To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bennett Lloyd, 2 March 1779
From Richard Bennett Lloyd5
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London 2d. March—79—
Dear Sir,
The inclosed copy is from a letter which Mr. Hartley has received from the Office for sick & wounded seamen—6 I would have sent you it by the last Mail but was prevented by a violent cold and inflammation in my eyes— I make no doubt if these people have been in earnest, but that you have heard from them before this time—. Mr. Hartley received me with much politeness and mentioned that should he get further information concerning the Prisoners, he wd. give you the earliest intelligence—. Whenever you have leisure it will give me particular pleasure to hear of your health— Mrs. Lloyd unites with me in best complts—and I am, Dear Sir, with very great respect your obedient humble Servant
Richard Btt Lloyd
Our complts. to yr. Grandson I am anxiously waiting for a good conveyance to send him the books he desired—.7
R. B. Lloyd in Great George Street Hanover Square London—
Addressed: The Honourable / Benjamin Franklin / &c: &c: &c: / Passy
Notation: Richard B. Lloyd. Londres 2 mars 1779.
5. This Marylander who had been a captain in the Coldstream Guards (XXVI, 343n) and his wife, Joanna Leigh Lloyd from the Isle of Wight (Md. Hist. Mag., XVII [1922], 29–30), had returned to England after an extended sojourn in France; he wrote from London to WTF on Jan. 8 (APS) and to BF in February (XXVIII, 574–5). He had previously carried a letter concerning prisoners from BF to Hartley: XXVIII, 420.
6. Possibly a letter of Feb. 5 from the Commission for Sick and Hurt Seamen informing Hartley that directions would be sent that night for the discharge of one hundred Americans confined at Mill Prison. APS.
7. XXVIII, 598.