To Benjamin Franklin from Joshua Barney, 7 January 1783
From Joshua Barney
ALS: American Philosophical Society
LOrient Jany. 7th. 83
Dr Sir
I recd. your Dispatches last night Accompanied with the Money,6 which is all onbd & Shall Sail in the Morning if the Wind is fair, as it is at present—7 I am Sorry I could not carry the News of Peace as expected,8 But console Myself with its being effected very soon. I cannot help observing as you mention the Curosity of my pasport, the Name of the Ship and the Bitter pill of United States, however it is what we have Been long Struggling for, Wishing You health and happiness am Sir Your Most Obt Servt
Joshua Barney
Addressed: His Excellency Benn. Franklin Esqr. / Passy, near / Paris
Notation: Jos. Barney, L’orient Jany. 7. 1783.
6. The 600,000 l.t. in specie which the General Washington brought to America.
7. Barney did not sail until Jan. 17 or 18. His passage was difficult, and he did not arrive in Philadelphia until March 12: Thomas Barclay to WTF, Jan. 24, 1783 (APS); Hulbert Footner, Sailor of Fortune: the Life and Adventures of Commodore Barney, U.S.N. (New York and London, 1940), pp. 137–8; Morris Papers, VII, 557.
8. He carried the preliminary agreement of Nov. 30, 1782 (Morris Papers, VII, 558n), but the general peace was not concluded until Jan. 20.