To the Honorable Benjamin Franklin, Esqr. May 16, 1778

From the original letter at the American Philosophical Society

YORKTOWN, May 16th, 1778

Dear Sir

In the Packet No. 1 I have sent you a long letter acknowledging your favor of Oct. 7. Mr. Temple Franklin’s of March 1st which on account of the great Quantity of public business I have not time to copy — lest that shd not come to hand, I write you this short information.

Mr. Mrs. Beache are at Mainheim near Lancaster, they were well a few days ago — I have not yet received the Pamphlets Mr W T Franklin mentions. I think we are now so safely landed that it requires more invention to go wrong than it ever does to go right —

I live in hopes of the Pleasure of seeing you and taking your advice respecting the History of the Revolution as soon as matters make it practicable to come to Europe,

I am Dr Sir your obliged and affectionate humble Servt

T PAINE.

P. S. Please to present my Thanks and complt to Mr W T Franklin — I have taken Care to fulfill his Command respecting the letters and Memorials he entrusted to my care, and that as soon as I can obtain sufficient Information I will transmit it to him.

I saw M du Plessis lately he was well.