To Benjamin Franklin from George Hobart, 12 September 1783
From George Hobart4
AL: American Philosophical Society
Septr 12 1783. Hôtel de Chartres
Mr Hobarts Compliments wait upon Mr Franklin, not knowing where to find Mr Adams He takes the Liberty in Governor Pownalls Name to forward to him the Memorial address’d to the Sovereigns of America.5 Governor Pownall is also very desirous of knowing whether his Letter & Power of Attorney was ever forwarded to Mr Bowdein and Doctor Cooper, for if they should have been lost, He will send Duplicates.6
Notation: Hobarts 12 7bre. 1783
4. Who traveled to France periodically and brought BF correspondence and printed matter from Thomas Pownall. He is identified in XXXV, 627, where we tentatively published an undated letter from him preceding his first fully dated letter. We now realize that the items Hobart mentioned there, which he was delivering on behalf of Pownall, are those to which Pownall alerted BF on July 5, 1782 (XXXVII, 582–4), the letter that Hobart undoubtedly enclosed. Hobart’s undated letter should therefore be ascribed to [after July 5, 1782].
5. A Memorial Addressed to the Sovereigns of America (London, 1783). Pownall told BF about his intention to write it in February, and it was published in June: XXXIX, 228; Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser, June 20, 1783. On Oct. 6, when Pownall had still not heard from BF, he wrote to inquire whether he had received the pamphlet; Pownall mentioned having also sent a copy to “each of Your Colleagues” (APS). By the time Hobart wrote the present letter, he must have already conveyed BF’s copy.
6. BF never answered Hobart, who wrote again two weeks later to ask about these letters to Bowdoin and Cooper (which Pownall had sent BF in February with a power of attorney: XXXIX, 228–9): Hobart to BF, Sept. 26, [1783], APS. In the Oct. 6 letter cited above, Pownall repeated the question, reminding BF of his promise to forward them in March.