Bache & Shee to Benjamin Franklin, January 2, 1784

Philadelphia 2d January 1784

Sir

Tho’ hitherto, we have not taken the liberty of addressing your Excellency; we have requested Mr. W. T. Franklin, to acknowledge how sensibly we are obliged by your attention to the interest of our house, as well as the many advantages we have derived from your friendly recommendations, 7 a continuance of which we flatter ourselves we shall merit, by evincing upon every occasion the utmost attention and deference— We cannot Sufficiently thank your Excellency for the recent instance of your goodness in preventing the return of the bill we drew on Mr. Williams, 8 such circumstances being peculiarly injurious to mercantile reputation.

We now enclose, for your reimbursment the two following drafts on Messrs. Le Couteulx & Co. Paris.

making together 25000. l.t.

We have taken the liberty of drawing on those Gentlemen before they have advised us of thier being in Cash, for us, from the circumstance of thier house in Cadiz, having made Insurance for us, on a Vessel that was lost, & as the loss became due the 3rd. of last October and we had directed our proportion of it upwards 20000 l.t. to be placed to our Credit with thier Parisian house, we cannot but conclude it has been done long ’ere this, tho’ we are yet without advice shou’d any untoward circumstance have delayed it of which no doubt we shall soon be acquainted; we will immediately replace the sum we have now drawn for; observing only, that shou’d our bill, in the present instance, be refused, the trouble & expence of protest may be avoided. Our Mr. R B, being in the Country, from whence probably he may not return in time to write by this packet; we have the pleasure of informing of the good health of the family, subscribing ourselves with every sentiment of respect and esteem Your Excellency’s Most Obliged hum Servts.

Bache & Shee

His Excellency Benjn. Franklin Esqr