The Detroit times., 1910-01-24
RARE AUTOGRAPH
FOUND IN ATTIC
Letter From Benjamin Franklin Is
in Collection Which Was Nearly
Sold for Junk.

NEW BEDFORD. Jan. 24.-There
came 10 light In this city few days
ago a collection of autographs which
is among the most remarkable as
semblages OF letters and signatures OF
great men to be found in any collec-
tion of Americana in the country. 1t
was discovered by the merest chance
and narrowly escaped being sent to
the Junk dealer. The collection was
made by Mrs. William Hathaway. Jr.,
in 1912, and was stored for many
years in the old mansion at the cor
ner OF Orchard and Arnold-sts.
The Hathaways were an old family
OF great wealth. and Thomas Hatha-
way, the head OF the house, was one
of the founders OF Albany. The for
tune, however, was gradually tissipat-
ed. The mansion was sold some years
ago for the support Of the last OF the
line, who has been IN a sanitArtum
for many years. a sufferer from a
malady OF the mind. The treasures
I'm the way OF old furniture. china, and
paintings, with which the Hathaway
house was filled, have been sold at
auction from time to time.
Last week oliver Prescott, the Con-
servator OF the estate. found forty
massive volumes which had been
scheduled upon the inventories as
scrap books, and. so far as Is known,
had not been opened for a generation.
They narrowly escaped being sold FOR
old paper. However. one or the vol
umes attracted curiosity and an ex-
animation followed.
- OrtU Vnlumam WAS HDe-
cially made, of large folio Size. bound
in Russia. especially lettered, with
printed title pages, and all are extra
illustrated and skillfuly mounted.
One of the volumes contains auto
praphs not only of the signers OF the
declaration OF Independence but OF
those of the Federal Constitution.
Few names are lacking, and In many
cases not one letter. but several, APP
near. Moreover, many of the letters
are long and OF great interest, wnlle
the EXTRA Illustrations OF the volume
contain many pieces OF Continental
money The collection includes a long
document signed by John Morton, a
siener of the Declaration from Penn
svlyania. as we'll as numerous pieces
of Continental money bearing MS
signature.
The following is the Benjamin
Franklin letter found in the collection.
II is A personal letter to his wife:
London, April %. 1774.
NV Dear Love--I hoped TO nave
been on the sea on my return Dy
this time. but hnd ] must stay
few weeks longer. perhaps TOT thS
summer ships. Thanks 10 Goo
continue well and hearty, anu nope
to find you so when have the nap
piness once more of seeing you,
Your granddaughter, Amena Evans
that was, (now Barry ~ Bone
again with her husband and chill
dTen to Tunis, where she - 10 I'VE
some time while her husband. VINO
% cantain OF ship, trades In
those seas. Enclosed send the af-
fectionate. sensible letter she wrote
me on taking leave.
NV blessing to the children. mrs.
Hewaon's have lately had ne
smalipox-the eldest in the COM
mon way. very full. the youngest
by incubation, lightly, and both
arc now we'll But Mr.. Hewson is
down with a terrible fever, ana
tIlI Yesterday his life was despaired
OF we now begin TO hope for his
shall give you another line by
the packet OF next week. and as
as ever dear Debby,
Your affectionate husband,
b. FRANKLIN.
To Mrs Franklin, Philadelphia.
Favor OF Capt Ashmead.