Jonathan Williams, Jr. to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
Nantes Decen. 26. 1781.
My dear Friend,

I thank you for your Favour of 19 Inst.

When Mr. Mumford receives his Answer from Mr. Deane it will be well to communicate his Intentions to me, as I have suspended my Acceptation of some other offers; I would not wish however that is [his] desire of being with me should prevent him from anything more advantageous to himself. I shall give Mr Limozin your answer to his request and I dare say he will make you pay some postage for his Thanks. Who do you mean by your “too modest Friend?” I am not concious of possessing this Quality in a very great degree, and in a serious application I do not think Mr L. has more pretentions than myself; if it is applied to him in an ironical sense, I am puzzled to guess how he became acquainted with Mr Barclay: However I will venture to thank you for your good Intentions.

I thank you also for Court news. I shall not too much depend on the apparent motions of any Govt., because I know the essence of Policy is deceit. I means as it is practised, for I cannot in fact see any Reason why the World might not be as well governed by honesty as knavery.

Je suis bien faché mon cher Ami de votre position a l’egard du Capitaine, mais Je suis dans une bien plus mauvaise. Je ne veux pas vous dire combien il me doit parceque vous aurez une mince idée de ma prudence. Quant a votre demande, Je ne puis rien a moins que Je voulais lui donner 399 lt pour vous les rendre ensuitte, car sans moi il n’a pas (entre nous) un sol dans l’Europe entiere.

I shall send off by next messagerie 2 fine Cheshire Cheezes and a Box of Tea, the first in two Cases marked BF Nº 1 and 2, the second emballed and all addressed to the Doctor. One of the Cheezes is designed for the Abbé Morellet as also one of the Boxes of Tea within the embaled Box. I believe Mrs Williams intends also part of the Box for the abbé the one is green Tea the other Bohea, please therefore to deliver the Abbé one Cheeze the Box of Bohea and part of the green Tea, this latter is designed as a Sample which if you like I will send more of.

You may set your Pallat for a Taste of good madeira soon. I have made a purchase of a parcel that has been 7 years in this Town and has the true Nutt flavour and shall send the Doctor half a pipe, of which I shall request his acceptance. I hope I shall not get into the Bastile for sending the Doctor madeira, you may make an Experiment on any Dog you please and were I present I should have no objection to its being made on me.

Adieu mon cher Ami Je vous aime bien et vous aimerai toujours

J Williams

[On other side] p.s. Present my affectionate and dutifull Respects to the Doctor, tell him I have a Letter from Aunt mecom who is at present with my Father, she has recvd. the Things by the Active and I believe has written    to the Doctor. I have sold some of my madeira to Mr Bouzie so when you hear praizes of his Wine, you may join in them from your own experience, but dont say he sells it too dear, because the more he can dispose of the more I shall sell him.
Endorsed: Jona. Williams Ansd. 15 Jan.82
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