Philadelphia 2d. January 1784
Tho’ hitherto, we have not taken the liberty of addressing your
Excellency; we have requested Mr. W. T. Franklin, to acknowledge
how sensibly we are obliged by your attention to the interest of
our House, as well as the many advantages we have derived from
your friendly recommendations, a continuance of which we flatter
ourselves we shall merit by evincing upon every Occasion, the
utmost attention and deference. We cannot sufficiently thank your
excellency for the recent instance of your goodness in preventing
the return of the bill we drew on Mr. Williams, such circumstances
being peculiarly injurious to mercantile reputation.
We now enclose for your reimbursement the two following drafts
on Mess Le Couteulx & Co Paris.
We have taken the liberty of drawing on those Gentlemen, before
they have advised us of their being in Cash for us, from the
circumstance of this house in Cadez, having made insurance for us
on a Vessel that was lost; and as the loss became due the 3rd of
last October, and we had directed our proportion of it upwards of
20,000 to be placed to our credit with their Parisian house; we
cannot but conclude it has been done long ’ere this, tho we are
yet without advice; shou’d any on toward circumstance have
delayed, it of which no doubt we shall soon be acquainted, we will
immediately replace the sum we have now drawn for, observing only,
that shou’d our bill in the present instance be refused, the
trouble and expence of protest may be avoided. Our Mr. R B being
in the Country from whence probably he may not return in time to
write by this Packet, we have the pleasure of informing of the
good health of the family, subscribing ourselves with every
sentiment of respect and esteem Your Excellency’s Most obedient
humble Servants