From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Penington, 27 February 1766
To Edward Penington
ALS: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
London, Feb. 27. 1766
Dear Sir,
I received yours of Nov. 14.7 with that enclos’d for Mr. Sp[ringett] Penn, which I immediately forwarded to him. He continues in Ireland I know not why. I hear from him sometimes, but to little purpose.8 I think it not unlikely he may suffer him self to be finally impos’d on by his Uncle in the Affair of Pensbury, but shall endeavour to stir him up against it, and prevail with him to go over, or impower you to sell for his best Advantage. The Artifice you mention is a base one; but I hope you will defeat it, and secure the poor young Man’s whole Right for him. I shall give him every Assistance in my Power. With great Esteem I am, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr Js. Pennington9
Addressed: Mr Edwd Pennington / Mercht / Philadelphia
Endorsed: Feby 27th 1766 from B Franklin
Second Endorsement: from B. Franklin
7. See above, XII, 370–2.
8. See above, pp. 123–4.
9. So written at the lower left hand corner of the letter, but the address furnishes indisputable proof that Edward Penington was the addressee of this letter. BF may have written “Js.” with James Pemberton in mind, because on this same day Dr. John Fothergill had written Pemberton a testimonial, exonerating BF from complicity in the passage of the Stamp Act. Fothergill’s letter is in Hist. Soc. Pa.