From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 26 April 1783
To Mary Hewson
ALS: Yale University Library
Passy, April 26. 1783
My dear Friend,
I received in its time your kind Letter of Feb. 22.3 I am sensible of the Prudence of your Advice, respecting my coming to England, and shall follow it.— Accept my Thanks for that, and for your kind Invitation to Cheam when I do come; but the little left of Life at my Age, will perhaps hurry me home as soon as I can be quit of my Employment here. I should indeed have great Pleasure in seeing you, and in being some time with you & your little Family: I cannot have all I wish.
Mr Williams is now here with his Family. I shall mention to him his not answering your Letter. We talk’d yesterday of you, and of his Friend Dolly, whom I have not forgotten as she supposes. He express’d the highest Esteem and Regard for you both. My Love to her when you see her.—4
I send you some more of the little Books,5 and am ever, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately
B Franklin
Mrs Hewson
Endorsed: Franklin April 26. 83 / 41
3. Not found.
4. JW and his wife and daughter had been at Passy since at least April 23: JW to Ward Boylston, and to Williams, Moore, & Co., April 23, 1783 (Yale University Library). “Dolly” was Dorothea Blunt (IX, 327n), who was part of the Craven Street circle.
5. Presumably installments of L’ami des enfants; see BF’s Jan. 27 letter to Hewson. The series continued in 1783: Jour. de Paris, issues of Dec. 23, 1782, and Feb. 2, March 14, and April 5, 1783.