Sir James Nicholson to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)
Passy 13th. August 1783.
Sir

Under whatsoever pretence you received Lady Nicolsons Portrait, which I found out by mere accident, it requires but little penetration to perceive the propriety of restoring it to her husband or her. the justness of the request must be obvious to any man of sense and delicacy and therefore am persuaded that I need add no more on so disagreeable a Subject except that Lady N is very concerned to have been so imprudent and says that she has something appertaining to you, to send on receipt of hers, which I must entreat to be forthwith. your Grandfather’s [?] merit, is a sufficient explication of any meaning in my Note or Letter, which is merely to return what does not belong to you. as this the first time I ever put pen to paper on such a disagreeable subject, I cannot help wishing as a man of honor, that it may be the last and am Sir your very humble Servant

J: Nicolson

nb. A Mr. & Mrs. Dubois, I understand, were present when you received it, but all that is of little or no consequence. My Servant waits an answer, which I hope will soon make an end to this disagreeable altercation for so trivial an Affair &c—
Addressed: A Monisieur / Monsieur Franklin fils / a Passy
Notation: J. Nicolson Passy 13 Aug. 83.
640107 = 040-u196.html