From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 2 May 1770
To Noble Wimberly Jones
ALS: State Historical Society of Wisconsin
London, May 2. 1770
Sir,
Your Favour of Feb. 21. was duly delivered to me by Mr. Preston.4 I immediately bespoke the Mace agreable to your Orders, and was assured it should be work’d upon with Diligence, so that I hope to have it ready to send with the Gowns by a Ship that I understand goes directly to Georgia sometime next Month. By the Estimation of the Jeweller who undertook it, the Cost will not exceed £80. What the Gowns will amount to, I have not yet learnt; but suppose £100 will be more than sufficient for the whole.5
I esteem myself highly honour’d by your Government, in being appointed, as you inform me, a second time their Agent. I shall rejoice in any Opportunity of rendring effectual Service to the Province. I beg you will present my thankful Acknowledgements to the several Branches of your Legislature, and assure them of my faithful Endeavours in the Execution of any Commands I may receive from them. With great Respect, I am, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
N. W. Jones Esquire, Speaker of the honble. Commons House of Assembly.
4. For Jones’ letter, with its request for a mace and gowns, see above, Feb. 21. Henry Preston was a curious emissary to choose: in the previous November he had been called before the Commons House for having made a public statement impugning its honor. Candler, ed., Ga. Col. Recs., XV, 37–9, 45. He had sailed for London on Feb. 23: Savannah Gaz., Feb. 28, 1770. Six years later he was imprisoned in Georgia as a dangerous Loyalist, but released on giving security for good behavior. Allen D. Candler, The Revolutionary Records of the State of Georgia … (3 vols., Atlanta, 1908), I, 146.
5. See BF to Jones below, June 7, July 6.