1William Smith to Richard Peters and Benjamin Franklin, [February 1754] (Franklin Papers)
Letter: ALS : American Philosophical Society; enclosure: draft: American Philosophical Society The attitudes and behavior of the Germans of Pennsylvania toward politics, defense, and war had concerned Franklin as far back as 1747, when he flattered them in Plain Truth , hoping to win their support for the Association (see above, III , 203). He did not succeed in detaching them from the...
2William Smith to Thomas Penn, [September? 1755] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania In June 1755 Franklin had written that he “liked neither the Governor’s Conduct, nor the Assembly’s; and having some Share in the Confidence of both, I have endeavour’d to reconcile ’em but in vain,” and that “Our Friend [William] Smith will be very serviceable here.” By November, however, Franklin thought Governor Morris “half a Madman” and a year...
3To George Washington from William Smith, 10 November 1757 (Washington Papers)
You’ll perceive your name in the list of those who ’tis hoped will encourage the enclosed Magazine, & I hope you’ll forgive the Liberty we have taken as you are placed in good Company & in a good design. Tis a work which may be rendered of very general Service to all the Colonies. We shall be under particular Obligations for every Subscriber you can procure, to give the work a general Run. I...
4William Smith: An Answer to Mr. Franklin’s Remarks, [7 December 1764] (Franklin Papers)
[William Smith], An Answer to Mr. Franklin’s Remarks, on a Late Protest. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by William Bradford, at his Book-Store, in Market-street, adjoining the London Coffee-House. 1764. (Yale University Library) On December 7, 1764, precisely one month after Franklin had left Philadelphia, the printer William Bradford published an anonymous pamphlet replying to Franklin’s...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Smith, 3 May 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Agreeable to the Directions of our Philosophical Society, I have sent in a small Box by Faulkner, (directed to you) 11 Copies of the 1st. Vol. of the Transactions of the said Society; which they request you, as their President, to deliver as they are directed viz 1 Copy to the Royal Society; Do. Royal College of Physicians; Society of Arts &c. British...
6To Benjamin Franklin from William Smith, 16 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was favoured with your obliging Letter, acknowleging the Receipt of sundry Copies of our Transactions for some learned Societies and Gentlemen in England, and informing us that you had delivered the Books accordingly. I was then preparing to embark for Carolina, where I was lucky enough to get One Thousand Guineas for our College, which is at present in...
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Lawrence and William Smith, 19 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society At the Request of Mrs. Mecum (who has been an Inhabitant of this City for some time past and behav’d with Prudence and Industry) We take the Liberty to Inform you that her husband’s Conduct is such, as to render her Scituation Disagreeable, and at times very Dangerous he being often Depriv’d of his Reason, and likely to become very Troublesome to the...
8To Alexander Hamilton from William Smith, 9 April 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
The Convention on having granted a Permission to Mr. Le Roy to repair to head Quarters in order to solicit leave to go to New York; And having omitted to take his Parole, they beg the favor of you to carry the enclosed Resolution into execution. I am Sir Your most Obedt. Servt. By Order. LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Smith, a delegate from Suffolk, wrote in his capacity as...
9To George Washington from William Smith, 15 August 1778 (Washington Papers)
Letter not found : from William Smith, 15 Aug. 1778. On 21 Aug., GW wrote Smith : “I received your letter of the 15th Inst. by Lieut. Colonel Burr.”
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Smith, 4 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With the greatest Submission I make Bould to Acquaiante you of my present Unhappey Situation. Sr: I am a Subject of Amaraca— Bowrn in Balltamoore in Mareyland; was tacken twice in Amaraca; and once by a Cutter Belonging to Mr: Doubray of Guransey have been Wondd: Twice in the Servise and when the Bonemme Ritchard Capt. Joans fitted out from Leorant I...