From Jan Ingenhousz (unpublished)
Vienne in Autriche March 8. 1786
Dear friend

Mr. Grand acquainted me with your save affival, your Continuation in good health and with your being appointed governour of Pensylvania. This happy news has filled me with so much pleasure, that I cannot but wish you joye on it. I mak no doubt but you will have employed your good offices in my behalf in persuading Mr. Samuel Wharton to delivre what he owes to me, in your hands. I can not but think, that the wight of your honorable station and that of your authority will be a farther incitement to him to fulfill his duty very soon. You have the state of my affaires in hands. You remembre I requested from Mr. Wharton to delivre his letters to me in your hands, on purpose to avoid excuses of having forwarded letters to me which I never recieved, because very likely they never were written. The Silence of Mr. John Williams of Boston (who never sent me any interest of the 7000 dollars, which he placed on my name in the loan office in March 1779, nor any of the money he wrote me in Dec. 1782 to have in hands for my disposal) can not but make me anxious about the business. He has in hands the original reciepts of the loan office of Boston, both dated March the 15th 1779.

Tho I concieve very well, that your public affaires (of which I supposed you free after having been so long engaged in them) doe not permit you to interrupt them with my concerns, yet I trust, that you will not have quite forgotten your old friend, and that you wait only to give me some account of your self and my affaires till such time as you will be able to give me some pleasing information.

The chest with American seeds, which Mr. Bache your son in law directed to Amsterdam for Counte Choteck, is come to right. The Botanist had marked the paquets with numbers, but had not joined a catalogue with them, to which the numbers referred.

I hope you will have recommended my Concerns allso to your grandson and your son in Law, Mr. Bache, and that they in case of an unforeseen accident, will continue the care of my affaires till all is arranged.

I publish from time to time some new books either in German or in Frensh, and should wish to send you a copy of them if I knew an opportunity to send it over without expense.

I hope the two volumes of my German book, vermischte Schriften, are come to hands. They are delivred in hands of Mr. Grand.

The Emperour and other Great ask me often, whether I have got no letters from you.

I hope you have found your country in the enjoyement of Freedom, which they owe to you, and that you enjoy yourself the happiness you deserve for your service from a gratefull Nation, and stil enjoy the    of mind and body to consolidate their union, without which they can’t remain free nor respectable. I am with the sincerest affection yours

J. Ingen Housz

Addressed: To his Excellency / Benj. Franklin / Governour of Pensylvania &c / a Philadelphia
Endorsed: Dr Ingenhousz
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