1Note 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...
2Marginalia 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...
3Marginalia 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...
4Marginalia 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...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 30 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum The letter below belongs with those above to Cooper of June 8 and to Cushing of December 24, for in each Franklin discusses a different aspect of the constitution as he sees it. In the earliest he stresses the colonists’ recourse of petitioning their sovereign for protection against an arbitrary and corrupt Parliament. In the second he argues that Parliament has no right...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 30 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: American Philosophical Society This Ship staying longer than was expected, gives me an Opportunity of writing to you which I thought I must have miss’d when I desir’d Cousin William[s] to excuse me to you. I received your kind Letter of Sept. 25 by the young Gentlemen, who, by their discreet Behaviour have recommended themselves very much to me and many of my Acquaintance. Josiah...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Tissington, 29 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By this Letter my Wife sends best Compliments to you and Mrs. Stevenson, and by this days Carrier (Clarks Wagon which will be at the Ax in Aldermanbury next Saturday) a Turkey which she hopes will come to hand Sweet and good. In July I left you in London; in August went into Scotland; in September into South Wales to Swansey; have been upon the move most of...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 24 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., Boston, 1836–40) VII , 492–4. In his letter to Samuel Cooper six months before, Franklin had put more emphasis on loyalty to the King than was perhaps welcome to leaders of the Massachusetts House. During the debate over the agency he had been criticized for being, as a postal official and the father of a colonial...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price: On the Effect of the Aberration of Light on the Time of a Transit of Venus … (Franklin Papers)
Printed in the Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LX (for 1770; London, 1771), 536–9. I Cannot doubt but that the observation made by your ingenious friend in the paper you sent me is right. The aberration of Venus must, I think, affect the phases of a transit, by retarding them, and not by accelerating them. This retardation is 55½″; for that is the time nearly which Venus, during a...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Crowley, 17 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On Wednesday last when I scribled a few Lines to accompany the Return of one of the Pamphlets which you was kind enough to Lend me I was then about mounting my Horse, then waiting for me, in Company with a Friend, to Ride about twenty Miles to attend the Funeral of an Intimate Friend, who died suddenly a few Days before; I had not then lookd into the other,...
11To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts House of Representatives Committee of Correspondence, 17 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Maine Historical Society The House of Representatives of this Province after appointing you their Agent at the Court of Great Britain, directed us to correspond with you in the Recess of the Court upon matters that concern the Interest of the Province. In general there is nothing that will more promote the true Interest of this Province as well as Great Britain herself than a happy...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 13 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Capt. Thomas Hall I did myself the pleasure of writing you and then inclosed two Bils of Exchange in part to recompence your kindness and discharge the ammount of the Mace and Gouns for which you have Sir the sincere and greatful thanks of the Assembly. I inclose the second of each of the Bills of same tenor and date which wish safe. I have now the...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 13 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Convinced of your good inclinations to every species of mankind, emboldens me to trust you’l excuse my thus troubling you. Mr. Cornelius Winter the gentleman by whom you’l receive this has been employ’d on the Estate of the late worthy Rector of this Parish by the Trustees of the said Estate as Instructor &c to the Negroes thereon agreable to the Will of...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Gale, 10 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Favor per Mr. Bayard, dated 10th Aprill Last, Inclosing a Gold Medal granted me by the Society of Arts, for an Improvement on the Drill plow, I duely receivd, the 10th July, the receipt of which, (with my gratefull returns of Thanks for Your Care in transmitting the same) I should before this time have Acknowledged, but have been prevented by frequent...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Smith, 8 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Thy several favours of the 19th of March 10th. and 12th. April and 11th of June have been duly received and communicated to the Committee of Correspondence and by them laid before the House of Assembly at a late sessions at Amboy where they gave very general satisfaction. In answer to that part of thy Letter of 19th March respecting Sherwoods Accounts I may...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [November 1770] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is just to let you know I am well, but so busy that I cannot now write more than to acknowledge the Receipt of your kind Letter of Oct. 14. with Sally’s and Mr. Bache’s, which I shall answer per next Opportunity. Thanks for the Cranberrys. I am as ever Your affectionate Husband Endorsed: D Franklin The letters that BF is acknowledging were carried by...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Life, 30 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Life presents his Complements to Dr. Franklin and acquaints him that the Georgia Acts are referred to Mr. Jackson, that Mr. Life has told Mr. Jacksons Clerk that Mr. Life wishes to have an Attendance on Mr. Jackson before he makes his Report, that Mr. Life ever since he received the Papers, has been very busy in some Conveyancy that must be executed by...
