To Benjamin Franklin from Roger Wilbraham, 9 February 1778
From Roger Wilbraham1
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Paris Feby 9th 1778 à l’Hôtel de la paix rüe de Richelieu
Sir
Being desired by a Lady at Vienna who is afflicted with a Dropsy to procure for her a receit which you are said to have discovered for that disorder,2 and having already made several fruitless attempts for that purpose, I find myself reduced to the necessity of addressing myself immediately to you to beg that favour though I have not the honour to be known to you. I ought to make many excuses to you Sir, for this trouble, but the sentiments of benevolence and humanity for which you have been long distinguished will I am persuaded incline you to look upon my motive as my best excuse. I have the honour to be Your most obedient Servant
Roger Wilbraham
Notation: Roger Wilbraham
1. We have no other letter to or from him, but assume that he was the future M.p., F.R.S, and fellow of Trinity, Cambridge. That Roger Wilbraham (1743–1829) was born in Nantwich and educated at Cambridge, where he received his M.A. in 1768. He later acquired some note as a horticulturist, lexicographer, and bibliophile, and was a patron of literature and science. James Hall, A History of the Town and Parish of Nantwich . . . (reprint, Manchester, 1972), p. 439; Namier and Brooke, House of Commons, III, 638; Gent. Mag., XCIX (1829), part 1, 569.
2. See the note on Stewart to BF above, Nov. 21.