Mary “Polly” Stevenson Hewson | "we may meet in America"

Mary “Polly” Stevenson Hewson 

Autograph letter signed (“your faithful Mary Hewson”) to Benjamin Franklin (“Dear Sir”), one page (228 x 189 mm) on a bifolium of laid paper (watermarked posthorn | GR), Cheam, 31 July 1785, alluding to her planned emigration to America, integral leaf with autograph address (“Dr. Franklin”) and reception docket (Mrs Hewson”); seal tear, light browning at lower margin [accompanied by:] a fragment of a manuscript letter, not in Hewson’s hand, half-page (190 x 152 mm, irregular) on a slip of laid paper, no place or date, the remaining portion of the address panel on the verso reading, “[He]wson | [His] Excellency Benjn. Franklin Esqr. | Philadelphia”; minor separations and repair, with insignificant loss, at folds, seal tear and repair. Half brown morocco folding-case gilt, dual chemises.

Having at last visited Franklin at Passy, not long before his return to Philadelphia after six years as minister to France, Hewson hints at her plan to eventually emigrate to the United States: “Tho’ I hardly expect this to arrive at Southampton before you are embarked for America, I will take the chance of sending it by Mr. Gilpin who will be at Southampton tomorrow. Accept my thanks for your kind Letter, which gave me very great pleasure, as it informed me that you were not hurt but benefited by your journey and short voyage. Accept my wishes that the remainder may be equally prosperous, and that we may meet in America. Remember me to all your fellow travellers with whom I am acquainted, particularly my little friend Joe. Tell Mr. Williams if he has time to write me one line, I should be glad to know whether he received the workbag. Adieu, my dear Sir! Be assured of [my] constant grateful affection.”

Franklin’s “short voyage” took him from France to England, whence he sailed for Philadelphia; he had in fact booked passage for Hewson to accompany him, but she did not. In an unpublished letter of 26 July 1785, Franklin had assured his longtime friend, “If you come to Philadelphia while I live, you will find an always affectionate Friend in me, and in my Children after I am gone.” Hewson did move to Philadelphia the following year and was with Franklin at his death in 1790.

The present letter remains unpublished, but will be included in a forthcoming volume of The Papers of Benjamin Franklin; in the meantime, the text, without editorial apparatus, is available at franklinpapers.org.