John Jeffries to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
London Margaret Street Cavendish Square, 1 June 1786—
Dear Sir

With renewed & sincere acknowledgments for your repeated attentions & kindesses to me both here & at Paris; I now indulge myself the honour to present you a copy of my Aerial Narrative, accompanied with a good Print of my historical Portrait, alluding to an important point of time in my Aerial Voyage from England into France.—

I lament much that it is not more worthy of your notice;—but doubt not you will recollect the early pride & admiration, at least in this Country, when those experiments were attempted.—I will therefore hope you will not persue it with too severe an eye.—

If notwithstanding all its imperfections you can find any thing to approve;—or even for a few minutes amuse you, I shall esteem it a flattering honour, & be much gratified thereby.—

I wish I could inform you that I had derived any advantages from those experiments besides empty fame.—but, unfortunately by so late a publication, I have but increased my former arrears of 600, to nearer 700 Guineas loss by them.

You will doubtless observe, and I am sorry it is so, that the alteration in the Inscription which I had pointed out & requested, & they had promised, has not been made, but from some cause or other, been neglected, tho so palpable an error.—

I have therefore taken the liberty to alter it myself.— may every blessing attend you, supported by health & honour.—

I should be happy to hear from you, & be assured of it from yourself.—for believe me, I feel myself your affectionate oblidged friend & obedient humble servant

J: Jeffries

W: T: Franklin Esqr Philadelphia
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