University of Virginia Library

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.[1]

Dear Sir,—Your favor of the twenty-seventh of
September came to hand yesterday, and is a fresh
instance of the friendly part you take in my necessities.
In consequence of the hint in your last of a
pressing representation to the Executive, our public
letter of last week touched on that subject, but the letter
received yesterday from the Governor, which seems
to chide our urgency, forbids much expectation from
such an expedient. The letter from Mr. Ambler
enclosed for me a second bill on Mr. Holker, for two
hundred dollars, which very seasonably enabled me
to replace a loan by which I had anticipated it.
About three hundred and fifty more (and not less)
would redeem me completely from the class of
debtors.

I omitted, in my last, to inform you that the
Swedish Minister at Versailles had announced to Dr.

Franklin the wish of his King to become an Ally
of the United States, and that the treaty might be
negotiated with the Doctor in particular. A plenipotentiary
commission has, in consequence, issued for
that purpose. The model transmitted by Congress
is pretty analogous to the treaty with France, but is
limited in duration to fifteen years.