1To Benjamin Franklin from ——: The Dispute over Commissions for the Militia, [January 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Draft (incomplete): American Philosophical Society The author of this document, which survives among Franklin’s papers, might have been any one of several well-informed members of the anti-proprietary party who was in Philadelphia at the end of December 1755. The handwriting has not been identified. The manuscript consists of three pages, the first two of which are numbered 5 and 6, and the...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Alexander, 12 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library Genl. Shirley being informed by Mr. Scott one of [the] Waggon-Masters, that he has brot with him to this place all your Original Contracts for Waggons and Horses for the Late Genl. Braddock’s Army, with the receipts of the Money advanced in part payment of them, has directed them to be sent to you, to enable you to settle that account. I now send them to Mr. P V B...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Harbanus Ashebriner: Contract for a Wagon and Horses, 2 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with MS insertions in blanks: Yale University Library I Harbanus Ashebriner of Parradice Township . in the County of York and Province of Pennsylvania, do hereby agree and promise that I will, on the Terms hereunder mentioned, provide one good Waggon with four able Horses and a Driver, to be at Wills’s Creek in Virginia, with as much Oats, Indian Corn, or other Forage as I...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 21 July 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have your obliging Favour of the 14: Instant: and thank you for your intended Civility to my Son if he shoud pass in his way from Halifax thro’ your City—but by a Letter I received from him yesterday of the 1: of this Month, the Motions and Commotions at Halifax are so great that he seems uncertain when and whither he shall make his Rout. The...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 23 July 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Altho’ I wrote you 21: Current yet I am to ask your Pardon for the Trouble of this which is to pray you to forward by the first Opportunity to my Son at Halifax my Letter now lying in your hands together with the inclosed which will oblige, Sir, Your ready Friend and Servant. See above, p. 110. The one referred to in Belcher’s letter, July 9...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 9 July 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy (incomplete): Massachusetts Historical Society [ Missing ] therefore take the Freedom of desiring you to deliver him the Inclosed and to shew him your wonted Civility with the Curiosities of your City. My Compliments wait on Madam Franklin and I am, Sir Your assured Friend and Servant. The “Inclosed” was undoubtedly a letter to Jonathan Belcher, Jr. (1710–1776), who was...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Braddock, 29 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1754–1755 (Philadelphia, 1755), p. 175. May 29, 1755 A sentence from this unlocated letter was quoted in the Pennsylvania Assembly’s reply, Sept. 29, 1755, to Governor Morris’ charge, September 24, that the Assembly had done little to support Braddock’s expedition (see below, p. 208). Doubtless this was...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Brooke, 27 June 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I embrace this first Opportunity that hath presented itself to return You my thanks for the very polite and Hospitable Entertaintment I met with from You when I was at Philadelphia last Year, and have deferrd it till now, that the only Subject of my Letter might not be an acknowledgment of Your Civilities, which, I believe You had rather perform than be...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Browne, 12 April 1755 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Medical Observations and Inquiries (London), I (1757), 75–80. I will give you as exact a description of my sister’s case as I can. First she complained of a slow fever, and then of sudden stitches in her side; which she would compare to the prick of a pin; and would slap her side with her hand, which never failed giving her relief for some time. She then began to...
10Robert Charles to Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 16 February 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 172. Each October from 1751 through 1756 Franklin was appointed to the committee to correspond with the Assembly agents in England. In addition to representing the Assembly in the continuing dispute with the Proprietors, the agents often responded to inquiries from British officials...
11Robert Charles to Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 12 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We have lately received Mr. Franklin’s Letter Dated from New York the 4th. of last month with the Several Papers therein referred to, and shall endeavour to make the best use of the seasonable Intelligence and Pertinent Observations where with He has furnished us. After all the Proofs which the Assembly have now given of Zeal for the Publick Cause, and of...
12To Benjamin Franklin from William Clapham, 7 September 1756 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The Bearer Michael McGuire inlisted as a private Soldier for the Term of three Months in the Service of the Province, he has not only during that time behav’d himself soberly and well as a Soldier but has also been particularly useful as an Overseer and Carpenter in the Building the Fort, the Term of his Inlistment expir’d a Month ago and as...
13To Benjamin Franklin from William Clapham, 8 September 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission This Post which is in my Opinion of the utmost Consequence to the Province is already defensible against all the Power of Musquetry, but as it is from the Nature of its Situation expos’d to a more formidable Descent from the West Branch it ought I think to be render’d still stronger, for which Purpose a greater Number of Horses and Teams...
14Alexander Colden to James Parker, 28 July 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Archives By the Phi: Post received the Inclosed from Mr. Franklin which he desired me to forward to you and to desire you to forward it imediately by this post to Mr. Chew requesting him to forward it to Mr. Franklin at Boston. He writes “the Substance of the letter may be printed but not entire as we have not the Governors leave to whom it was directed. At least the...
15To Benjamin Franklin from David Colden, 12 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society You oblidged me very much by communicating your Electrical Experiments made in pursuance of those by Mr. Canton: I shall think myself fully rewarded for my attempts in Electricity if I can thereby procure the notice of one whose Labours always aford agreable instruction to those who are desirous of discovering truth. Altho’ I have not intirely laid aside...
