Benjamin Franklin to Gourlade & Moylan, April 23, 1781

Passy, April 23. 1781

Gentlemen,

I received your Favour of the 9th Instant, 8 & am much obliged by your Care in forwarding my Letters &c by the Ships Franklin & Duke of Leinster.

I shall accept and pay your Bills in favour of Tessier & La Galdie. 9 The other in favour of M. Pothonnier & Co. for the full Ballance of your Account I defer, till Mr Williams, to whom it appertains, has seen and approved your Charge of Storeage, Shipping, &c. of his Goods; that Charge of 2 l.t. 10 s. for each Package seeming to me too high. I have before objected to your Method of Drawing immediately for your full Account before one can have time to examine it, 1 which puts one under the disagreable Necessity of either refusing to accept your Bills, or of swallowing an Account without considering it. I wish you would hereafter change this Proceeding, which tho’ not with an unfair Intention has that Appearance. I expect Mr Williams here in a Week or 10 Days. With much Esteem, I have the honour to be Gentlemen, Your most obedient & most humble Servant

Messrs Gourlade & Moilan