Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, March 5, 1785

Passy, Mar. 5. 1785

Dear Friend,

I received your kind Letter by my Grandson. 3 I thank you for the Civilities you show’d him when in London.

I hope to get home this ensuing Summer. I shall have an old Acct. to settle there with the Family of our Friend Hall. 4 There is a particular Article of some Importance, about which we were not agreed, but were to be determined by your Opinion. It was the Value of a Copy Right in an establish’d Newspaper, of each of which from eight to ten Thousand were printed. 5 My long Absence from that Country, and immense Employment the little Time I was there, have hitherto prevented the Settlement of all the Accounts that had been between us; tho’ we never differ’d about them, & never should if that good honest Man had continued in Being.— To prevent all Dispute on the above Points with his Son 6 it is that I now request your Decision, which I doubt not will be satisfactory to us both. With unchangeable Esteem, I am ever, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately

B. Franklin

My Respects to Mrs Strahan— 7