91From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 29 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have now before me your Favours of Jany. 31. and March 1. the Receipt of which I ought sooner to have acknowledged. Your kind Congratulations on my Arrival and the Advancement of my Son, are extremely obliging. I think I have read somewhere that Fahrenheit’s o was what he understood to be the greatest Cold of Siberia, Greenland, or any inhabited Country. So he...
92To Benjamin Franklin from W. Hick, 23 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It gives us great pleasure to hear of your good Health, but are no less Mortified than you in not having the pleasure to see you, and do assure you that Mrs. Hick was so afraid of being out of the way when you call’d, that I could not prevail with her to go abroad for this three weeks past: but has now given up all thoughts of seeing you, for this year at...
93From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 20 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just return’d from Virginia, and find your Favour of April 11. I purpose setting out with my Colleague Mr. Foxcroft for New England, the Beginning of next Month, and hope soon for the Pleasure of seeing you; but have no Expectation of bringing my Dame to undertake such a Journey; and have not yet ask’d her Opinion of Sally’s going. My Love to Brother...
94From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 9 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery I have been from Philadelphia about 3 Weeks on a Journey hither upon the Business of the Post Office, but am now returning home, where I hope to find some Letters from you, as I hear that two Pacquets are arrived at New York since I came out. I have answer’d the Letters receiv’d from you by my Son, and have little to add. I congratulate you...
95To Benjamin Franklin from James Lyon, April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As the least suspicion of a Letter from you to me might, possibly, dispose a curious Person to intercept it, permit me to inform you, That I have not yet been so happy as to recieve a Line from your Hand. I need not remind you, Sir, of the Necessity of putting our Scheme into Execution immediately, if ever: And shall only tell you, that, without any Care or...
96Accounts between Benjamin Franklin and the Estate of James Parker, [April 1763] (Franklin Papers)
Three MS accounts: American Philosophical Society Between Franklin and his fellow printer James Parker there existed not only a warm personal friendship but a business relationship of many years’ standing and an official connection through Parker’s position as comptroller of the American postal system. Each man faithfully executed commissions for the other and made or received payments for his...
97From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 17 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a long Letter of the 8th and 29th of March on various Subjects, too long to copy unless it should be lost. But as Messrs. Coxe are sending Copies of their Request and Power to you, I must repeat so much of my Letter as related thereto. [Here Franklin copied verbatim the long paragraph which formed the largest part of the postscript dated March...
98From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 14 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library By the Harriot Packet, which arrived last Saturday at New York, I received your Favours of Dec. 7. and January 8. and congratulate you cordially on your Appointment to the Secretary’s Office, in which I wish you all Happiness. I am just setting out on a Journey to Virginia, to settle Accounts with the Executors of my late Colleague Mr. Hunter, and recover the...
99From Benjamin Franklin to John Ellicott, 13 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The London Hospital I yesterday receiv’d your Favour of Jany. 8. and as it would be a particular Pleasure to me to be any way serviceable to your Hospital, I shall cause the Enquiry you desire to be carefully made at New York; and to that end I write to a Friend there by this Post: But as the Father of Capt. Holland is said in the Will to have been of James River, which is in Virginia,...
100From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 13 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from [Jared Sparks, ed.], A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 80–1. You may remember, that about ten years since, when I was at Boston, you and my brother sent directions here to attach on Grant’s right to some land here, by virtue of a mortgage given him by one Pitt. Nothing effectual could be done in...
101From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 11 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am now to acquaint you that the Assembly of this Province have unanimously made Choice of you as their sole Agent, and have united the two Salaries of £100, which they formerly paid to Mr. Partridge and Mr. Charles, by voting £200 Sterling as your Salary. I hope this Appointment will not be disagreable to you, as I think I had your Permission to name you...
102To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 6 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I can only now express the great satisfaction I have and that of Our Family to Hear by your Kind Letter of the 7 Decemr of your Safe Arrival. I have One more Wish and that Is, to Hear of your Son and Daughter. All your Friends are Well in particular Yours Sincerely Addressed: To / Benn Franklin Esqr / in / [Philadelphia] Boston See above, pp. 165–6. For...
103To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Greenwood, 6 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard College Library As I knowing of you to be a gentle-man that can doe a great deal to help a poor man to his Wrights and as I am much reduced and have a large family have made bold to Beg the Assistance of soe good a Gentleman to see me rightified who has it not in my own power without applying for your Assistance in geting of me Justice don against Collo. John Armstrong who has...
104Account with the Estate of James Franklin, Junior, 4 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society Dr Mr James Franklin Decd. Dr to B Franklin, Sterling Mo. 1758. Feb. 23. For a Parcel of Printing Letters, for which he gave his Bond } 94. 0. 5 Int. on Do. to Aug. 12. 1762 being 4.Y. 5.M. 20.D. } 25. 4. 1¾ 119: 4: 6¾ Recd. Augt. 12. 1762 100 Dollars at 4 s
105To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Jackson, 4 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your favour by the Packet, as well as those by the Carolina, I had before the Pleasure to hear of your safe Arrival from Mr. Strahan, which was the more acceptable, because the time that had elapsed since your sailing was rather too long and gave your friends room for Apprehensions. I have before wished you Joy on Mr. Franklin’s Promotion, I...
