91To 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...
92To Benjamin Franklin from Henton Brown, 26 November 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I embrace this opportunity per the extra packett to acknowledge the receipt of the several letters and to transmitt a State of the account as it now Stands with us —that drawn payable to Stevenson £25—has not yet appeared. I understand Richard Jackson Esqr. here is appointed Agent to the province of Pensilvania. I shall be greatly obliged if thou will be so...
93To Benjamin Franklin from [Henry] Jackson, 29 July 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Rutgers University Library This extract of a letter and the accompanying remarks survive only in a copy headed “In a Letter from London to B. Franklin Esqr. which he sent me,” found among extensive manuscript notes on agriculture written, 1746–71, by Charles Read of Burlington, N.J., and interleaved in a copy of John Worlidge, Systema Agriculturae (3d edit., London, 1681). The writer of...
94To Benjamin Franklin from [Grey] Cooper, [1762?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Cooper presents his Compliments to Mr. Franclin and begs he will give Mr. Cooper leave to bring Lady Abdy and Miss Baldwyn to hear the glasses on Monday or Thursday Evening next (which is most convenient to Mr. Franclin) about seven oClock. The Ladies have heard Mr. Franclin perform once before which has only given them a greater desire to hear him...
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...
96To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel?] Mead, 25 February 1762 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mr. Meads Compliments to Doctor Franklin and incloses him some account of the good Effects of Electricity, sent by a Curate of Doctor Douglass in the Country, which Lord Bath wished he might see! It is to be published as I understand, and if Mr. Franklin has any thing to observe on it, Mr. Mead would be glad when it is returned to acquaint my Lord with...
97To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Bernard, 13 December 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Harvard College Library The Surveyor General having this day acquainted me that he shall to morrow send an express to Philadelphia, I take this oppurtunity to add to the trouble I have before given you on Account of my Son. By the last Post I received a letter dated Alexandria Novr. 16; by which I find he had not then been made acquainted with any orders of yours in his favor,...
98To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Garrigues, [1762?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will please to Excuse my thus addressing as I am personally an intire Stranger to you and I can find nobody at present that knows me or my Family. You have been pleased once to do a great favour for my Mother with Respect to her finding her Father the late Mr. Ralph for which you have laid us all under a lasting Obligation to you. And as my Mother is...
99To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 5 August 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was so unfortunate to lose the pleasure of seeing you yesterday in Cravenstreet, but I don’t know whether I ought to say it was unfortunate, for I only bring you distress. My Mother tells me I made you unhappy by my Tears. Could you expect me to part from you without shedding some? I am griev’d to think I should cause you uneasiness, but you need not...
100To Benjamin Franklin from Sargent Aufrere & Co., 12 August 1762 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society We have just sent you by the Channel of the Post Office the two Gold Medal’s which you will apply as a mark of our good Wishes for your College, and now inclose a Letter of Credit which we hope you will never have occasion for, but if you should, we are persuaded the Name of B. M. da Costa whatever Port you are carried into will be respected and procure you...
101To Benjamin Franklin from John Pringle, [May? 1763] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete and mutilated): American Philosophical Society [ Torn ] would take the liberty of recommending [ torn ], who had been put in by Lord Bute, and [ torn: we]ll qualified for his office. His Lordship then [ torn ] heard the young gentleman had ene[ torn ]ying that, I took an opportunity of telling [ torn: ima]gined it came about. Lord Shelburne made no promises, but [ torn ] hear me...
102To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 23 March 1762 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society P. Collinsons Love and Respects to His Friend Franklin. Has sent some books and Catalogues for Library Company and a piece for J. Bartram to his Care. Ball Account Delivered 13: 16: 5 No. 33 and 34 Modern History 13: - No. 27: 28: 29: 30 ball 14: 9: 5 4 plates inserts 2: 6 10 - £14:
103To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 23 August 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am Just come from an Entertainment given your New Governor per our Society a Respect shown to all Governors where our Friends are Setled. Your Proprietor Thos. was there and Great Civilities pass’d on all Sides, I believe exact the Same Deputation that attended your Son who I hope is now well Setled in his Government and Sees Clearly the Coast he is to...
104To 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...
105To Benjamin Franklin from John Whitehurst, [28 March 1762] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: The Royal Society Franklin, like other members of the Royal Society, sometimes served as a means of communication whereby nonmembers with news of curious phenomena or interesting discoveries might hope to have their reports transmitted to the Society to be read and printed. In this instance John Whitehurst passed on to Franklin a letter he had received from Rev. Samuel Evatt of...