18To Benjamin Franklin from [Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg], 25 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu dabord deux, puis cinq exemplaires de la traduction que vous avez daigné faire faire de mon petit Code, et je ne puis assez vous en remercier. Il est si bien rendu en Anglois qu’on auroit pu facilement en faire passer la version pour un original, et il est imprimé tout au mieux. [La seule] faute bien remarquable mais sans consequence, c’est à la...
19To Benjamin Franklin from John Bartram, 24 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have thy Kind letter of August the 26th before me which Comforted me as comming from my dear intimate ould friend. The pamphlet and espetially the picture of my dear Peter was very acceptable, and now I am furnished with four of our worthies Lineus, Franklin Edwards and Collinson (but I want Dr. Fothergill,) to adorn my new stove and lodging room which I...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 21 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the liberty to trouble you with a line the last post, and being but just able to finish my letter in time, I recollect a mistake in the catalogue of books wanted, which I beg you would rectify as follows, I also very much want De la Hire’s diffirens Accidents de la vue . But I should think it might be got without a public advertisement. I have...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 16 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I Clos’d my letter I Received your Verry agreeable favour adviceing of the good fortune of Our Cousin Nancey in her Maraige too Capt. Clark. We Wish them all Happiness We are much Pleased With the Connection. Our Young folks are aquanted With his Late Uncles Famley that Lives at Salem. I Will take Particular Care to have a thrrough Repaire to the...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum I wrote you the 6. Inst. acknowledging the Receit. of your very obliging Packet of June 8th. and mentioning the Use I have made of your Letter &c among some of the leading Men in our H. of Represent. in whom I could confide. They agreed with me that your Principles were incontestible, your reasoning clear and conclusive, and supported by History and Fact. The King...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 15 November 1770: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from “Memoir of Thomas Gilpin,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XLIX (1925), 314–15. Politics are now rather at a low ebb: nor do I expect they will revive; it will take some time to restore the public agitation and eradicate the remembrance of what has passed: the cause of injury is yet fresh and like a man that has been prompted to delirium time must be...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Foxcroft, 10 November 1770: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1770. Encloses a bill of exchange from the Quebec post office for £50 and will send the duplicate by Capt. Osborne. ] John Foxcroft’s brother and the Philadelphia postmaster. Peter Osborne, Falconer’s successor as the master of the Pa. Packet ; his sailing was announced in Pa. Gaz. , Nov. 29, 1770.
25From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 7–9 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of July 6. and was glad to hear (since you chose to return) that you were got so well home. I hope the Hurt you receiv’d will be attended with no bad Consequences. My Arm, that had given me no Uneasiness for several Years, has lately began again to pain me, from a slight Strain, and I am now afraid will continue to do so as long...
26The Rise and Present State of Our Misunderstanding, 6–8 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , November 6–8, 1770 Much abuse has lately been thrown out against the Colonies, by the Writers for the American part of our Administration. Our Fellow Subjects there are continually represented as Rebels to their Sovereign, and inimical to the British nation; in order to create a dislike of them here, that the harsh measures which have been taken, and are...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 6 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum My State of Health, and Excursions upon that Account into the Country must be my Excuse for not taking an earlier Notice of your very obliging Packet of 8th June, for which I return you my particular Thanks. Your Letter and Replies to Mr. Strahan’s Questions gave me great Pleasure, tho the closing and prophetic Part coming from one so capable of discerning amidst...
28To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 6 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Massachusetts Historical Society These instructions introduced Franklin to the boiling cauldron of resentment in Massachusetts. Anger was directed at more than the troops in Boston—at what the colonists took to be the helplessness of the civil authority before the military, the secret and false reports sent home, the subordination of the legislature to an executive controlled by...
29An Expostulation, 3 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , Nov. 3, 1770 For the Public Advertiser An American , to those Englishmen who virulently write and talk against his Countrymen , sends this Expostulation: If it be true, as some of you say it is, that our Non-Importation Agreements are not observed, but that we clandestinely import and consume as much British Goods as ever, why are you so angry with us, and...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Cushing, 31 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society In pursuance of the directions of the House of Representatives of this His Majesty’s Province, I have the pleasure to Inform you that they have made choice of you as their Agent in Great Britain for the purposes mentioned in the Vote which I now transmit you. I am directed also to acquaint you that the House will write you more fully by the next...