Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Ferdinand Grand, with a Draft of Franklin’s Reply, [8 April 1782]

From Ferdinand Grand, with a Draft of Franklin’s Reply

LS:9 American Philosophical Society

ce lundi [April 8, 1782]1

sir

I just hear from Amsterdam that Bills accepted by Mr. J. Jay at Madrid are come back unpaid & protested to the Amount of 20000 Ducats. If you are desirous they should be paid you will be so Kind as to send me your Orders for that purpose & I shall pursuant thereto write by tomorrow’s Mail to the above friends to give notice to the holders of the Bills that they may send them back again to Madrid & that they will be surely paid.

I am most respectfully sir Your most ob hbl se

Grand

[Postscript in Ferdinand Grand’s hand:] Jay fait prevenir messr Pache d’envoyer recevoir chez moy les acceptations de Mr Jay, dont ils Sont porteurs, Suivant vos ordres. 20/ mls Ducats font environ deux Cent mille Livres de france

Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur le Docteur Franklin / Passy.

[In Franklin’s hand:]

Passy April 8. 1782

Sir

I approve of your Writing as you propose to Holland, that the Bills being sent back to Madrid will be paid;2 or if the Holders chuse to take the Money here you will pay them at Paris, or in Amsterdam. I am with great Esteem, Sir, Your humble Servant

B F.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

9In the hand of his son Henry.

1April 8, when BF drafted his response, was a Monday.

2Grand continued to pay Jay’s bills. For example, he paid 115,410 l.t. (plus 2,058 l.t. 2 s. in protest charges) on May 8: Account XXVII (XXXII, 4).

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