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THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790), Signer (Pennsylvania). Autograph letter signed ("Benjamin Franklin") and initialed ("B. F."), as Colonial Agent, London, 9 August 1773. 2 pages, folio, address panel neatly mended, otherwise, FINE, in a red morocco folding case.
Details
FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790), Signer (Pennsylvania). Autograph letter signed ("Benjamin Franklin") and initialed ("B. F."), as Colonial Agent, London, 9 August 1773. 2 pages, folio, address panel neatly mended, otherwise, FINE, in a red morocco folding case.
"I THINK IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DURATION OF FRIENDSHIP TO KEEP ITS ACCOUNTS & THOSE OF BUSINESS DISTINCT & SEPARATE"
"AN EXACT JUSTICE IN POUNDS, SHILLINGS & PENCE SHOULD BE OBSERVED BETWEEN FRIENDS AS BETWEEN STRANGERS." A lengthy, conciliatory letter, with some Poor Richard-style maxims thrown in, to the grumpy daughter of a recently deceased business partner, James Parker. She found her father's estate "incumbered...with those Bonds to Mr. Franklin" on which "now heavy Sums appear due" (Bedford to Franklin, Papers, 20:35-7). He responds playfully to "Dear Jenky, For so I must call you, tho you seem a little angry with me." He promises to "examine the Accounts that are sent me from your Books, and write to you fully upon them very soon. In the mean time, you and Mrs. Parker may be assured that nothing will be expected or desired on my Part inconsistent with the Regard I always had for her and you, and the ancient friendship that so long subsisted between Mr. Parker and me, whose Memory as an honest, worthy Man I shall always honour." In fact, he promises to settle the estate himself: "Desiring nothing but what is just, [I] shall be more pleased to find little due to me than much." But he makes it clear, beneath all his bonhomie, that he will take much if that is what he's owed: "In a letter some years since to Mr. Parker, I gave my Reasons for expecting his Bond, bearing Interest, whenever I advanced considerable Sums of Money for him, viz., because to serve him I took my Money out of other Hands where it bore Interest." Franklin reverts to Poor Richard mode, adding: "But I think it contributes to the Duration of Friendship to keep its accounts, & those of Business, distinct & separate; and that as exact Justice in Pounds Shillings & Pence should be observed between Friends as between Strangers. I always intended making Mr. Parker an Allowance for the Time he spent and the trouble he took in settling my Accounts with Mr. Hall [Hall, Franklin's partner] after I left America. This is the only thing I at present recollect unsatisfy'd. But if Mr. Parker, or you, or I myself, can find or recollect anything else, it shall be allow'd for..." In the postscript, Franklin transcribes a passage in a letter from Mr. Parker to Franklin from March 1770, concerning a partially paid debt from Parker. After initialing the postscript, Franklin adds a final thought: "You speak of a Difference between our Families. I have never heard of such a Thing, but in your Letter, and wonder at it."
Published in Papers, ed. Willcox, 20:153-55.
"I THINK IT CONTRIBUTES TO THE DURATION OF FRIENDSHIP TO KEEP ITS ACCOUNTS & THOSE OF BUSINESS DISTINCT & SEPARATE"
"AN EXACT JUSTICE IN POUNDS, SHILLINGS & PENCE SHOULD BE OBSERVED BETWEEN FRIENDS AS BETWEEN STRANGERS." A lengthy, conciliatory letter, with some Poor Richard-style maxims thrown in, to the grumpy daughter of a recently deceased business partner, James Parker. She found her father's estate "incumbered...with those Bonds to Mr. Franklin" on which "now heavy Sums appear due" (Bedford to Franklin, Papers, 20:35-7). He responds playfully to "Dear Jenky, For so I must call you, tho you seem a little angry with me." He promises to "examine the Accounts that are sent me from your Books, and write to you fully upon them very soon. In the mean time, you and Mrs. Parker may be assured that nothing will be expected or desired on my Part inconsistent with the Regard I always had for her and you, and the ancient friendship that so long subsisted between Mr. Parker and me, whose Memory as an honest, worthy Man I shall always honour." In fact, he promises to settle the estate himself: "Desiring nothing but what is just, [I] shall be more pleased to find little due to me than much." But he makes it clear, beneath all his bonhomie, that he will take much if that is what he's owed: "In a letter some years since to Mr. Parker, I gave my Reasons for expecting his Bond, bearing Interest, whenever I advanced considerable Sums of Money for him, viz., because to serve him I took my Money out of other Hands where it bore Interest." Franklin reverts to Poor Richard mode, adding: "But I think it contributes to the Duration of Friendship to keep its accounts, & those of Business, distinct & separate; and that as exact Justice in Pounds Shillings & Pence should be observed between Friends as between Strangers. I always intended making Mr. Parker an Allowance for the Time he spent and the trouble he took in settling my Accounts with Mr. Hall [Hall, Franklin's partner] after I left America. This is the only thing I at present recollect unsatisfy'd. But if Mr. Parker, or you, or I myself, can find or recollect anything else, it shall be allow'd for..." In the postscript, Franklin transcribes a passage in a letter from Mr. Parker to Franklin from March 1770, concerning a partially paid debt from Parker. After initialing the postscript, Franklin adds a final thought: "You speak of a Difference between our Families. I have never heard of such a Thing, but in your Letter, and wonder at it."
Published in Papers, ed. Willcox, 20:153-55.