Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 8 February 1765

From Mary Stevenson

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Kensington Feb. 8. 1765

Dear Sir,

I got home extremely well last night, and met with nothing to make me uneasy but my own reflections. Before I came to pall mall I repented my acceptance of your obliging offer, for I consider’d myself as the cause of what the poor coachman suffer’d from the cold, which I might have avoided.2 This reflection destroy’d the tranquility which the fineness of the evening would have inspir’d.

My aunts were both very uneasy, not on my account, but my mother’s, who they thought was very ill by my staying so late. What a train of bad consequences upon one false step!

I hope my mother is better; my aunt continues to mend. Don’t forget to execute your project for sunday. I am Dear Sir Your faithful and affectionate Servant

M Stevenson

Addressed: To / Dr Franklin

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2Apparently Polly had overstayed her time on a visit to her ailing mother at Craven Street and BF sent her back in the evening to her aunts’ house in Kensington in his hired coach. During his first English mission he had hired a coach for his personal use from one T. Bowman at £12 12s. per month; above, VII, 380 n. He renewed this arrangement with Bowman after his arrival in London on his second mission. His accounts show that on June 17, 1765, he paid Bowman £75 “for Coach and Horses,” probably the amount due for the first six months’ hire. Journal, 1764–1776, p. 3; Ledger, 1764–1776, pp. 4, 5.

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