16College of Philadelphia: Additional Charter, 14 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Additional Charter of the College, Academy, and Charity-School of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania . Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin and D. Hall, 1755. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania) The first charter of the Academy of Philadelphia was granted on July. 13, 1753. A few months later Provost William Smith and Vice-provost Francis Alison suggested that the trustees get an amendment...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, [27 May? 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Yale University Library I have the pleasure to tell thee how much thou art esteemed by many worthy men here: for on the Ballot for thy Election to be a Member of the Royal Society , there was not one negative Ball; an Instance of Unanimity that Lord Macclesfield told me he never before saw . So I wish thee long to enjoy that Honor deservedly and so unanimously conferred on thee. Thy...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, [5 October 1755] (Franklin Papers)
Transcript of fragment: Rosenbach Foundation Speaker Isaac Norris entered a long note on an interleaved sheet in a copy of Poor Richard improved , 1755, following the calendar for December. He first copied an advertisement from the Antigua Gazette or Public Advertiser , Aug. 12, 1755, in which George Thomas, former governor of Pennsylvania and now governor of the Leeward Islands, defended...
19To Benjamin Franklin from William Daniell, [21?] July 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I shall be oblidg’d to you for letting me know what the Paper I have had from you Comes to also to make up the Quantity 100 Reams. Pray let me know as Soon as possible about your Supplying me constantly as I am obligated to wait your answer persuant to your Desire. I am, Sir Your Most humble Servant Inclos’d I send you Some News Papers. Addressed: To /...
20The College of William and Mary: Degree of Master of Arts, 2 April 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS : American Philosophical Society; two copies: Yale University Library Quum in Charta regia nobis concessum et confirmatum fuit, ut eos, qui se Literis et Studiis suis praecipue ornarunt, Gradibus academicis decoremus: Quum volumus in hujusmodi Honorem imprimis evehi Virum inclytissimum, quo nobis et Juventuti Virginiensi Exemplum valde egregium proponamus; Quumque Benjaminum Franklin...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Dunbar, 21 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1755 (Philadelphia, 1755), p. 175. May 21, 1755 Two sentences from this unlocated letter are printed in the Pennsylvania Assembly’s reply, Sept. 29, 1755, to Governor Morris’ charge, September 24, that the Assembly had done little to support Braddock’s expedition (see below, pp. 208–9).
22To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Dunbar, 13 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1754–1755 (Philadelphia, 1755), p. 175. May 13, 1755 A sentence from this unlocated letter is printed in the Pennsylvania Assembly’s reply, Sept. 29, 1755, to Governor Morris’ charge, September 24, that the Assembly had done little to support Braddock’s expedition (below, p. 208). Thomas Dunbar (d. 1767),...
23To Benjamin Franklin from William Ferguson, [15 July? 1755] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania General Edward Braddock and advance units of his army reached a point about nine miles from Fort Duquesne, July 9, when they ran into a force of French and Indians commanded by Capt. Daniel Liénard de Beaujeau. In the three-hour engagement that followed the British were utterly defeated. Braddock was mortally wounded (he died on the 13th) and more...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 31 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , II . I wrote a line to you yesterday, and having this opportunity, write another, just to let you know that we all continue well, and much the better from the refreshments you have sent us: in short we do very well, for though there are a great number of things, besides what we have, that used to seem necessary to comfortable living, yet we have...
25Rules and Statutes of the College, Academy, and Charity School; Laws and Statutes of the Trustees, 11 July 1755 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania The trustees of the College of Philadelphia on June 10 (see above, p. 29) appointed Franklin and five others to examine and report on a draft of rules and statutes, probably prepared by Franklin himself, which had been submitted to the board for adoption. On July 11 Franklin reported as president that the committee had considered the draft...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 10 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We wrote to you per Capt. Morton who sailed yesterday, and sent you a few Things that may be of some Use perhaps in your Family. I hope, tho’ not of much Value, they will be acceptable. Inclos’d is an Account of Particulars, and the Captain’s Receipt, with the Key of the Trunk. Our Family is well. The Small Pox is beginning in Town by Inoculation, but has...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 7 October 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Favour of the 17th June per Mr. Winslow, with a Paper inclos’d, that has given me very great Pleasure. I thank you for it sincerely, which is all I can now do, being just setting out on a Journey to Virginia. I fear I cannot at present be impartial enough to give you a just State of our Provincial Disputes. I am perhaps too much engag’d in...
28From Benjamin Franklin to [Elizabeth Hubbart?], [16 October? 1755] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society [ Missing ] Altar, to be an Anvill; the two Hearts, Yours and Katy’s. And when they are welded together and made one, let that same Cupid fly with it to Your very affectionate PS Mrs. Franklin happens to see this Letter before I close it, and tells me I have not rightly interpreted the Seal. She agrees that the two Hearts on the Altar represent...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 23 September 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Pierpont Morgan Library I enclose three Bills, viz. A second for £50 Sterling, drawn by Thos. Saul on Wm. Baker. A first — £20 — — Mary Steevens—Alexr. Grant. A first — £30 — — Philip Ludwell Wm. Bowden. When paid, please to Credit my Account with them. I am Yours most affectionately P.S. We agree perfectly well with the Governor, but are very angry with the Proprietors and the...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 10 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I am concern’d that I have not for a long time heard any thing of Sister Douse. Pray inform me how she is. Brothers John, Peter and my self, agreed to contribute towards a small Pension for her Support; I should be glad to know whether it is regularly paid. Inclos’d is a Receipt for 30 Reams of Paper. I wrote to you per Morton and refer to that. My Love to...