From Benjamin Franklin to James Searle, [25 January 1781]
To James Searle
AL: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Passy, Thursday [January 25, 1781]
Mr Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr Searle, is glad to hear of his safe Arrival from Holland;4 and thanks him for his Care of the Letter from Leiden.
Mr Franklin will be happy to have the Company of Mr Searle at Dinner on Sunday next, if it may suit Mr Searle to do him that honour.
Addressed: Honble. Mr Searle / Hotel de Valois / Paris /
Endorsed: Recd. Friday 26. Janry. 81 Dor. Franklins Note 25. Janry. 1781
4. On Feb. 14 Searle wrote Joseph Reed that he had arrived in Paris about three weeks earlier. His mission in the Netherlands “unsuccessful for the present,” he hoped to arrange a loan for Pennsylvania with the farmers general: William B. Reed, ed., Life and Correspondence of Joseph Reed … (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1847), II, 455–7. In a letter dated “Hotel de Valois Tuesday Morng,” which BF endorsed “recd Wednesday noon”, Searle reported that he had arrived in Paris on Saturday evening and he forwarded a letter he had brought from Leiden. APS.