To John Jay from Henry Hill, 24 April 1790
From Henry Hill
Philad[elphi]a. Apl. 24th. 1790
Sir
The parties whose names are distinguish’d with your’s as Executors to the will of the late Doctor Franklin1 present you the inclosed exemplification of the same.
They wish it were accompanied with a token2 left by our venerable Testator to General Washington The “Friend of mankind” but expect soon to find some gentleman going whose honor may prove a sufficient pledge for it’s safe delivery into your hands. Seeing the ability of one to supply the unskilfulness in such affairs of another Executor, it raises my Idea of the Testator’s wisdom, & encourages me to hope that with the assistance of your advice I shall be enabled to keep the unexpected yet most acceptable preferment my name could have received in the opinion of Sir, Your most obedt. Sert. &ca.
Henry Hill
John Jay Esqr.
ALS, NNC (EJ: 05675). Endorsed: “… and. 21 May 1790” and “recd. & and. at Portsmo. 20 May 1790”. JJ’s reply has not been found.
1. The other executors named in Benjamin Franklin’s will of 17 July 1788, all Philadelphians, were: Henry Hill (1732–1798), a merchant, assemblyman (1780–84), and member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council (1785–88); Francis Hopkinson (1737–91), lawyer, merchant, writer, and Pennsylvania judge of admiralty; and Edward Duffield (1730–1805), a clockmaker and engraver. See JJ’s copy of BF’s will, 17 July 1788, modified 23 June 1789, ADS, NNC (EJ: 05603).
2. “My fine crab-tree walking-stick, with a gold head curiously wrought in the form of the cap of liberty, I give to my friend, and the friend of mankind, General Washington. If it were a Sceptre, he has merited it, and would become it. It was a present to me from that excellent woman, Madame de Forbach, the dowager Duchess of Deux-Ponts, connected with some verses which should go with it.” Codicil to BF’s will, 23 June 1789, ADS, NNC (EJ: 05603). The walking stick, a present to BF from Marianne Cammasse Deux-Ponts, comtesse de Forbach, was delivered to GW by Major Matthew Clarkson in May 1790. See , 5: 388–89.