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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Benjamin Franklin to Richard Caswell
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790
May 11, 1786
Volume 18, Pages 603-604

BENJ. FRANKLIN TO GOV. CASWELL, RESPECTING BRIDGEN'S ESTATE.
[From Executive Letter Book.]

Philadelphia, May 11th, 1786.

Sir:

I have just received the enclosed letters by a Ship that arrived last Night from London, and understanding that the Southern post sets out this day, I do not lose a moment in forwarding them to

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your Excellency, and in adding my Testimony to that of Mr. Adams in favor of Mr. Bridgen, whom I had the pleasure of being acquainted with in London before the time of the Stamp Act; and during all my residence there, on which occasion, and uniformly ever since, he was and has been a Zealous friend to the cause of liberty and of America. While I was in France he kept up a correspondence with me, and I had frequent opportunities of knowing his kindness to our people who were prisoners in England, from the Acknowledgments of those who escaped out of the Gaols and got to me at Paris, by his Friendly Assistance. I therefore cannot but hope that the Confiscation of his Estate in your Government may yet be reconsidered, and if possible reversed: for in some cases it may be generous and noble to treat our Enemies as friends. I hope we may never in any one instance be justly chargeable with treating our Friends as enemies.

With great Esteem and Respect,
I have the honor to be Sir,
Your Excellency's most obedient
And most Humble Servant,
B. FRANKLIN.