To Jonathan Williams, Jr. (unpublished)
Passy, May 5. 1785.
Dear Jonathan,

I wrote you some Days since, and enclos’d you several Letters I had receiv’d respecting your Affairs. Enclos’d is another which came to hand this Morning. You will let me know what I should say to this Man. He has shown me a Letter of yours ordering the goods, and undertaking to pay for them.

I have at length received my long-expected Permission to return to America; and I am preparing for my Departure, tho’ I have not yet determin’d how I shall go. It is now said that the May Packet is the last to go from L’Orient, and that the June Packet and all succeeding ones are to go from Havre. I incline (if this is true, and no better means offers) to go in the June Packet. But here is a Mr. Genaise from Boston, who tells me that a fine new Ship of Peck’s Construction, 400 Tons Burthen, will sail from Holland for Boston in July; that he has no doubt the Captain may be prevail’d on [torn] for me and my Family at Havre, to which Place I can go by Water; and that he will talk with the Captain on the Subject as soon as he arrives in Holland, which will be in a few Days, and write me Word, whether he will undertake it and on what Terms. I have indeed no great Objection to landing in Boston, as tho’ there will then be another Voyage to get home, I shall have the Pleasure of seeing Friends once more, whom otherwise I may never see. But as this Project may not answer, I wish you would enquire and inform me, whether there are any good Vessels bound from London to Boston, New York or Philadelphia, or Baltimore, to sail in June, that would take us at Havre. I shall need the most comfortable Accommodation the Ship can afford, being so old and infirm, and I expect to pay accordingly. There will be myself and two Grandsons, at least, perhaps another Person, and two Servants. I shall have also with me four [torn]   Tons perhaps of Goods. And if it will [torn]   to go with us, so much the better. The s[ooner] you give me the Information you can collect the more satisfactory it will be, as it will enable me sooner to make my Determination. As to Mrs. Hewson and Family, I know not yet whether she ever intends going to America; but as she intends a Journey to Yorkshire, it is not probable she can make the American Voyage this Summer.

Billy is better and sends his Love. I am ever, Your affectionate Uncle

B. Franklin

Endorsed: Dr Franklin Paris May 5. 1785
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