91From Benjamin Franklin to Elias Boudinot, Junior, [11 December 1762] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found: reprinted from extract in American Art Association Sale Catalogue, Dec. 2, 3, 1926, Item no. 428. I thank you for your kind congratulations on my return to my family and country. It gives me great pleasure to hear that you are married and well-settled and your brother and sister also. … I hope your good father’s indisposition will be of no long continuance. … Elias Boudinot, Jr....
92From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Ingersoll, 11 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New Haven Colony Historical Society I thank you for your kind Congratulations. It gives me Pleasure to hear from an old Friend, it will give me much more to see him. I hope therefore nothing will prevent the Journey you propose for next Summer, and the Favour you intend me of a Visit. I believe I must make a Journey early in the Spring, to Virginia, but purpose being back again before...
93From Benjamin Franklin to James Bowdoin, 15 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Archives, Windsor Castle; transcript: Massachusetts Historical Society I have read with great Pleasure the College Poems you were so kind as to send me: I think, and I hope it is not merely my American Vanity that makes me think, some of them exceed in Beauty and Elegance those produced by the Mother Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, on the same Occasion. In return, please...
94From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Babcock, 16 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I thank you most cordially for your kind Congratulations on my Arrival, which I have the more Pleasure in, as among my other Friends, I find you and yours alive and well: I rejoice with you likewise in the safe Return of your two valuable Sons, to whom, on Account of their own Merit as well as the Obligations I am under to you, I wish it had been in my Power to...
95From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 19 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This Line is just to salute you, and acquaint you with my Return to America, Thanks to God, well and hearty. I hope you are so. With this you will receive a Thermometer which craves your Acceptance. With the greatest Esteem, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant BF had promised to send Stiles a thermometer, May 23, 1757; above, VII , 217. On...
96From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 23 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from American Autograph Shop, American Clipper (Merion Station, Pa.), December 1935, p. 171. Mr. Short’s Remarks were only in a Letter of his to me. I now send you the Original. You will observe that the Perallax [Parallax] mentioned in this, differs from that I sent you; But this was in the Beginning of February, the other he gave me in August; and I suppose had been...
97From Benjamin Franklin to Hughes and Co.: Directions for Making a Musical Instrument, [1762] (Franklin Papers)
AD : The Assay Office, Birmingham, England In an advertisement for the armonica in the London Chronicle , June 17–19, 1762, addressed “To the Nobility, Gentry, &c., ”Charles James of Purpool Lane, near Gray’s Inn, called himself “The Maker [who] has been employed by the Gentleman who is the real Inventor, in the First ever made in England, and continues to be honoured with his Approbation.” In...
98Notes on Reading an Account of Travel in China, [1762?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society These notes in Franklin’s hand appear to have been memoranda jotted down during the reading of some unidentified account of travel in the Far East. The listing of the eclipses suggests that the date was not earlier than 1762, though Franklin’s reading might well have taken place considerably later. Painted Candles, of what are they made? Vinegar of Liche,...
99From 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...
100To 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...
101To Benjamin Franklin from [Keane] Fitz Gerald and [Charles] Morton, [1759–1775?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Morton’s Compliments to Dr. Franklyn, and if it be agreable, purpose to wait upon Him on Friday even next, about 6 o’clock, with 2 Ladies. Addressed: To / Benjamn. Franklyn / Esqr. Dr. of Laws. / Craven Street The first of these men may have been Keane Fitz Gerald, or Fitzgerald, of Poland St., London, F.R.S., 1756, who contributed...
102To 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...
103To Benjamin Franklin from Elizabeth Henmarsh: Deed, 1 January 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia January 1, 1763 Abstract: In consideration of £100, Elizabeth Henmarsh of Philadelphia, widow, grants and sells to Benjamin Franklin a lot of land in Philadelphia, 16 ft. wide, north and south, and 73 ft. deep, bounded east by Sixth Street, south and west by lands of Isaac Zane, and north by land granted by Zane to James...
104Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on the Laws, [19 January 1763] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1762–1763 (Philadelphia, 1763), p. 13. Throughout Franklin’s absence in England he had been re-elected to the Assembly from the city of Philadelphia every October. When the House met on Jan. 10, 1763, he appeared to take his place for the first time in about five and three-quarters years, and at once resumed an active part in...
105From 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...
106Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on the Dock, [9 February 1763] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1762–1763 (Philadelphia, 1763), p. 23. “A Remonstrance and Petition from divers Inhabitants” of Philadelphia was presented to the Assembly, Jan. 24, 1763, complaining, among other things, that the public dock or creek in the southern part of the city was “in a great Measure useless, and in its present Condition a Recepticle for...
107From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris; Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Accounts: Report, 9, 15, and 19 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
I. Draft: American Philosophical Society. II. ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania. III. Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1762–1763 (Philadelphia, 1763), pp. 28–9. On Feb. 9, 1763, Franklin drafted a letter to serve as preface to a statement of his expenses as agent of the Assembly in England (Document I). After considering the draft, however, he must have...
108From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 21 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have now the Pleasure of acquainting you that my Son and Daughter are safely arriv’d at my House, and both very well. They present their Duty to Brother Mecom and you. He sets out for his Government on Wednesday. I am greatly to blame for not sending the enclos’d sooner. It was wrote by your Sister several Weeks since, and given to me to be forwarded. I...
109From Benjamin Franklin to [Philip Ludwell], 22 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I received your kind Congratulations on my Son’s Promotion with great Pleasure, and thank you cordially for your good Wishes concerning him. I have great Hopes of his doing well, as I know he has good Principles and good Dispositions. I congratulate you on the glorious Peace we have made, the most advantageous to Great Britain, in my Opinion, of any our...
110From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 23 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I have only time to write one Line by this Conveyance, just to congratulate you on the glorious Peace you have made, the most advantageous for the British Nation in my Opinion, of any your Annals have recorded. The Places you have left or restor’d to the French I look upon to be so much in our Power in Case of a future War, as to be so many Hostages or Pledges of...
111From 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...
112From 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...
113To 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...
114Province 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...
115From 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...
116To 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...
117Anthony 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...
118Anthony 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...
119Anthony 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...
120To 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...