From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 7 April 1774
To a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia
AL:8 Haverford College Library; minutebook copy: Library Company of Philadelphia
London, April 7. 1774
Gentlemen,
I thought Mr. Strahan had transmitted to you the Invoice with the Books by Falconer.9 It is but yesterday he brought it to me, and I now inclose it, with a Sketch of your Account.1 With my Respects to the Directors, and sincere Wishes of Prosperity to the Institution, I am, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servant
[B Franklin.
Messrs. S. Rhoads, R Strettel Jones and Josiah Hewes, Commee. of the Directors of the Lib: Company.]
Addressed: To / Samuel Rhoads, Esqr2 / Philadelphia / [In another hand:] By / Capt. Ashmead
8. An autograph-collector has removed the signature. We have supplied it in brackets, along with the names of the committee members, from the minutebook copy.
9. See BF’s letter to the committee above, Feb. 18.
1. The enclosure is missing, but BF copied the “Sketch” and preserved it in his Ledger, p. 19. The totals agree with those in Strahan’s bill below, Sept. 13.
2. Presumably so addressed because Rhoads had signed the postscript to the committee’s letter the previous December: above, XX, 518. For the next shipment of books see BF’s letter below, July 25.