John Jay Papers

To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 29 September 1781

From Benjamin Franklin

Passy Sept 29. 1781

Dear Sir,

I received yours of the 10th. Instant, and have given Orders that you should have the Credit you require for October & November; viz 16157 Dollars. Please to let me know if this Sum includes the Ballance of the 25000 Dollars.

I begin to have hopes of the Loan in Holland, in which Case, I shall be able also to pay your next Years Salaries.1 But in that Case, the Drafts should be quarterly: And if you think any thing can be saved by it, you may dispose of your Bills on me as you think proper. Please to explain this Saving. I was told there was none. By a Line in Mr. Carmichael’s Letter, I have Hopes of seeing you.2 He mentions your Intention of sending some Papers by the Courier. They are not come. I have only receiv’d your good Reasons for refusing Payment of certain Bills.3 I can now only add that I am ever, with great Esteem, Dear, Sir, Your most Obedient & most humble Servt.

B Franklin

I cannot now write to Mr. C.
His Exy. J. Jay Esqr.

LS, NNC (EJ: 90240). Endorsed. LbkC, DLC: Franklin (EJ: 10312).

1. Arrangements were completed in November 1781 for a French-guaranteed loan from the United Provinces for 5 million guilders, or 10 million livres tournois, the total amount of which France agreed to advance immediately. See Ferguson, Power of the Purse description begins E. James Ferguson, The Power of the Purse: A History of American Public Finance, 1776–1790 (Chapel Hill, N.C., 1961) description ends , 126–27.

2. Carmichael to BF, 15 Sept., PBF description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds., The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (39 vols. to date; New Haven, Conn., 1959–) description ends , 35: 486. See also JJ to BF, 3 Oct. 1781, Dft, NNC (EJ: 7809); PBF description begins William B. Willcox et al., eds., The Papers of Benjamin Franklin (39 vols. to date; New Haven, Conn., 1959–) description ends , 35: 553–54.

3. See JJ to BF, 10 Sept. 1781, above.

Index Entries

    You Are Looking At

    Source Project
    Jay Papers
    Title
    To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 29 September 1781
    Author
    Franklin, Benjamin
    Recipient
    Jay, John
    Date
    29 September 1781

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 29 September 1781,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jay/01-02-02-0243. [Original source: The Selected Papers of John Jay, vol. 2, 1780–1782, ed. Elizabeth M. Nuxoll. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2012, p. 577.]

    More between these correspondents