Jonathan Williams, Jr. to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
Nantes Aug 16 1783.
my dear Billy

I hope next post will bring me an acct. of your having obtained the Arret du Sureance in question. I sent you eight days ago every necessary paper. my affairs continue to go on smoothly and I believe I shall get through. Mumford has got your Tea & intended to have sent it by Mr. Russell but there was not Room in his Chaise; it will go by next messagerie. I shall be much obliged to you if you will procure me two of the best Razors possible with a good strap, I am most terribly scratched by those I have.

I hope the Doctor has received the Money for the Bills in Deposit, as they will otherwise be vendue, pray see to that & advise me. Please to note that the money is not to be paid Mr. Barclay without my previous Consent as I shall have about 10000 Livres to deduct for Subsequent disbursements for prisonners.—Give me leave to ask your opinion in Confidence of these advances.—Mr. B wrote to my House that he would be obliged to me to take Care of the prisonners, and he has since thanked me for [torn] Care of them, but then seems in all he has written about them a neglect of rendering himself responsable for my advances; tho’ to me verbally in Paris he was as full and as satisfactory in his orders as was possible. I should have thought nothing of this if he had not in his last Letter been very full on every other subject, & totaly silent on this, though the Letter he was answering inclosed my accounts. I will never consent to his securing the Money which formes the Deposit without paying my advances. Prisonners are coming in every day and in [torn] Opportunitys so a continual Expence is going on, I push them off as well as I can but I cannot let the poor Devils starve especially some who are sick & wounded. Give me your opinion of this matter & excuse the Trouble I am your affectionate & obliged

J Williams J

has the Dr. obtained leave to resign & have the C been attentive to the merits of my Friend.
Addressed: a monsieur / Monsieur Franklin fils / a l’Hotel du Ministre / Plenipotentiaire des Etats Unis / A Passy / près / Paris
Notation: Jonn. Williams 16 August 83
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