To Benjamin Franklin from Margaret Stevenson, 5 August 1773
From Margaret Stevenson
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Thursday Augt 5 [1773]
Dear Sir,
I am much obliged, with your kind inquires, the Cheldren I thanke God, ar All weell and your D and your Lady B— hom i Dinde with a Tusday and Dannke your health, all ar well at Ewell.4 I am verey well But do not expect to Continu so Long; for I have lifed opon Benns [Beans] and Backon for ten days. I have noe News, Mr. Faver has Bin to the Printers as orderd; he is writing5 and as you request a line from me I have no grater Pleasuer, Dear Sir, then when I can oblige my Beast frinde. I shall be glad to see you come home well, which is the Sincerr wish of your fathfull Servant
Margt Stevenson
Addressed: Doct. Franklin
4. Our reading of Mrs. Stevenson’s scrawl, though open to doubt, is plausible. The children on whom she was reporting were her grandsons, William Hewson and his four-month-old brother Thomas. Ewell is a village south of London and not far from Streatham, where Walter Blunt had his home; if the house was between the two villages, either might have served for address. In any case Mrs. Stevenson had “Dinde” with Dorothea Blunt and Mary (“Lady”) Barwell, for whom see above, XVII, 194 n.
5. Fevre’s note is the preceding document.