Papers of John Adams, volume 12

From Francis Dana

To Joan Derk van der Capellen tot den Pol

From Benjamin Franklin, 11 January 1782 Franklin, Benjamin JA From Benjamin Franklin, 11 January 1782 Franklin, Benjamin Adams, John
From Benjamin Franklin
Passy, Jan. 11. 1782 Sir

Your Excellency will see by the within1 the Situation I am in, and will thence judge how far it may be proper for you to accept farther Drafts on Mr Laurens, with any Expectation of my enabling you to pay them, when I have not only no Promise of more Money, but an absolute Promise that I shall have no more. I shall use my Endeavours however, but am not sure of Succeeding, as we seem to have done what I long fear’d we should do, tir’d out our Friends by our endless Demands to pay Drafts unexpected and boundless. With the Million mentioned I can continue paying to the End of February, and then, if I get no more, must shut up Shop. I have the honour to be, with great Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Servant

B Franklin

RC and enclosure (Adams Papers); endorsed: “Dr Franklin 11. Jan. 1782 ansd 26.—inclosed is a Letter from M. Le Cte. De Vergennes.”

1.

Vergennes to Franklin, 31 Dec. 1781 (Franklin, Papers , 36:347). Vergennes agreed to supply Franklin with one million livres, but refused further assistance, stating that any additional funds would have to come from the Dutch loan guaranteed by France.