To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, 21 April 1784
From David Barclay
ALS: American Philosophical Society
London 21st: 4th/mo: 1784.
Respected Friend
My Nephews Daniel Bell & David Barclay5 being likely to spend a few days at Paris, I take the freedom to introduce them to Thee, as well for the favour of Thy Countenance, as to bring me Information of Thy Welfare—6 The long Winter and uncommonly late Spring have been disadvantageous to many Constitutions, in wch I have had a Share, & hope, Thine has not suffered by it.
I am Respectfully Thy Affectionate Friend.
David Barclay.
Addressed: Honble Benjamin Franklin / &c &c / Passy.
Notation: Barclay David, London 1784.—
5. Daniel Bell (1753–1834) was a son of Barclay’s sister Catherine and her husband, Daniel Bell. The other nephew, David (b. 1763), was a son of John Barclay (IX, 190–1n): Charles W. Barclay, Hubert F. Barclay, and Alice Wilson-Fox, comps., A History of the Barclay Family … (3 vols., London, 1924–34), III, 243, 248, 251; [Edward M. Chadwick], The Chadwicks of Guelph and Toronto and their Cousins (Toronto, 1914), p. 67.
6. Daniel Bell had also been charged by his uncle John Barclay to deliver to BF a letter that Barclay’s firm had received from one Thomas Blackburn of the Isle of Thanet, Kent. Blackburn wished to be appointed U.S. agent or consul along the Kentish coast, where American ships were running aground on the shoals and being attacked. Blackburn asked the Barclays to recommend him to President of Congress Mifflin. John Barclay, through Bell, evidently asked BF to place the matter before Congress. According to Bell’s later account, he also delivered to BF a batch of “Papers.” Filed with Blackburn’s letter at the APS is an undated, incomplete memorandum in Blackburn’s hand explaining how he could help American captains, and asking that the consulship be procured from “Mr Hancok”: Daniel Bell to BF, July 29, 1785; Thomas Blackburn to John and Robert Barclay & Co., April 6, 1784; undated, incomplete memorandum; all at the APS.