1To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, [c. 2 January 1769] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society Many of your Friends, as well as myself, would be glad to have such a Bust of you. Pray what would be the Expence? That of Lord Halifax, I am told, was not cut in Marble first, but made of Clay, and from that the Casts in Plaister of Paris was made. I am often ask’d for your Prints by your old Friends and Acquaintance, and I have given among...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Harvard College, 4 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William C. Lane, “Harvard College and Franklin,” Colonial Society of Massachusetts Publications , X (1907), 236. Voted 4. That the Thanks of this Board be given to Dr. Benja. Franklin for his very acceptable Present, of a fine Bust of that great Assertor of American Liberties, Lord Chatham. The bust was presumably a copy of the only one known from this period, that executed by...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Lord Kames, 21 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., Boston, 1836–40), VII , 432 n. The letter you mention, about American affairs, never came to hand. I have an essay on the subject of your Queries, and you shall hear from me soon about our agreeing or differing. I have a great fund of political knowledge reduced into writing, far from being ripe, but fit for...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 29 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from “Memoir of Thomas Gilpin,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XLIX (1925), 302–3. This letter is the first surviving one in a correspondence that continued, insofar as it is extant, until November, 1770. Thomas Gilpin belonged to a wealthy Quaker family; although he had estates in Maryland and Delaware, his principal residence was Philadelphia. His fortune...
5To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, [31 January 1769] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (perhaps incomplete): American Philosophical Society The last Packet, which left England about the Middle of Novr. brought no Letter from you, that I can hear of, except one to the Committee of Correspondence. I imagine your Time must be almost wholly engross’d in attending on the publick Business at this important Crisis, and in writing for the Press. I see a Number of Pieces in the...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gordon, 5 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is a Tax on Superior Merrit and Benevolence, to be troubled with Importunities of every kind of People, who want Assistance. Your kindness formerly to my own Son, Encourages me now to Apply in behalf of my Son in Law Henry Benbridge, a very Deserving youth who has been Several Years in Italy for his improvement in Painting, and is now going to London for...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 6 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Extracts: reprinted from “Memoir of Thomas Gilpin,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XLIX (1925), 303. Our last advices of ministerial and parliamentary measures has revived the motion of a non-importation of manufactures from Great Britain; for myself I should have rather preferred to confine it to particular articles suited to the convenience of each colony which would have...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 14 February 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragmentary copy): American Philosophical Society [A few lines at the end of a letter, which convey Priestley’s best wishes “for the success of your laudable endeavours in the cause of science, truth, justice, peace , and, which comprehends them all, and everything valuable in human life, LIBERTY .”]
9To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 17 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This covers one of a Set of Bills of Exchange, which I just received from Mr. Hubbart of Boston, for £60 13 s . 9 d . Sterling on John Blackburn, Esq. London: The first of this Set I sent down to Mr. Foxcroft, who is gone to Virginia, and I apprehend he will send it to you, but very probably this will come to your Hand first, and of this I have advised him,...
10To Benjamin Franklin from the Selectmen of Boston, [between 18 February 1769 and 13 March 1769] (Franklin Papers)
LS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society Between February 16 and 24, 1769, the Selectmen twice exchanged letters with the Governor, Francis Bernard, on the subject of false representations made to London about the riots of the previous year and about the convention held in September to protest the Townshend Acts. One of the Selectmen’s letters took specific exception to ex parte...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Moses Franks, 20 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I must entreat you to deliver to Mr. Dagge the Account and Papers relative to the Sufferers by Indian Depredations in 1754. There being particular occasion for them; being requested by the legal representatives of those Sufferers to solicit compensation. You were troubled formerly by Mr. Levy on the subject, and Mr. Dagge having just told me he is to meet...
12To Benjamin Franklin from John Foxcroft, 21 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Immediately on my receiving your favour by the Genl. Gage Captain Kemble (enclosing me Mr. Todds Letter Signifying to me that their Lordships had been pleased to grant me leave of absence for a few Months) I set out for this Colony, in order to put the Riders on such a footing that no stopages might happen during my absence, which I think I have Effectually...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 24 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I sincerely ask your pardon for the trouble I gave you with my last. The dedication was written, and sent to you, before I had taken time to reflect upon it. I shall confine myself to the inscription I first proposed, and shall be obliged to you if you will throw the dedication into the fire without showing it to any person whatever. I am, Dear Sir your...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph-Étienne Bertier, 27 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous m’avéz fait grand plaisir de m’adresser M. le Capitaine Houry. Vous m’avéz donné l’occasion de vous marquer ma reconnoissance, mon attachement, et mon estime, et de rendre les services dont je suis capable à un homme de merite, et bien aimable. Pour couroner l’oeuvre, il faudroit faire encore un voyage en france. C’est votre pays autant que...
15To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 1 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Mrs. Franklin’s Desire, I now send by this Opportunity, two small Kegs of Keskatomas Nuts, one is a Firkin the other a small Quarter Cask: They contain very near a Bushel and a half. I hope they may come safe and sound to your Hands: As I have been now a great while confined by the Gout, I could not go out about them; but as the Second Mate, is a near...
