To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 29 March 1780
From Richard Bache
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Philadelphia March 29th. 1780.
Dear & Hond: Sir
Yours of the 29h. Octr. last came to hand only a few days ago, and is the only one I have had from you for some Month’s past—5 I embrace this opportunity of Mr. Gerards Nephew6 who goes Via Virginia to hand to you 3d. Bills of the Setts sent you by Mr. Gerard7 who I hope has got safe home at last— My Love to Temple, tell him, I thank him for his care in distributing Bache & Shee’s circular Letters, & for the list he has furnished me with;8 he has my thanks too, for his care in sending me Ben’s Letters.
Sally and the Children are well they join in affectionate Love & Duty with D. sir Your ever affece. son
Rich: Bache
You will receive herewith two Letters that came to my hands not long since but where from I know not the one for yourself, the other for the Marquis De laffayette.
Addressed: Dr. Franklin
Endorsed: Bache all answer’d Oct 4. 1780
Notation: Rüe Chateau Burbon a l’hotel d’Angleterre
5. The Oct. 29 letter is missing. BF’s most recent extant letter to his son-in-law was that of Oct. 1, 1779: XXX, 423.
6. Gérard’s nephew, who also served as his chief secretary, was Pierre Prothais Meyer: Smith, Letters, X, 440; Meng, Despatches of Gérard, p. 225n.
7. For the first and second sets of bills for the annual interest on BF’s investment in the loan office see XXX, 363; XXXI, 19.
8. Advertisements for the newly-formed merchant firm of Bache & Shee: XXVIII, 552; XXIX, 273; XXX, 193, 364–5. The list is described in XXIX, 273n.