From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 1 August 1763
To Catharine Greene
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Boston, Augt. 1. 1763
Dear Friend,
I ought to acquaint you that I feel myself growing daily firmer and freeer from the Effects of my Fall;7 and hope a few Days more will make me quite forget it. I shall however never forget the Kindness I met with at your House on that Occasion.
Make my Compliments acceptable to your Mr. Greene, and let him know that I acknowledge the Receipt of his obliging Letter8 and thank him for it. It gave me great Pleasure to hear you got home before the Rain.
My Compliments too to Mr. Merchant9 and Miss Ward1 if they are still with you; and kiss the Babies for me.2 Sally says, and for me too: She adds her best Respects to Mr. Greene and you, and that she could have spent a Week with you with great Pleasure, if I had not hurried her away.
My Brother is return’d to Rhodeisland.3 Sister Mecom thanks you for your kind remembrance of her, and presents her Respects.
With perfect Esteem and Regard, I am, Dear Katy (I can’t yet alter my Stile to Madam) Your affectionate Friend
B Franklin
Mrs Cath. Greene
7. For BF’s fall while traveling in R.I. and for his recuperation at the Greenes, see above, p. 278.
8. Not found.
9. Henry Marchant (1741–1796), A.M., College of Philadelphia, 1762, was related by his father’s second marriage to the Wards, who were in turn related to the Greenes. Marchant traveled with BF on his Scottish tour in 1771 (keeping an extensive journal) and was one of the leaders of the Revolutionary movement in R.I., serving in the Continental Congress, 1777–9. He then led the fight for the adoption of the Constitution in R.I. Washington appointed him judge of the U.S. District Court, July 2, 1790, in which position he served until his death. DAB.
1. Probably one of the three unmarried sisters of Caty Greene’s brother-in-law Samuel Ward (above, V, 504 n): Hannah, Elizabeth, or Margaret.
2. Caty’s daughters, Phebe and Celia; see above, p. 191 n.
3. Peter Franklin (C.9) of Newport apparently accompanied BF to Boston.