Benjamin Franklin Papers - Jonathan Williams, Jr. to William Temple Franklin (unpublished)

amounting together to five hundred & eighty two Dollars.

I have a Letter from Cap Green who was taken in coming hither but has since escaped & arrived by Sea at Bordeaux. He says he left Phila the 2d May.— & writes to me as follows.—

“I hope before this time the British have left Georgia,— they did not find that number of Friends in Georgia they expected,— a Fleet of 7 Sail laden with 1500 barrells Flour Dry Goods to the amount of £50,000 Sterling with accoutrements for 250 Horse several Officers, and some Merchants who sailed from New York for Georgia, were taken under Convoy of a 20 Gun Ship & an armed Brig, by Capt Hopkins in the Warren— the Queen of France, and Ranger, and carried into Boston. The Army at N York and Long Island amount to about 7000 men, they are heartily tired of the Troubles, the Inhabitants are in great Fear least they should be left there as there was some talk of the British leaving it, & only wanted a sufficient number of Transports for that Purpose.— The Inhabitants of Bermuda are in a deplorable State, many of them have perished for Want. A Sloop arrived from that Place at Philadelphia with a Petition to Congress begging Relief. The British Troops had taken every Morsele of Provision from them, which at best was but little.— You may expect to see Mr Carmichael in a little Time as I believe he will come here on board the Dean which lay in the Delaware.”— Communicate This to the Doctor & believe me ever Dear Billy Yrs affectionately

ps. I send you inclosed two Sketches of Bill Books which may be of use to you when you have occasion to make new Ones.— The first is Bills receivable or Remittances made to you which you are to receive of others.— The second is Bills payable or Bills drawn on you which are to be paid.— The latter is the Proper one for the Continental Drafts on the Commissioner. I have just recvd a Letter from LaCorogne informing me that the Genl Arnold privateer had an Engagement with a 14 Gun Letter of marque. (all 6 pounders), & after an hour & a half sank her, the Genl Arnold saved all the men she did not kill in the Engagement, which was 30 out of a Crew of 40, about 8 wounded & none killed on the other side. This privateer is cruising in the Bay, & she & her prizes are to my address if they come into this or the neighbouring Parts.