B Free Franklin
2. BF got over from Ireland, David Hume reported to Strahan, in a brief interval between two hurricanes. Nolan, Franklin in Scotland and Ireland, pp. 172–3. Hume, like the Biblical reference, requires no annotation. He and BF had been friends for more than a decade, and Strahan had probably brought them together. See above, IX, 228 n.
3. Margaret or Peggy, Strahan’s youngest daughter, was about twenty at the time. BF had been using this nickname for her since at least 1762.