1Note on Post Office Accounts, 2 April 1768, to 3 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AD (copy): Historical Society of Pennsylvania [The credit entries, running from April 2, 1768, to March 17, 1769, are of money received by Franklin and Foxcroft from American post offices. In round figures the receipts from James Parker in New York were £2,439, from Philadelphia £312, and from smaller places (Talbot Court House, presumably Talbot, Md.; Rhode Island, presumably Newport; and...
2Account with James Parker, 1 May 1769, to 14 May 1770: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AD : Yale University Library [The accounts of Parker’s remittances as comptroller of the Post Office run from May 1, 1769, to May 14, 1770; the sixteen bills of exchange listed total £1,1899 19 s . 1 d . The endorsement, in Franklin’s hand, refers to Parker as the “late Comptroller.”] The details of these transactions appear above, XVI , 130, 159, 162, 180, 185, 186, 215–16, 269, and in...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Winn, [before 1 February 1770] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : the Royal Society Tis a common and I am afraid just complaint, that Seamen are exceedingly backward in availing themselves of the discoveries which Men of Science have made, and the directions which they have given for their benefit and safety. Notwithstanding the pains several eminent Philosophers have taken, to bring Conductors into general use, as well in Ships as houses, ’tis too...
4Note on Marginalia in Another Letter, an Anonymous Pamphlet, [1770?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notations appear on pp. 139–40 of a copy in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania of Another Letter to Mr. Almon, in Matter of Libel (London, 1770). The author is discussing the American claim that Parliament has no jurisdiction over the colonial assemblies because they are constitutionally coequal with it. Franklin’s comments were largely obliterated when the copy was cropped in...
5Marginalia in An Inquiry, an Anonymous Pamphlet, [1770] (Franklin Papers)
MS notations in the margins of a copy in the New York Public Library of An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Present Disputes between the British Colonies in America and Their Mother-Country; and Their Reciprocal Claims and Just Rights Impartially Examined, and Fairly Stated (London, 1769). This anonymous and, today, very rare pamphlet was once tentatively ascribed to Franklin. Even if...
6Marginalia in [Josiah Tucker], A Letter from a Merchant, [1770?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notations in the margins of a copy in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania of [Josiah Tucker], A Letter from a Merchant in London to His Nephew in North America (London, 1766). The Rev. Josiah Tucker, Dean of Gloucester, was one of the more prolific pamphleteers of his time, and one of the few whose work still commands attention. He was an economist as well as a theologian, and his...
7Marginalia in [Matthew Wheelock], Reflections Moral and Political, [1770?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notations in a copy in the Library of Congress of [Matthew Wheelock], Reflections Moral and Political on Great Britain and Her Colonies (London, 1770). This is the true political Idea, that every Writer on these Subjects should have in View. Most of them think only of the good of a Part , Britain. The writer lives in the country, and has not kept up with the pamphlet controversy on the...
8To Benjamin Franklin from James Gambier, [before 20 July? 1770] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Capt. Gambiers Compliments to Dr. Franklyn, and calld on him to have askd the favor of his Sentiments relative to a Man that Comm[issione?]r Robinson mentiond to Mr. Gambier as a proper person to recomend to take lease of a light House. For the naval career of James Gambier (1723–89) see DNB . The note is said to be c . 1784 and in French in I. Minis Hays,...
9New Fables, 2 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 2, 1770 The first ascription of these fables to Franklin was by Verner Crane, and his evidence is conclusive. When the second and third fables were composed, as distinct from published, is impossible to say; the genesis of the first goes back almost two years, although in the intervening period it changed considerably. NEW FABLES , humbly inscribed to...
10The Colonist’s Advocate: I, 4 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Verner W. Crane, Benjamin Franklin’s Letters to the Press, 1758–1775 (Chapel Hill, [1950]), pp. 167–70. This essay, printed in the Public Advertiser on Jan. 4, 1770, was the first in a series of eleven that ran in that newspaper for the next two months. The series was designed to muster support for the total repeal of the Townshend Acts, and ended when the last hope of such...
11Petition to the Treasury from Franklin and Others for a Grant of Land, 4 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AD (copy): Library of Congress The formation of the Grand Ohio Company in the early summer of 1769 had begun a flurry of activity among its principal promoters. The original request to the Privy Council for a grant of 2,400,000 acres, to be carved out of the territory ceded to the crown by the Indians in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, had been referred to the Board of Trade. After a five-month...
12To Benjamin Franklin from John Ewing, 4 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our Philosophical Society have at Length ordered me to draw out an Account of our Observations of the Transits of Venus and Mercury to be transmitted to you as our President thro’ whose Hands we think they may most conveniently be communicated to the learned Societies of Europe to whom you may apprehend they will be agreable. The Reason of their not coming...
13To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 4 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am yet here about the Jersey Laws: I sent up to New York 8 Days ago, a Letter for you with the first of the inclosed Bill of Exchange for £200, Wats and Mc Evers on Harley and Drummond which I had of Mr. Colden: but the Weather has been so extreme severe, that I have not learnt whether it could be sent by a Merchantship, or by this Packet; but lest that...
14The Colonist’s Advocate: II, 8 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 8, 1770 The Absurdity of taxing the Colonies without Representation, is so glaring, that some Defenders of the late oppressive Measures have attempted to palliate it by urging, that our American Brethren are actually represented in the British House of Commons; “the most ridiculous Idea (says Lord Chatham in his Speech on the Stamp Act) that ever...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [10 January? 1770] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was informed late last Night, That a Number of your and my Letters were lying at the New York Coffee House and Therefore I went into the City early this morning and have taken up all I could find. I send by my Boy, yours. I [am] always very respectfully your Very affectionate Friend. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin The dating is purely conjectural. Capt....
