To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Grand, 19 January 1782
From Henry Grand2
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Paris Jany 19th 1782
Sir
I have to acknowledge the receit of the 32 Discounting Office Stocks you have sent me;3 they wont be returned to me before the latter end of this Month when I shall send them to you without loss of Time.
There have been obmissions made by the Clark that drew out the list of payments to Prisoners sent you as he was in a great hurry. Herewith you have a new one more correct. If it is necessary to stop the payment of any of those orders I shall be expecting your further Instructions thereupon.4
Your Parcel for Holland has been franckd & forwardd. Messrs. Fizeaux Grand & ce. at Amstrm. having drawn on me the 3rd. inst. at 3 Usances for your Account the sum of £5564.5.6.5 I beg you will be so Kind as to send me an authorisation for the payment of said Bill. Mr. John Adams has also valued upon me for more than what I remain indebted to him;6 & as his salaries are due to him since Novr. last I crave the favour you will send me a further order in his favour.
I remain with due Respect sir Your most obt. hble st. for M. Grand
Hy. Grand
Addressed: His Excellency Bn. Franklin Esq / Passy
Endorsed: Gave the Authorization desired BF—
2. Written on behalf of his father in response to BF’s letter of Jan. 18, above.
3. On Jan. 19 Ferdinand Grand credited BF’s personal account with 3,520 l.t.: Account XVII (XXVI, 3).
4. The list has not been found. BF evidently did stop payment on prisoners’ drafts until the accounting errors could be explained. WTF did so on Feb. 12; see the Editorial Note on Promissory Notes.
5. Ferdinand Grand paid this sum (which was in livres tournois) on April 13: Account XXVII (XXXII, 4).
6. See our annotation of BF’s first letter of Jan. 15 to Ferdinand Grand, above. On Jan. 28, Ferdinand Grand honored a 6,000 l.t. bill drawn by JA on BF: Account XXVII.