Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, August 22, 1772

London, Aug. 22. 1772

Dear Sir,

I received your Favour of June 29. and was glad to hear of your safe Return from Virginia, and that you were determin’d to observe a strict Regimen for the Preservation of your Health. 4

You have no doubt receiv’d a surprizing Demand from the Office for Letters sent per Packet. It is a very unjust one as great Part of it has been accounted for in our last general Settlement; and the rest will be so in future Settlements: How a particular Account can be render’d of those Letters I confess I am not able to say. On a former Demand of the same kind I wrote a Letter to Mr. Todd (of which I think I sent you a Copy) wherein I explain’d the Difficulty of keeping such separate Accounts by so many Offices, and I thought I had given Satisfaction, because I heard no more of it. Now it is revived I cannot conceive for what Reason but that our Accounts have been so long delayed, which makes me very uneasy, and therefore I beg you would make it an immediate Business to hasten them 5 . I have been several Times to the Office to talk with Mr. Todd about it, but have not yet met with him.

As to the Mistake in our private Account I think it cannot take you above an Hour at any time to examine and settle it. I have explain’d it in former Letters; and as we are both mortal, and the Sum is considerable I am not satisfied to have it remain unsettled. So I hope you will be so good as to excuse my mentioning it so often. 6

I shall be glad to see Mr. Finlay and render him any Service in my Power relating to his Office. 7

Mr. Wharton thinks little of the Information relating to the Virginians Proceedings. I am afraid they will engage us in Disputes if we succeed. But we have not yet kill’d the Bear. 8

I am sorry to hear that your Brother has not fully recover’d his broken Arm. I receiv’d the Flour he sent me in good Order; and shall be glad to have four Barrels more of the same, with 20 Kegs of Hopkins Biscuits and 5 of Massey’s Ditto. 9

My Love to my Daughter and to yours, 10 with best Wishes for your Prosperity. I am ever, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately

B Franklin

Mrs. Stevenson, with Mr. and Mrs. Hewson, are pleas’d with your Remembrance of them, and present their Compliments.

Mr Foxcroft