Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 30 October 1780

From Richard Bache

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Philadelphia Octr. 30th. 1780.

Dear & Hond. Sir

I still remain without any Letters from you; Our Kinsman Mr. Williams wrote me some time ago, that your Letters were put on board the Kensington Capt. Smith, who sailed with the Alliance, but having sprung her Masts, was obliged to put back— She is not yet arrived—2 I have a few Lines from Temple dated in March, desiring me to send you some Nuts & Apples.3 I could not procure them in time for this Vessel, shall have a fine opportunity in a Week or two by a new twenty Gun Ship, called the Shelela—4 Inclosd you have 1st. Bills for the Amount of Interest of your Money in the Loan Office to the 10th Sepr. 1780. I have never heard yet whether the Bills, for the last years Interest, got safe to hand, but suppose they did, as some of the set went with Mr. Gerard—5 Besides the other weekly papers, you will receive herewith, the Dutch papers printed by Styner & Cist, formerly Apprentices with Mr. Miller, the old Gentleman has not done any Business for some time past; I saw him the other day, when he desired to be remembered to you.—6

Mr. Lee is at last arrived here, he & his friend are endeavoring to kick up a dust; on Thursday last notice was given by a Member in Congress; (one Mr. Mathews of South Carolina) that he should [of] this day move for your recall;7 what the event will be I know not, but it is generally conjectured out of doors, that it will be a vain attempt.—

I have no news that the papers don’t furnish, the Family is well, and join me in love & Duty to yourself & Temple. I remain Dr. Sir Your ever affectionate son

Rich. Bache

We long to hear from Ben, give our love to him.
Dr. Franklin

Addressed: Dr. Franklin

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

2JW’s letter to RB is missing, but on May 3 he wrote SB from Nantes that the Kensington (XXXI, 461n) was proceeding downriver that day. Yale University Library.

3Not found.

4The Shelala (or Sellelagh or Shellelagh) carried a crew of 120: Charles H. Lincoln, comp., Naval Records of the American Revolution 1775–1788 (Washington, D.C., 1906), p. 458.

5RB regularly forwarded bills of exchange for the interest accrued on BF’s loan office certificates (including those sent with former French Minister Conrad-Alexandre Gérard): XXIII, 280–1n; XXVII, 601; XXIX, 273–4; XXXI, 19; XXXII, 175–6.

6The paper was the Philadelphisches Staatsregister and Mr. Miller was John Henry Miller, one of BF’s former apprentices: XXXII, 609n.

7John Mathews (1744–1802) was a congressional delegate from South Carolina: DAB. Congress did not take up the question of the French mission during the period covered by this volume. Mathews, Lee, and Izard were leaders in a successful attempt to weaken BF’s authority, which will be discussed in vol. 34.

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