Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont fils to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
New York march 30 1788

I found at my arrival here, my Dear Friend, the letter you directed at [coirée] when I was last in this city. The one it inclosed will be delivered according to your wishes to W. Mc. Donald. I am glad to inform you that you may differ to next year to pay or redeem your quit rents; the legislature of this state at their last session have past an act which grant that delay which I am sure will be of some comfort to you as well as to many others. I have consulted great many persons to know wether they will not be entirely abolished, and I find that it will not be the case.

We have open a [road?] subscription to go from Esopus to the Butternutt creek in passing through your township, and we expect that you will be a suscriber as you are more interested in it more than any other person it will finish or rather tend towards the line which separates upton from Morris. If the subscription is not large enough we will be forced to waitt till next year when there will be more settlers in the country this road wount pass through otego [tract ?] but it will not pass far from it.

Nothing new in this good city. The arrival of Mr. Mrs. and mis Francis fait la nouvelle de la Societé, and they admire very much ce joli petit echantillon de nos beautés de Philadelphie. Je ne l’ai pas encor vu, elle ne fait que d’arriver. J’espere être bientôt avec vous et en attendant Je vous embrasse de tout mon coeur. votre Devoué & affectionnate friend,

De chaumont

My Respects to your Grand father & your aunt.
Wm. T. Franklin
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