16The Colonist’s Advocate: III, 11 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 11, 1770 Suppose some long-headed Minister should invent a Tax to be imposed only on those Subjects, residing in Britain, who have no Vote in any Election for Members of Parliament. Suppose the British Government to publish a formal Declaration, That they have a Right to give and grant away the Property of many Millions of their Fellow-Subjects,...
17From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 11 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Darlington, ed., Memorials of John Bartram and Humphry Marshall (Philadelphia, 1849), pp. 404–5. I received your kind letter of Nov. 29, with the parcel of seeds, for which I am greatly obliged to you. I cannot make you adequate returns, in kind; but I send you, however, some of the true Rhubarb seed, which you desire. I had it from Mr. Inglish, who lately received a...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 11 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library Since mine of the 9th. past, I have received your Favour of Nov. 8. with the Bill for £500. Wharton on Whitmore; for which I am greatly oblig’d to the Assembly; and to you for your kind Care in so speedily remitting it. I am perfectly of the same Sentiments with you, that the old Harmony will never be restor’d between the two Countries, till some Constitution is agreed...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Viny, 13 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is the first extant letter from a man with whom Franklin continued to correspond intermittently for years to come. Viny was a carriage-maker in Tenterden, Kent; he and his wife were friends of the Stevensons, and their acquaintance with Franklin went back at least to the autumn of 1768. The subject of this letter, obscured by the fact that a crucial...
20The Colonist’s Advocate: IV, 15 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 15, 1770 To assume the Title of the Colonist’s Advocate , is to undertake the Defence of Three Millions of the most valuable Subjects of the British Empire, against Tyranny and Oppression, brought upon them by a wrong-headed Ministry. It is to call the Attention of Government to the Injuries of the brave and free Emigrants from these Realms, who...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Vernon, 16 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Newport Historical Society The Bearer Mr. Bowman, intends for New York; and as he will be intirely a Stranger in Rhodeisland, I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities as a young Gentleman of good Character, for whom I interest myself. Your Advice may be useful to him; and every Regard you shew him, will be acknowledg’d as an Obligation confer’d on, Dear Sir, Your most obedient...
22To Benjamin Franklin from John Whitehurst, 18 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The natural tendency of philosophical minds to promote useful knowledge, seems to render an apology to you quite needless for the favour I’m going to request. I’m inform’d Sir, that the truely eminent Artist Mr. West is one of that Class of men who cultivates the Science he professes for the Sake of the Art only. A most laudable example indeed. A Young...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 22 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your Favour of Saturday early this Morning, and am as usual much obliged by the kind Readiness with which you have done what I requested. Your good Mother has complain’d more of her Head since you left us, than ever before. If she stoops or looks or bends her Neck downwards on any Occasion, it is with great Pain and Difficulty that she gets her...
24Request for a Reprinting, 25–27 January 1770: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , January 25–27, 1770 [A request to the Chronicle , signed “A.B.,” to republish the extract of a letter from London printed in the Boston Evening Post of Dec. 4, 1769. The letter was Franklin’s to Folger above, XVI , 207–10, where the extract is indicated.]
25The Colonist’s Advocate: V, 25 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 25, 1770 In my last Paper I shewed, from authentic and known Estimates, that, had not the Course of our Trade with the Colonies been interrupted by the Inventions of the Grenvillians, we were in the Way to have carried it, in the Space of a few Years, to such a Length, that the Mother-Country would have gained by it annually the amazing Sum of Five...
26A Conversation on Slavery, 26 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 30, 1770 Many Reflections being of late thrown out against the Americans, and particularly against our worthy Lord-Mayor, on Account of their keeping Slaves in their Country, I send you the following Conversation on that Subject, which, for Substance, and much of the Expression, is, I assure you, a real one ; having myself been present when it passed....
27The Colonist’s Advocate: VI, 29 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 29, 1770 I have shewn, that our Gains by our Colonies have been immensely great [and], but for the Grenvillian Taxation Scheme, would have soon come to be equal alone to the Whole of our necessary annual Expences of Government in Times of Peace. If so, how absurd are the Cavils of some among us, who argue, That we have been at great Expences for the...
28To Benjamin Franklin from William Robertson, 30 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library By some unlucky accident I could find no person to take the charge of Dr. Haven’s Diploma. I have therefore got my Brother to put it into a box which he was sending by the waggon to his correspondents Messrs. Poole & Buckenton Jewellers in Bartholemew Closs. I suppose it will be in London by the time you receive this letter, and if you take the trouble of...
29The Colonist’s Advocate: VII, 1 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , February 1, 1770 Walpole, who declared in the House of Commons that he did not well understand foreign Affairs, who was as quick at smelling out where Money might be had as any Minister could well be imagined, and whose Difficulties in keeping his Place were such, that it was alledged he would have swept the Bottom of the Ocean for a Guinea, if he could: Even...
30To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 2 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was from Woodbridge, where I have been printing the Laws of Jersey pass’d last Session, that was per Packet, with the Second of a Bill for £200 Sterling I had of Mr. Colden——the first of which I sent by a Ship bound for Bristol, along with which I sent you another Power, as should have sent by Capt. Davis, but he sail’d e’re I was aware of...