Bache & Shee to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
Philadelphia 1st. November 1783
Dear Sir

Conformable to the wishes of his Excellency the Saxon Minister, and to your desire; we have caused to be inserted the advertizement, which you will see in the papers that accompany this, it wou’d have been next to an impossibility, and have added greatly to the expence, to have entered into the detail required by inserting at large the Manufactures &c. with the names and abode of the different Fabricators, we conceived a reference to us, wou’d answer every purpose and hope it wil meet his Excellency’s approbation; shou’d he direct otherwise we shall pay due attention to his commands.

To the knowledge that most of our Merchants have of the British Manufactures and the facility with which they can carry on a correspondence; we presume is owing the disinclination, that at present appears amongst them, of forming connections out of the Channels in which business has heretofore moved in; the certainty of being supplied on better terms can only overcome old habits and present convenience, and this must be clearly demonstrated, and generally known, ’ere Countries hitherto unconnected with us, derive those advantages that ought to result from the cheapness and good quality of their manufactures: unwilling as we are to renew our correspondence with England, we find almost insuperable difficulties, in our propos’d plans with other Countries—in the present instance, we know not on what terms we coud have goods from Saxony; wither for Cash only, a thing not known in the dry goods trade; or the usual credit of other manufacturing States; we are even at a loss, as the enclosed letters, will shew you, who to apply to, for the Articles we wou’d wish to have sent us—his Excellency may perhaps be enabled to give you information on this head; in which case we beg you will fill up the blanks with the manufacturers names & forward them agreable to the directions, giving us advice of the same

We take the further liberty of requesting you wou’d inform us of the cheapest Manufactories of Cloth, Brittany Linen, cotton & chintzs & Silks, in the Kingdom of France, a knowledge we hope you can easily procure from houses in those lines in Paris

We cannot conclude this letter without requesting you to acknowledge from us, how sensibly we feel ourselves obliged to his Excellency Doctor Franklin for his kind exertions in favor of our house the good effects of which we have experienced; and to assure him we shall ever study to merit a continuance of them. Extensive & advantagious prospects open in the commercial line, which cou’d be highly improved by an American house who had a partner in Europe that was well inform’d and wou’d exert himself in procuring commissns. particularly if countenanc’d and recommended, by a Character so much rever’d as his Excellencys. we beg your forgiveness for the trouble we give you—taking the liberty of subscribing ourselves with great Sincerity dear Sir Your obedient & hum Serts. & friends

Bache & Shee

If you find it likely that the Saxon Manufacturers wou’d not chuse to become exporters, we beg you’ll request his Excellency Doctor Franklin, to direct our letter to a house in Hamburgh, where we have not a correspondent; who we hope will execute the orders, on the Credit of our house—in which case forward the letters intended for the manufacturers & the patterns to Hamburgh—in either instance whether the Goods are Ship’d by a Merchant in Hambro or ship’d by the Manufacturer as we wou’d have full Insurance made, you’ll please forward our letter as many be directed to Hamburgh, informing the house whether they are to execute the orders—or only make Insurance, when the goods are forwarded from Saxony— perhaps you may think it best shou’d you receive our letters of this date & the Copy, to keep the latter, that if our orders shou’d not be executed by the Manufacturers, you may be enable’d to send the patterns with the Copies to Hamburgh shou’d one only get to hand you can if necessary advise the house in Hamburgh who may execute our orders the names of the Manufacturers to whom you sent them—
William Temple Franklin Esqr.
Notation: Bache & Shea Phila. 1st. Novr. 1783
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