Silas Deane to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
Philadelphia 20th. Sep: 1779
Dear Sir,

I have received but one Letter from You since my leaving France the Orders contained in that I gave to Mr Bache who engaged to execute them, if in his Power, but it is at this time, difficult, to procure even the most Necessary Articles of Life, and much more so Curiosities of any kind, I have taken some pains to get a few, to entertain some of my Friends in Paris but without Success, for independant of the enormous Price at which every thing now is, it is hardly possible to collect any thing except the most common Articles. I hope a Stop will be put to the sinking of Our Money, but I really fear it will run down still lower, it is at present from 25 to 30 for one in exchange for Silver or Gold, & European Goods are sold at Sixty to One Hundred for one generally, in many Instances much higher. I received a Letter from my Son in which he says He was spending the Holy Day in writing with you. I shall consider every favor you show him, particularly in his Education, as laying both Him & Me undir the strongest Obligations to You of which I am sure we shall neither of Us be unmindful—I will not touch on Politics further than to say, I think after all, the Enemies of your Grandfather, of You, & Me, will finally come off with shame, & disgrace—I am preparing to leave America, and am only uneasy at Present for Safety of my Return, for other Matters I am distress’d, tho’: Ten Scoundrels to one, at present were to Attempt to vilify, and abuse Me; Not a Packet arrives but is loaded with the most outrageous Scandal against Dr. Franklin, I am at present but little Noticed by them in their Letters—I must pray You, to take care, of the Furniture left in my Lodgings at Passy. I have heard Nothing from Mr Adams since his return, only that he is greatly disgusted, at Congress for their not appointing him, to some Court abroad, but this is report only—I pray you to make my Compliments to those of Our Freinds, who remember Me, and most particularly to Doct Franklin, to whom I shall hardly have Time to write, and as Mr Bache writes particularly by this Opportunity, I have little of Consequence to write, but what He will have from him. My best wishes ever attend You, & am Dr. Sir, Your most Obedt. Very Humb. Servt.

Silas Deane

Wm. Franklin Esqr
Addressed: To / William T. Franklin Esqr. / at Passy / near. Paris—
Notation: S Deane. Sept. 20. 1779
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