Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Katherine French, [1765?–75]

From Katherine French3

AL: American Philosophical Society

[1765?-1775]

Mrs. French thinks it long since she had the pleasure of seeing Dr. Frankin, called at his house to desire the favor of his Company to dinner tomorrow to meet Mr. Payne4 to play at Chess till half an hour after 7 o’ [clock]. Will be happy to see him as [early?] in the Morning as is agreeable.

Addressed: To. Dr. Franklin

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

3For BF’s old friend see above, XVIII, 35 n. Her first known invitation to BF has been conjecturally dated 1765, but he may have known her as early as 1762: above, X, 107; XII, 96.

4Mrs. French’s West Indian background suggests that this might conceivably have been Ralph Payne (1739–1807), a wealthy planter from St. Kitts and an M.P. In that case the note was not later than 1771, when Payne was knighted on his appointment as governor of the Leeward Islands. DNB; Namier and Brooke, House of Commons, III, 253–4.

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