Jonathan Williams, Jr. to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
St. Germain le 22 Decr. 1784
My dear Billy

I have a Favour to ask of you for my Uncle, which I beforehand assure myself you will grant. This is the Case. At this Instant there is an accomodation on foot between Mr. Alexander & Mr. Walpole, and the Commissioners on both sides have actualy had one meeting, & apparently have equal Dispositions for Peace. I say apparently, for at this Instant also, Walpole is taking the Advantage of the Security my Uncle supposes himself in, and is secretly endeavouring to take his Person here: This is something worse than what the Devil himself would do.—The Object therefore is to go to Ostende in the most private Way possible, for we have good Information that he is so watched, that he would be taken on the Way were he to go openly. I request you therefore to fill up a Passport for “John Brown allant à Ostende which I dare say the Doctor will without hesitation sign: My Uncle writes to him on the subject.—Desire M. de la Motte to go to the Bureau des Coches & take a Place for John Brown for Ostende paying the Money, let the Place be taken for a Day Sufficiently distant to give Time for my Uncle to receive your Answer, & be at the Bureau before the Departure of the Stage. When all this is done send your Gardner hither with the Passport & the Stage Ticket. My Uncle has a Bill or two to receive in Paris which he will endorse to you & request you to send for the Money when they become due, and then dispose of it as he shall desire.

Voila bien des Affairs mon cher ami vous pardonnez bien l’embaras qu’elles pouront vous occasioner car quand il s’agit de faire le bien Je sais que vous êtes toujours pret.

Bien des Respects a notre cher Papa & a Madame Hewson ma Jambe m’est encore trés inutile, Je ne suis guere plus qu’un Automat. Je vous embrace du milieu de mon [?] Dr: Sir

J Williams J

I send you Inclosed a bill for 2504 l.t. due the 28th. Which is Accepted you will please receive the money, & pay the Ballance to Mr. Williams & the Girls I request the bearer may be kept untill you can send him back with the Ticket for the Dilligence & the passport advise me at same time the most convenient place to go to Join the Dilligence yours

A: J: A:

You will find inclosed another Bill for 6118..2 l.t. which pray send for acceptance & have it returned to you.—you will remember that the other Bill falls due the 28th. Instant—My Uncle [torn] it best to join the dilligence on the Road please [torn] to know the Time & plan of the first Stage so exactly that there may not be the possibility of a mistake. To make short of this Precaution Let it be said at the Dilligence that M Brown is at St Denis & will join there, know the House of the Stages passage & the Auberge at which it puts up./.
Addressed: a monsieur / Monsieur Franklin fils / A Passy
Notation: Williams 22 Decr. 1784.—
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