106Pennsylvania Assembly: Thanks to Franklin, and His Reply, [31 March 1763] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1762–1763 (Philadelphia, 1763), p. 40. Pursuant to a Resolve of the Nineteenth of last Month, that the Thanks of this House be given to Benjamin Franklin, Esq; for his many Services not only to the Province of Pennsylvania, but to America in general, during his late Agency at the Court of Great-Britain, the same were this Day...
107From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I have received your Favours of Oct. 20 and Nov. 1 by my Son, who is safely arrived with my new Daughter. I thank you for your Friendly Congratulations on his Promotion. I am just return’d from a Journey I made with him thro’ his Government, and had the Pleasure of seeing him every where receiv’d with the utmost Respect and even Affection by all Ranks...
108From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 25 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your pleasing Favour of Nov. 11 is now before me. It found me as you suppos’d it would, happy with my American Friends and Family about me; and it made me more happy in showing me that I am not yet forgotten by the dear Friends I left in England. And indeed why should I fear they will ever forget me, when I feel so strongly that I shall ever remember them! I...
109To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Finley, 21 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer, Mr: James Lyon, who is well known in Philadelphia, desired me to introduce him to you by a Line. He waits on you for your Opinion of a Scheme for a Settlement on Mississipi, which he will Show you; and for your Directions, and, if you Shall see Cause to approve any thing to that Purpose, your assistance. He is a young Gentleman of a very good...
110To Benjamin Franklin from John Whitehurst, 18 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter from one of Franklin’s English scientific friends, which touches briefly on a variety of matters, is perhaps less important in the history of science than the enclosure which follows it. In the postscript Whitehurst mentions that he is sending “a short sketch of a General Theory of the Earth.” On June 27, 1763, Franklin acknowledged receiving...
111To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Finley, 17 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received Your Favour of the 7th Instant, with the Plan of Education in the College of Glasgow, inclosed, for which I most heartily Thank you. I have taken a Coppy of it, and return it inclosed according to your desire. I also delivered your Compliments, which were very acceptable. I last night received a Letter, from a Gentleman, desiring me to form a...
112Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 12 March 1763 (I) (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library His Majesty’s Post Master General having been pleased, at the same time, They have thought fit to lay down the Correspondence with His Majesty’s Islands in the West Indies, to Establish Four Packet Boats of 130 Tons each, with 18 Hands, in order to continue a Monthly Correspondence between Great Britain, and the Continent of America, in time of Peace; and until...
113Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 12 March 1763 (II) (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library The Accomptant General of this Office, having now finished his observations (for which I prepared you in my other Letter of this date) upon the state of your Accounts, and His Majesty’s PostMaster General having adopted the same; I am Commanded to observe to you, that your last Account for about Four Years ending with August 1761, being sworn to in London in April...
114Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 12 March 1763 (III) (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library Inclosed I send you, by Command of His Majesty’s PostMaster General, the Copy of a Letter just received from General Murray Governor of Quebec; as likewise the Copy of a Memorial inclosed therein from the British Merchants residing in That Government; by which they plainly appear to labour under many difficulties for the want of a safe and Speedy Conveyance of...
115To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 11 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society It was with great pleasure I h[eard of] your safe and happy arrival at Philadelphia; and [hearti]ly congratulate you and the dear Partakers of y[our Socie]ty, but you must all forgive me if I repine [that] you are oblig’d to enjoy it at so great a d[istance] from me. My Mother receiv’d yours of [ ? ] November and another a few days ago, of a...
116From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 8 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The enclos’d is a Copy of my last. The Preliminaries of Peace, on which I congratulate you, are since come to hand, and are universally approved of in these Parts. While we retain our Superiority at Sea, and are suffer’d to grow numerous and strong in North America, I cannot but look on the Places left or restor’d to our Enemies on this Side the Ocean, as...
117Province of Pennsylvania: Account with Franklin; Isaac Norris: Certificate for Payment, 4 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
I. DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania. II. Printed form with MS . insertions in blanks: Historical Society of Pennsylvania On March 4, 1763, the Pennsylvania Assembly’s Committee of Accounts, which had approved Franklin’s expenses on his English mission on February 19 (see above, p. 195), laid “before the House a State of the Account of Benjamin Franklin; Esq; with the Province,” and they...
118To Benjamin Franklin from John Mills, 2 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our worthy Friend, Mr. Small, is so kind as to undertake to convey to you and to Dr. Eliot, the first Volume of my Husbandry, which is at length finished at the Press, where the second Volume is now half done. But I have, unfortunately, a most dilatory, as well slovenly Printer to deal with, as you will perceive too plainly by his egregious and repeated...
119From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 26 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; draft (incomplete): American Philosophical Society Your Favour of the 14th. Instant, I met on the Road in my Journey to this Place with my Son, who joins with me in Thanks for your good Wishes relating to his Administration here. I thank you also for your kind Endeavours in obtaining the Discharge of William Forrester, who is accordingly discharged. I condole...
120From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 24 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We din’d at Bristol, and got here last Night in good time; the River was hard and firm, and we got well over. Sir John Sinclair came to us and very obligingly offer’d his Chariot and four for the rest of the Journey. This Morning we set out for Brunswic. The Thing I wanted to mention to you, but forgot, was; that in the Hurry of our Arrival from Chester I...