To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Barclay, 10 December 1784
From Thomas Barclay
ALS: American Philosophical Society
L’Orient 10th Decr. 1784—
Sir
I had the pleasure of addressing a letter to you the 8th. of October6 since which I remain without any of your Commands. I purpose leaving this on Monday and passing to Bordeaux where I shall remain a few days, and return to Paris.7 Shou’d you have occasion for wine or any other articles from the places through which I am to pass, it will make me happy to be in the least usefull to you.8 I address’d a Box of Tea to you some time ago with directions that it might be left at M. Pichinies near the Barrier au Conference,9 it Contain’d Ten pounds of Hyson, two of Souchong, and two of Pekoe Tea for you, the same quantity for M. Adams and M. Jefferson and a dozen pounds for Mrs. Barclay, The whole will be at hand about the time this reaches you— The China which M. Franklin desired me to send, went Round to Rouen to the Care of M. Garvey who will forward it to you.1 I am Always with great Respect and Esteem Dear Sir Your Most Obed. & obliged Servant
Thos Barclay
Addressed: His Excellency / Benja Franklin Esqr. / Minister Plenipotentiary / from the United States— / Passy, near / Paris
6. Not found.
7. Barclay remained in Bordeaux longer than anticipated, and did not return to Paris until late May, 1785: Roberts and Roberts, Thomas Barclay, pp. 143–6. 158, 325.
8. Later that winter, when auditing the accounts of John Bondfield in Bordeaux, Barclay asked WTF to check whether any of the three shipments of wine that Bondfield had charged to BF were for the public account. Two of them, costing around 565 l.t. and 345 l.t., had been sent to Paris in September, 1779; the third was sent to America: Barclay to WTF, Feb. 10, 1785, APS. The third, addressed to RB, is described in XXXVII, 715n.
9. Probably the schoolmaster Pechigny, who lived in Passy: XXXV, 51n. “Barrière de la Conference” was another name for the “barrière de Passy,” located at no. 2, quai de Passy: Hillairet, Rues de Paris, 11, 238.
1. TJ had also ordered china; BF’s order filled one box, and TJ’s three boxes. Garvey (XLI, 378–9n) received them in February, 1785, but as they were sealed, he could not forward them until Barclay provided him with the proper certifications. The boxes left Rouen by the diligence on March 24, ana Barclay sent WTF an accounting in early April: the china for BF, purchased from Bonett, cost 112 l.t. 5 s. The price of the tea, packing, and shipping brought the total to 200 l.t., which Barclay asked WTF to remit to his wife. BF paid the bill on May 7, 1785: Barclay to WTF, April 4, 1785 (APS); Account XVII (XXVI, 3);Jefferson Papers, VII, 576; VIII, 8, 60.