To Benjamin Franklin from David Hartley, 27 July 1784
From David Hartley
ALS: Library of Congress
Rue Caumartin July 27 1784
My Dear friend
I have thought it a long while that my Confinement has prevented my seeing you. I was in hopes to have had the pleasure of seeing you to day, but I was indiscreet in going out the night before last, wch has encreased the pain & swelling of my foot. My foot is again rather better than it was yesterday, but I am afraid to venture out to day. I hope still to see you on Thursday.—9 I received no letters by the messenger of last night from the Secretary of State, but I understand that the report of the privy council & other documents respecting American trade are laid before Parliament. I presume therefore that that Subject will soon be taken into Consideration.1
Yours most affecly
D H
To Dr Franklin &c &c &c
9. July 29.
1. For the report see the annotation of Henry Laurens’ first letter of April 18, above. On July 27 Pitt introduced a bill in the House of Commons for maintaining the restrictions on American trade with the West Indies. By July 30 it had passed and received royal assent: London Chron., July 27–29 and July 29–31, 1784. The Order in Council of July 2 continued to be renewed every six months until 1788: John Ehrman, The Younger Pitt (3 vols., New York and Stanford, Calif., 1969–96), 1, 335.