To Benjamin Franklin from Nathaniel Falconer, 7 June 1783
From Nathaniel Falconer
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London June the 7. 1783
My Dear Sir
I inclose a Book that Came out yesterday hear and is Like to make Some Noise hear6 I Recd Letters yesterday from philadla via Newyork as Late as the 24 of April one Ship had arrivd from Irland and omitted to Land there Goods an order to the Collecter to Enter all vessells from Grait Britton7 I wrote you Sir on my First arrivall hear8 but as I have not heard from you am fearfull it has not Reacht your hand I then mentioned my intention of Bying a ship hear and Going out to philadla I Expect to Sail from hear about the 15 of July if there is aney thing that I Can do hear for my old frend I beg he will Lay his Commands on me I Dined yesterday at the post office at mr Jacksons your old frend mr watley was with us9 whe had much Talk about old times they Both Desier to be Rememberd to you I have been once to our old frends mr Strawns1 and find him jest the Same man belives Every Ly he hears against the united States the French armey and our army have been killing Each other and that whe Shall be Glad to Come to this Countrey again Let thees Gentelmen belive all this for am very Shure I Do not my best Compliments mr wm T Franklin and mr hartley if he is with you I am Dear Sir your most obident Sr
Nath Falconer
Notation: Falconer June 7. 1783.
6. [John Baker Holroyd, Baron Sheffield], Observations on the Commerce of the American States with Europe and the West Indies, an attack on the prospect of Britain’s granting the United States reciprocal trade privileges. The first edition was published anonymously and seems to have been first announced for sale on June 5: General Evening Post. In the preface to the second edition, written on June 21, Sheffield revealed himself to be the author. For the pamphlet and its influence see Harlow, Second British Empire, I, 221–2, 454.
7. We cannot be certain of Falconer’s meaning, but around this time John Vaughan heard from an unnamed American merchant in London that on April 24 Congress had opened ports to British ships. The rumor was false; see Vaughan to BF, June 10.
8. On May 15: XXXIX, 607–8.
9. BF had known Charles Jackson, comptroller of the Foreign Office in the General Post Office, since at least 1767, and had sent regards to Jackson and his wife shortly before the outbreak of the war; see XIV, 301n; XXII, 393. BF’s old friend George Whatley had written to him on May 6: XXXIX, 565–7.
1. William Strahan.