To Benjamin Franklin from [Henry] Hope, [June? 1766]
From [Henry] Hope
LS: University of Pennsylvania Library
from home Wednesday. [June? 1766]7
Gentlemen
We humbly ask your pardon for not waiting on you ourselves, if it had been possible for either of us, it would not have been ommitted; That however we may enjoy the happiness of your agreable Company, we kindly begg the favour of Seing you att dinner to morrow, your cordiall acceptance will very much oblige Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servants
[The?] Hopes8
We dine att 2 aClock
Addressed: To Benjamin Franklyn Esqr
Endorsed: Messrs Hope Amsterdam
7. On their way to or on their return from Germany this summer, BF and Sir John Pringle received “Civilities” from the Hopes of Amsterdam, one of Europe’s great merchant families; see below, pp. 386–7. This dinner invitation, probably from Henry Hope, a Boston-born member of the family, may therefore have been written at either the beginning or the end of the trip; it is placed here at the earlier of the two possible dates.
8. The signature is virtually a stylized scrawl. Were it not for the endorsement the deciphering of any part of the name would be nearly hopeless.