16To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 2 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Mail which [left?] England in December is arriv’d, but I have not [heard?] from you, nor had I one by the November Mail. I apprehend that it must be owing either to the Letters being detain’d at the Post Office in London, or else to their being intercepted by some impertinently curious Person between New-York and here. At first I was apprehensive that...
17To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 4 March 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [March 4, 1769. Repeats the substance of his letters of February 17 and March 1, printed above. Adds that he has received another bill of exchange from Postmaster Hubbart for £100, drawn by Nathaniel Rogers on a London merchant. The worst of the winter was in February, which is unusual. He hopes his gout will not lose him his place.] For Rogers see BF to...
18To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 20 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed in this comes a Bill of Exchange for Fifty-five pounds Sterl. on Messrs. Sargent, Chambers & Co. which from a presumption of your Goodness, I have troubled you with on the following Occasion: Having collected up all that I could of Mr. Balfour of Edinburg’s Books, I got them sold at Auction, which produced as much Money as purchased £25 Sterl. but...
19To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 29 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Day yours of the 22d December and 4th January via Philadelphia, came to Hand. And tho’ I had determined not to trouble you with long Epistles, yet at this Time I think I shall tire your Patience: if so, lay the Letter by, till you have more Leisure. My Son arrived here the Beginning of January, when I had been laid up with the Gout five or 6 Days. He...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price: Observations on the Expectations of Lives, 3 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Printed from the Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LIX (for 1769; London, 1770), 89–125. The document that follows is only in form a letter to Franklin. Price addressed it to him, presumably as a way of acknowledging the latter’s work on population; Franklin transmitted it to the Royal Society, where it was read on April 27 and May 4 and subsequently printed in the Transactions . How...
21To Benjamin Franklin from John Bartram, 10 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received with great pleasure my dear friends letter of January the 9th 1769 and am much obliged to him for his kindness in takeing care of the Box for the King. I should have wrote to Michael Colinson Last fall but I did not know then his name alltho I asked several that had frequented his fathers house but towards the spring I received a very kindly...
22To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 14 April 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Philadelphia, April 14, 1769. John Foxcroft has summoned him there. Encloses a second bill for £60 13 s. 9 d. , the first of which he had sent from New York on February 13. This Foxcroft had returned to him to send to Franklin. Is in poor health but hopes to recover.]
23To Benjamin Franklin from Michael Hillegas, 15 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of the 5th January was handed me by Capt. Falconer, am much Obliged to you for having given the Orders for the making the Glasses for my Armonica—hope they will meet a better fate than the others you were pleased to send. The Nova Scotia Adventurers will now soon be expecting your Letter in Answer to ours, and for which will be under Obligation. I am...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Coombe, 17 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your favour of the 5th January, I receiv’d per Cap. Falconer. The Book you was pleased to send me, I also received, and accept as a mark of the Authors Friendship, tho the Instances of the very extraordinary kindness shewn my Son and your Assurances of it’s continuance, together with the Pleasure you are pleased to express in my recommending him to you, are...
25Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence to Benjamin Franklin and Richard Jackson, 18 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress Being desirous of preventing any ill Effects which may ensue from a Misrepresentation of the Conduct of the Inhabitants of the Province at this Critical Juncture, We think it necessary to give you a brief account of a Riot lately committed in this City, by a few of the lower kind of the People, That, if any mention should be made of it, on your side of the Water, to...
26To Benjamin Franklin from the Philadelphia Merchants, 18 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society We are favoured with thy letter of the 19th January, and observe with pleasure the Steps thou hast taken to Serve the Cause of America, which we cannot forbear considering as the Cause of Liberty. The Committee of Merchants in London inform us of an Application they had made to the proper Department in Administration. But the Answer they received is so very...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Harvard College, 25 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William C. Lane, “Harvard College and Franklin,” Colonial Society of Massachusetts Publications , X (1907), 237. Vote 8. That the Thanks of this Board be given to Dr. Franklin for his many very obliging acts of friendship; particularly for his care in procuring several valuable Instruments for the Apparatus, and that he be desired to continue his kind regards to the College. The...
28By Peter Hinrich Tesdorpf: Poem, [April? 1769] (Franklin Papers)
MS translation from German: American Philosophical Society Upon the unvaluable Contrivance, of Mr. Francklin, k: to carry of the Lightening. Hail! thou art blessed! said lately the Moon to the Earth, Thy Wish was for a Francklin, and Heaven granted him to be. He arose, that Godlike Man, and delivered thy Seat, like the Happiness of the Angels from the danger of Lightening. He surmounts the...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson and Thomas Mifflin, 3 May 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Minutes of the Library Company of Philadelphia Since we had the Pleasure of writing to you an Union has taken place between the principal Librarys in Town. In Consequence of which the Directors have ordered a Review of the Books. And as it is not yet fully known what we have or what we want, The Directors have ordered us to write and request the Favour of you, if you have not laid out...
30To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 11 May 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A few Days ago I was favoured with your Letter of the 20th. of March by Capt. Creighton. The Packet which left England the 7th. of March is since arrived, but I had no Letter by her from any one. I suppose (tho’ you do not mention it) that you have wrote to me before relative to the Letters I sent you by the January Mail; perhaps by Sparks who is not yet...