31From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 24 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum I received your Favour by Mr. Jefferies. I should have been glad if in any thing I could have serv’d him here. The Part I took in the Application for your Degree, was merely doing Justice to Merit, which is the Duty of an honest Man whenever he has the Opportunity. I did that Duty indeed with Pleasure and Satisfaction to myself, which was sufficient: But I own the Pleasure...
32Draft of a Petition from the Colonial Agents to the House of Commons, [between 24 February 1769 and 7 March 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Charles Garth Letterbook, South Carolina Archives Department The fate of the petition that follows illustrates the difficult position of the colonial agents. In the late winter they had, or thought they had, indications that the mounting excitement in America might induce the administration to repeal the Townshend Acts if there were some way to cover its retreat. The problem was to find...
33To 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...
34To 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...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of Jan. 3. per Packet, and one from Sally. I wrote to you very fully by the late Ships. This is only to let you know I am well, and particularly that my Arms, which you enquire after, have perfectly recover’d their Strength. Your Account of Mr. Coleman’s fresh Disorder, grieves me exceedingly. I have had a Visit from Mr. Bache’s Sister, who...
36To 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...
37To 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...
38To 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...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 9 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Clements Library I wrote a few Lines to you per Packet, in which I mention’d that at a late Meeting of the Agents they had agreed to join in a Petition for the Repeal of the Duty Act. I was desir’d to make a Draft, which I did. The Proposition came from Mr. Garth, who is a Member of Parliament and Agent for S. Carolina. The Opinion was that the Ministry might probably wish to get rid of...
40From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 11 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society At length after much Delay and Difficulty I have been able to obtain your Telescope that was made by Mr. Short before his Death. His Brother, who succeeds in the Business, has fitted it up and compleated it. He has followed the Business many Years at Edinburgh, is reckon’d very able, and therefore I hope every thing will be found right; but as it is only...
41To 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...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society By Capt. Sparks Mrs. Stevenson sent you a large square Case, containing the Things mentioned in the inclos’d Invoice; it was marked Stores for Mrs. Franklin Philadelphia , and carried on board by our Porter, who says he deliver’d it to the Mate, but he brought back no Receipt. The Mate told him he liv’d not far from you, and knew us both. I hope there has...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 21 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library Inclos’d is a Bill of Lading for the Telescope; I hope it will get safe to hand, and give Satisfaction. I have not yet got the Maker’s Account. It was with great Difficulty got done to go by this Ship. We have been greatly alarmed last Week by a Project of Lord Barrington’s (Secretary at War) to bring in a Clause to be added to the American Mutiny Bill, impowering...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Burton, 26 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Fulham Palace Library, London The note of recommendation printed below, like Franklin’s recommendation of George Spencer a year earlier, raises a question about his judgment in sponsoring candidates for the Anglican priesthood. Theodorus Swaine Drage grew up in England, where he is said to have been a schoolmate of Lord Hillsborough. He emigrated to Pennsylvania, if Franklin is correct...
45To 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...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 3–21 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Allen D. Candler, ed., The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia (26 vols., Atlanta, Ga., 1904–16), XV , 26–7. I received duely your favour of December 24th with the Address of your Commons House of Assembly to the King. I directly waited on Lord Hillsborough Secretary of State for American Affairs, and delivered it to him to be presented to his Majesty, which he assured me...
47To 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...
48Positions to be Examined, 4 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
MS (copy): Yale University Library Franklin had long advocated a labor theory of value, and in correspondence with Lord Kames and the French physiocrats he refined his ideas of the relation between labor, agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce. The brief paper below seems to have been a development of the “aphorisms,” as he called them, that he had sent to Lord Kames early in the year. His...
49To 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...
50To 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.]
51To 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...
52To 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...
53Pennsylvania 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...
54To 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...
55To 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...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 27 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum I received your Favour of Feb. 27. per Capt. Carver, and thank you for giving me an Opportunity of being acquainted with so great a Traveller. I shall be glad if I can render him any Service here. The Parliament remain fix’d in their Resolution not to repeal the Duty Acts this Session, and will rise next Tuesday. I hope my Country-folks will remain as fix’d in their...
57From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 27 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of Jan. 30. Mrs. Stevenson has executed your Order, and sends the Things in a Bandbox directed to you, in the Care of Mr. Jefferies your Neighbour. A new-fashion’d something that was not ready when the Box was pack’d up, is inclos’d in her Letter. I am now grown too old to be ambitious of such a Station as that which you say has...
58By 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...
59Ezra Stiles: Memoir and Conjecture, 1 May 1769 (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Yale University Library This brief memorandum on Franklin reveals a suspiciousness that Stiles never openly expressed. On the surface he was all admiration for his old friend. He wanted a copy of Franklin’s Oxford diploma, listed his other honors, hoped he would be made a baronet, and asked to perpetuate his own name by editing for posterity the works of “my dear Maecenas.” But...
60To 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...