1To Benjamin Franklin from W. Masters, [1769?] (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Though I have not the honour of an intimate acquaintance with you, yet your character of humanity and benevolence, and the intimacy that subsisted between you and my Father, and especially the desire of contributing to the Peace and Happiness of an old Neighbour whom for several Years I have found an honest worthy industrious Man, imboldens me to give you...
2Observations upon [Thomas Pownall], State of the Constitution of the Colonies, [1769?] (Franklin Papers)
MS (copy): American Philosophical Society In December, 1769, or possibly in the following month, Thomas Pownall attempted to formulate general principles of law that applied to the issues in dispute between Britain and her colonies. He composed a short document in two parts; the first set forth six principles, and the second adduced corollaries from them. This document he had printed but not...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 30 August 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (Paris, 1773), p. 314. Cette lettre vous sera remise par le Docteur Lettsom, jeune Médecin Amériquain de beaucoup de mérite, qui est de la paisible secte des Trembleurs, et que vous regarderiez conséquemment au moins comme une rareté à contempler, quand même vous auriez épousé toutes les préventions de la plupart de vos...
4To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 31 May–10 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The 22d and 24th Instant, I wrote you per Capt. Haight, inclosing you the 2d of a Bill for £100. Sterling and the first of a Bill from Mr. Hercules Courtenay, Post-Master of Baltimore, for £141 6 s. 11 d. Sterling drawn by Stevenson on Hervey of London, of which this has the 2d inclosed: Mr. Courtenay says it is the whole of the Ballance due from him. I...
5Committee Report on Lightning Rods for St. Paul’s Cathedral, 7 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LIX (1769), 162–9. As, in consequence of a letter addressed to the Royal Society from the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s, the Society did us the honour to appoint us a Committee to examine that magnificent structure, and, as far as our experience would enable us, to prevent mischief thereto from lightning, by a properly disposed...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 1–16 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office It is always a great Pleasure to me to hear from you, and would be a much greater to be with you, to converse with you on the Subjects you mention, or any other. Possibly I may yet one day enjoy that Pleasure. In the meantime we may use the Privilege that the Knowledge of Letters affords us, of conversing at a distance by the Pen. I am glad to find you are turning...
7To 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.
8To 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...
9From 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...
10Marginalia in The True Constitutional Means, an Anonymous Pamphlet, [1769?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notations in the margins of a copy in the New York Public Library of The True Constitutional Means for Putting an End to the Disputes between Great-Britain and the American Colonies (London, 1769). [ On the title page: ] Query, Could this be written by Mr. Jackson? from some Expressions and Arguments it should seem so; but others are so unlike his Precision that I rather think he is not the...
11To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 1 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I came to Town with Betsy on Monday last in order to stand for my little Nephew. He is not so fat and lusty as some Children at his Time are, but he is altogether a pretty little Fellow, and improves in his Looks every Day. Mr. Baynton stood as Proxy for you and named him Benjn Franklin, and my Mother and Betsy were the God Mothers. I did not know that...
12To Benjamin Franklin from John Alleyne, 5 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should not have broken in upon your Time in this Manner, if my Health wo’d have permitted Me, to have address’d You personally, but Confin’d, as I have been, and much weaken’d by the Gout I trust your Goodness will Excuse Me, if I ask the Favor of a Line from You, in Answer to the following Questions. A Reverend Friend of Mine had an Offer, some few...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Bond, 7 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Letter of the 9th of March with William Cowell’s inclosed, at which I was much surprised, as his last to Bond & Byrn was in a very different Strain, it being only dubious Whether a Bill of Three hundred Pounds then in his Hands would be paid or not. That Bill was founded on a large Estate in his Neighbourhood, and on the Drawers Sister, who...
14To 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...
15To 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...
16To 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...
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...
18From 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...
19From Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, [before 2 September 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Joseph Belcher, George Whitefield: a Biography, with Special Reference to His Labors in America (New York, [1857]), pp. 414–15. I am under continued apprehensions that we may have bad news from America. The sending soldiers to Boston always appeared to me a dangerous step; they could do no good, they might occasion mischief. When I consider the warm resentment of a people who...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 7 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Samuel Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania , XVI , no. 5 (August 1, 1835), 66–7; extract in American Philosophical Society Minutes. I have now before me your Favours of June 11, and July 15, I thank you for communicating to me the Observations of the Transit made by Messrs. Biddle & Bayley. I gave them Immediately to Mr. Maskelyn, the Astronomer Royal, who will...
21Notes on a Week’s Diet and Poor Health, [between 12 June 1769, and 30 July 1770] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress So dated because of the reference to dining at Mr. Foxcroft’s. Although the time bracket is unlikely to have much value, the means of establishing it may be worth explaining to illustrate how such problems of dating can sometimes be narrowed when they cannot be solved. The Pa. Packet , on which Foxcroft came to England, arrived on May 30 or 31 ( Lloyd’s Evening Post ,...
22To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 28 June 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, June 28, 1769. Encloses two bills of exchange, which he is sending by way of Bristol: one from Tuthill Hubbart of Boston for £122, drawn by Timothy Folger on Moses Allnutt of London, dated June 19; the other from Thomas Vernon, the Newport postmaster, for £15, drawn by John Mawdsley on Messrs. Lane Son & Fraser of London, dated June 16. Also...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Michael Hillegas, 5 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Historical Magazine , III (1859), 212. I received yours of Nov. 3, and was very sorry to find you had been disappointed of your Glasses by their being broken in going over. I have given Orders to have the Loss repair’d, agreeable to the Directions in your Letter, and hope it will not be long before they are executed. Make no Apology as if you gave me Trouble, for I assure...
24To 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...
25To 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...
26From 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...
27To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12–13 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Packet being detain’d two or three Days on the following Occasion, tho’ I had wrote four Days ago, all that was then necessary, I could not dispence with writing again; And notwithstanding you will doubtless hear it, if I had not wrote: It pleased God to take our Governor Sir Henry Moore, Bart. out of this World, Yesterday half after 3 o’Clock in the...
28To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 18 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Eight Days ago, I wrote you per Packet, inclosing the 2d Bill from Mr. Courtney of Baltimore, the first of which I sent per Capt. Haight, for £141 6 s . 11 d . Sterling. Last Night I received the inclosed Bill for £10 1 s . 3 d . Sterling from Mr. Vernon of Rhode-Island; he says, it is good, and he is trying to get more for further Remittance. This is all I...
29The Formation of the Grand Ohio Company, [June? 1769] (Franklin Papers)
The two documents that follow are closely connected. Both were products of the obscure and complicated process by which a group, known as the “suffering traders,” that claimed Indian lands west of the Alleghenies was transformed into an Anglo-American company with political influence and grandiose ambitions. Neither of the documents can be precisely dated. The first is a rough draft, in...
30From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 9 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Darlington, ed., Memorials of John Bartram and Humphry Marshall (Philadelphia, 1849), pp. 402–3. I received your kind letter of November 5, and the box directed to the King is since come to hand. I have written a line to our late dear friend’s son, (who must be best acquainted with the usual manner of transacting your affairs here,) to know whether he will take charge of...