31To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 20–27 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society yisterday I reseved yours dated September the 9 whare in you was so kind as to sende me Sir John Pringels advise to me all I am much obliged to you and to so worthey a good man as Sir John but I muste tell you as well as I Can my disordor was for this reson my distres for my dear Debbeys misforten and hers being removed so far from her friend and such a...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwalader Evans, 27 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your letters of the 8th. and 9th. of Sepr., together with the four French memoirs on the Education of Silk worms, and culture of Mulbery trees, came safe to hand; for which I cordially thank you. As I do not read French with ease, and have not leisure enough to consult Boyer, I have got my worthy friend Mr. Odell, to take the memoirs, and make such extracts...
33To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, [27 November? 1769] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Strahan’s best Respects to Dr. Franklin and begs, if the Letter is now ready, that he will send it by the Bearer. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin / Craven Street This note could of course have been written at any time during BF ’s years in England. But the queries that Strahan sent him on Nov. 22 had a hint of urgency in them, and BF was out of town and did...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Thomson, 26 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , March 1–3, 1770 As Capt. Sparks sails sooner than was expected, the Committee of Merchants here have not time to write to you, they have therefore desired me to enclose you a copy of their letter to the Committee of Merchants in London. As the Parliament will no doubt at their meeting take under consideration the affairs of America, it is necessary you should...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Michael Hillegas, 25 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your kind Letter to the Nova Scotia Adventurers dated the 13th. July last came safe to hand, and for which am in behalf of Self and all Concerned very much Obliged to you. Such of the Proprietors who I have from Time to Time mett with, has seen it, and are much pleased; I shall however endeavour to get them together some time this Winter, in order That they...
36To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, [21–]22 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (copy): British Museum Although early in 1769 Parliament had favored strong measures against the colonies, by the time the session ended in May Lord Hillsborough made a guarded promise that some of the Townshend duties would be repealed when the new session opened the following January. William Strahan, Franklin’s old friend, took much credit for the American Secretary’s change of...
37To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, 22 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I shewed the inclosed last night, after I saw you, to Mr. B. who highly approves of the Way in which I have stated the Matter, which he says is precisely as it ought to be. I hope you will therefore let me have your Answer as soon as you conveniently can. I am Ever Your most obedient Addressed: To / Dr. Benjamin Franklin / at Mrs Stevenson’s / Craven Street...
38To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, [19 November? 1769] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Strahan presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and begs to know if he is to be at home and at Leisure this Afternoon, as he wants much to have a Conference with him; If the Dr. is not engaged (which Mr. S. is afraid he is by this time) would be very glad of the favour of his Company to eat a Bit of Beef with him at ½ after two. P.S. Intended to have...
39To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel] Wharton, [16 November? 1769] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Wharton presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin and will be much obliged to Him, If He will be so good as to take an early Opportunity of explaining to Governor Pownall, Abraham Mitchel’s base Conduct; As Mr. Wharton finds the Governor and his Brother have read the Affidavit in the Gazeeteer and He is afraid, it may make an injurious Impression on Them,...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Huck, 15 November 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [November 15, 1769. An invitation to dine with Sir John Pringle on Friday next.] The noted physician, for whom see above, XV , 172 n. The note is merely dated Wednesday, but the invitation is for Friday, Nov. 17; between the knighting of Pringle and BF ’s departure from England Friday fell on the 17th only in 1769.
41To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [10 November? 1769]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Dated merely Friday afternoon; probably November 10, 1769. A note in the third person, to send Franklin the American newspapers received that day in the New York mail. Has heard nothing by the packet; expects a letter from “his Friend” by Capt. Jeffries, who was to sail from Philadelphia on Oct. 7.] A New York mail reached London on Nov. 10; London Chron. ,...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [9 November? 1769]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Dated merely Thursday night; probably November 9, 1769. A note in the third person to inform Franklin that Wharton has just received via Bristol a letter from the latter’s wife, dated Sept. 20, 1769, saying that the Franklin family was well.] The brigantine Concord cleared from Philadelphia for Bristol at the right time to have carried a letter written on...
43To Benjamin Franklin from John Hawkesworth, 8 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library These few Lines comes hopping that you may not forget your promise of putting me in the way of getting a pensylvanian Stove time enough to enjoy the benefit of it this Winter: have you spoken to the Man to whose Eyes you addressed a proof that could not reach his Understanding? Will you fix a time for him to come hither, and will you fix such a time as will be...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 3 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Todd presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin and begs the favour of his Company to Dinner on Monday next at ½ past three to meet Major Trent, Mr. Wharton and Mr. Foxcroft. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin / Craven Street. Presumably to discuss the affairs of the Grand Ohio Company, of which Todd and his guests were members. See his earlier invitation...
45To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 30 October 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York October 30, 1769. Is recovering after six weeks from the worst fit of gout he has ever had. Pain is gone, but he is so weak he can scarcely stand; “so have only Patience and Flannel.” Has heard nothing from Franklin, and nothing has happened in the Post Office since he last wrote.]