106To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Engs, 3 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Presuming, Sir, to Address a Gentleman of your distinguished Merit, will I doubt not be excused, from Your Well-Known principles of Humanity and Benevolence. You may possibly recollect having (some Years past) been in my Company both, at the House of my Worthy Partner Mr. Collins of Rhode Island, and at His Brother’s Mr. Ward; when you was pleased, on...
107To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 20 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am much obliged for yesterday’s Communications. You’ll permit me to adopt a request of Father Beccaria. “Si alia habeas [Scripta praesertim Franklini] quae a me desiderari posse putes (quid autem esse potest Franklinianarum Rerum quod non planè depeream?) quaeque verecundè peti abs me posse arbitrere, ut mittas etiam atque etiam efflagito.” I congratulate...
108From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 16 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We left Woodbridge on Tuesday Morning and went to Eliz. Town, where I found our Children return’d from the Falls and very well: The Corporation were to have a Dinner that day at the Point for their Entertainment, and prevail’d on us to stay. There was all the principal People and a great many Ladies: after Dinner we set out and got here before dark. We...
109From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 24 March 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I condole with you most sincerely on the Death of our good Mother; being extreamly sensible of the Distress and Affliction it must have thrown you into. Your Comfort will be, that no Care was wanting on your Part towards her, and that she had lived as long as this Life could afford her any rational Enjoyment. ’Tis, I am sure, a Satisfaction to me, that I...
110From 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...
111From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 31 October 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We arriv’d here safe [ torn ] this Morning about 11 aClock, [after a] very pleasant Journey, and without [the] least ill Accident. Thanks to God. We purpose to proceed homeward tomorrow, if the Weather, &c. is suitable. I have receiv’d here a Number of Letters from you for which I thank you. We must stay a Day at Woodbridge and then shall go forward so as...
112Account 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
113From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Franklin, [1762?–1764] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 441–3. You may acquaint the gentleman that desired you to enquire my opinion of the best method of securing a powder magazine from lightning, that I think they cannot do better than to erect a mast not far from it, which may reach 15 or 20 feet above the top of it, with a...
114From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 25 November 1762 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society I received your kind congratulations on my return, and thank you cordially. It gives me great pleasure to hear you are married and live happily. You are a good Girl for complying with so essential a duty, and God will bless you. Make my compliments acceptable to your spouse; and fulfil your promise of writing to me; and let me know everything that has...
115From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 1 August 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I ought to acquaint you that I feel myself growing daily firmer and freeer from the Effects of my Fall; and hope a few Days more will make me quite forget it. I shall however never forget the Kindness I met with at your House on that Occasion. Make my Compliments acceptable to your Mr. Greene, and let him know that I acknowledge the Receipt of his obliging...
116From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 23 January 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received with great Pleasure my Dear Friend’s Favour of December 20. as it inform’d me that you and yours are all well. Mrs. Franklin admits of your Apology for dropping the Correspondence with her, and allows your Reasons to be good; but hopes when you have more Leisure it may be renew’d. She joins with me in congratulating you on your present happy...
117From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 6 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mary A. Benjamin, New York City (1962); copy: American Philosophical Society On my Return from Virginia lately, I found your agreable Favour of April 24. by which I had the Pleasure of learning that you and Mr. Greene and your little ones were well. Your Invitation is extreamly obliging, and certainly I could not have forgiven myself if I had pass’d thro’ New England without calling to...
118From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, [10 November 1763] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should ask Mr. Greene’s Permission now to call you so, which I hope he will give me, making Allowance for the Strength of old Habits. This is to acquaint you and him that your Guests, after a very pleasant Journey, got well home on the 5th. Instant, without the least ill Accident, and had the additional Happiness of finding their Friends all well. Mr....
119From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 5 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On my returning hither from Portsmouth, I find your obliging Favour of the 18th past, for which I thank you. I am almost asham’d to tell you that I have had another Fall, and put my Shoulder out. It is well reduc’d again, but is still affected with constant tho’ not very acute Pain. I am not yet able to travel rough Roads, and must lie by a While, as I can...
120From Benjamin Franklin to William Greene, 19 July 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From the very hospitable and kind Treatment we met with at your House I must think it will be agreable to you to hear that your Guests got well in before the Rain. We hope you and Mrs. Green were likewise safe at home before Night, and found all well. We all join in the most cordial Thanks and best Wishes, and shall be glad on every Occasion to hear of the...