To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 3 March 1778
From Samuel Wharton8
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London March 3 1778
Dear Sir
By the Bearer Captain All, I have sent you and Mr. Dean the parliamentary Register, The Remembrancer, News Papers &c., And I beg leave to mention to you, (As Captain All desires it, And as I can, with great Truth do it) That his Duty to his Employer has obliged Him to stay much longer here, Than was agreable to Him;9 But That he has steadily maintained, and upon all Occasions declared, Sentiments worthy of an American, Who knew, and reverenced the Rights of Freedom. With the most earnest Wishes for a Continuance of your Health, I am, dear Sir, Your affectionate humble Servant
S Wharton
I beg my Regards to your Nephew.
Dr. Franklin.
Notation: S. Wharton March 3. 1778
8. This is the first surviving letter signed by Wharton since April 17, 1775. Subsequent notes and letters had either no signature or the alias “W.S.” Above, XXII, 23–5, 307; XXIII, 61–6, 202–5; XXV, 179–80, 404, 665.
9. Isaac All and his ship had been stranded in the Thames: above, XXIV, 531 n. Deane selected him and three other captains to pilot d’Estaing’s squadron, which sailed from Toulon in April: Deane Papers, III, 184; V, 313.