Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper Johonnot, August 19, 1783

Passy, Augt. 19. 1783.

My dear young Friend,

I received your Letter of the 14th. Instant, and am glad to hear of your safe Arrival
at Nantes; it gives me Concern however to learn that you were too late for the Boston
Vessel. If you had gone in the first Diligence after you came here, as I directed when I
sent Lamotte 7 with you to Paris to secure
a Place for you, which you would not suffer him to do, you would have been at Nantes in
time to have gone in that Vessel which sail’d but two days before you got there for
Boston, and might now have been far on your Voyage, and have sav’d your Father all the
Expence of your waiting for the Philadelphia Ship, and of the Journey from thence to
Boston, which your Wilfulness must now cost him. You are yet too young to reject safely
the Advice of your Friends. You should continue to comply with it till you are wiser,
which I doubt not you will be in time. In hopes of which I am still Your affectionate
Friend

B Franklin

Mr Cooper Johonnot