ALS (2): Western Reserve Historical Society and Pierpont Morgan
Library; also duplicate: Yale University Library
Philada. Sept. 25. 1746
Your Favours of Feb. 11. and May 1. are come to
hand. Mesnard arrived safe this Morning, and I suppose I shall have
the Trunks out in a Day or two. Our other Ships Lisle and Houston
not yet come, but daily expected. I am much oblig’d to you for your
ready Compliance with my Requests. I sent you in the Spring a Bill
on Messrs. Hoare and Arnold for £15 which I hope came to hand, and
will be as readily paid as that on George Rigge for £15.7.1. I now
send you the following Bills, viz.
I wish the Sum had been all in one Bill, as the Trouble to you
would be less; but Bills have been scarce lately, and we were glad
to get any. I think however to send you no more such small
ones.
I shall as you desire deliver one of
Ainsworth’s Dictionaries to Mr. Read. You will please to take the
Charge of it, off my Account in your Book, and add it to his.
Please to send me per next Vessel 6 Dozen of
Dyche’s Spelling Books, and as many of Owen’s, with a Dozen of
Post-Horns of different Sizes. I shall speedily send you another
Bill.
My Wife joins with me in Thanks to you and good
Mrs. Strahan and young Master, for your great Kindness to our
Daughter. She shall make her Acknowlegements herself as soon as she
is able.
I congratulate you on the Defeat of Jacobitism
by your glorious Duke, and the Restoration of Peace and Good Order
within the Kingdom. We have just now an Account that a French Fleet
of about 30 Sail were lately seen off Cape Sables; They are
suppos’d to be from Brest. I hope they are follow’d by a superior
Force from England, otherwise a great Deal of Mischief may be done
in North America.
I am sorry it so happen’d that Mr. Collinson
had bespoke the Books. The next Catalogue sent to him will be
accompanied with a Request that he should purchase them of you
only.
Our Friends Messrs. Hall and Read continue
well. I am Sir Your most obliged humble Servant