46To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Tissington, 27 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I got here last Wednesday Evening, am at present closely engag’d in what brought me to Town, but in a day or two, hope to wait upon you, in the Interim, let the penny Post tell me if you and Mrs. Stevenson are well. My Wife is much recover’d, and talk’d of sending Mrs. Stevenson, a Stubble Goose by this Weeks Carrier, which I hope will get safe and sweet...
47From Benjamin Franklin to James Lind, 25 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (facsimile): reprinted from Rowfant Club Program , November 27, 1901 After the many Civilities I have received from you, I am ashamed that you have not yet received from me one of my Books, which was done up to be sent you last Winter, and I thought it had gone with others to Edinburg, till a few days since it was found to have been left behind and unaccountably mislaid. Mr. Bancroft is so...
48To Benjamin Franklin from a Committee of the Town of Boston, 23 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society It is with the greatest Pleasure we obey the Orders of the Town of Boston in transmitting to you their Remarks upon the Letters from Governor Bernard, the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Customs, General Gage and Commodore Hood Copies of which the Town have been furnished with by Mr. Bollan. The Town of Boston are fully sensible of your extensive Influence...
49To Benjamin Franklin from [William?] Curtis, 23 October 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Monday, October 23, (1769?). An invitation to dine on Thursday in Martin’s Lane with Dr. Price, Mr. Canton, and Dr. Jeffries. ] William Curtis (1746–99) was a Quaker physician and botanist, who later acquired considerable fame as the translator of Linnaeus and an expert on the flora of London. DNB. If our conjectural date is correct he was scarcely...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Elwes, 22 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We are just this moment come on shore; from on board Capt. Friend after a passage of seven weeks, very tedious Difficult weather; having a Number of Letters under my Care for You and Mr: Wharton which should have sent off by this Day post; But was Requested to Deliver them myself. If You judge it will be necessary to have them before I arrive in London;...
51To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Clifford, 21 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The bearer hereof is Thomas Clifford junr. just going to embark for Great Britain; I have desired him to wait on thee with my kind respects; Thy Friendly Notice of him as an Inhabitant of Pennsylvania, and my Son will be very obliging to Thy Respectful Friend Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esqr. / York Buildings / London / per favour of / T. Clifford...
52To Benjamin Franklin from William Small, 19 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I know not how to return the obligation you laid me under by making me acquainted with your respectable friend Mr. Pownall so properly as by introducing to you Dr. Roebuck. The Dr. proposes to make but a short stay in London on this occasion, yet, as he will be in your part of the town, I am desirous you should have the pleasure of meeting each other, if it...
53To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 18 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Todd presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin and begs the favour of his Company to Dinner on Friday next at four, to meet Mr. Foxcroft, Mr. Wharton and Major Trent. Mr. Todd will be very happy if this note should find the Dr. returned to Town. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin / at Mrs. Stevenson’s / Craven Street / Strand. Sir Grey Cooper had offered to...
54Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence to Benjamin Franklin and Richard Jackson, 17 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania , 1769–1770 (Philadelphia, 1770), p. 116. By Order of Assembly we inclose you the Resolves appointing you Agents for this Province, to transact the Affairs thereof in Great-Britain, as well as that by which we are nominated a Committee of Correspondence, to whom you will communicate from Time to...
55To Benjamin Franklin from Grey Cooper, 13 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Shall come to Town on Monday next, and will [with] great pleasure carry you back with me, if you happen to be disengaged. Yours ever very truly Addressed: To / Dr. Francklin Presumably Sir Grey’s country house, where BF had written his essay on smuggling. See above, XIV , 315.
56To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 10 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Joshua Gilpin, A Memoir of the Rise, Progress, and Present State of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal (Wilmington, Del., 1821), pp. 15–17, with additions from Thomas Gilpin, Jr., “Memoir of Thomas Gilpin, “ Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XLIX (1925), 305–7. This letter from Franklin’s new-found correspondent, Thomas Gilpin, is a minor but interesting...
57To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 5–9 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Ever since my last of the 11th Sept. have I been laid up, by the most excruciating Fit of the Gout, that ever I had: and I have now but scarce Ability to write a Line or two. Nothing worthy of Note has happen’d since in Relation to the Post-Office, except that Mr. Babcock has left New-Haven, and I sent a Commission to Mr. Kilby in his Stead, who has given...
58To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 6–7 October 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, October 6–7, 1769. Sent the Post Office account book with his letter of October 5. Confined to his room and can barely sit up. Has not touched Benjamin Mecom’s books, but will as soon as he is able to stir——if he ever is. Postscript of Sept. ( i.e. , Oct.) 7: encloses originals of Hubbart’s two bills, of which seconds went by his letter of...
59From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [7 October 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from a quotation by William Franklin in a letter of January 1, 1770, Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue , No. 860 (April 9, 1901), p. 9. It is very uncertain as yet what Turn American Affairs will take here on the Meeting of Parliament. The Friends of both Countries wish a reconciliation; the Enemies of either endeavour to widen the Breach, God knows how it will end.
60From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 4 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Before I went abroad this last Summer, I left Orders with my Banker to purchase two Tickets for you, and send you the Numbers. Since my Return I understand the Orders were executed. I hope you receiv’d the Banker’s Letter; if not, this will inform you that the Numbers are 33m799 and 33m800. with which I wish you the best Success. I think I mention’d in a...