1To 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...
2To 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...
3To 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....
4To 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...
5To 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...
6To 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...
7To 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...
8To 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...
9To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, [4 February? 1770] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I inclose this unfinished that I may have your Opinion whether it is, or is not, the thing . I can add or alter what you shall point out. Please to let me have it early in the Morning. I will call in the Afternoon and bring it with me finished, with what I can recollect of Politics, and of that Days Debate. Pray send also the other Paper for the Chronicle...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Smith, 6 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I inclose thee printed Copies of the Acts pass’d last Session of Assembly among which is the Act for striking £100,000 in Bills of Credit. I wish the Kings Assent may be obtaind to it before the breaking up of Parliament. I suppose a Copy of this Bill has long since been sent to the Board of Trade by our Governor. This is sent for thy own information. The...
11To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 20 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The 2d of this Month I wrote you per Capt. Munds, who was then purposing to sail, but for some Reasons known only to the Owners, he is not yet sail’d, tho’ the Letter having been put in his Bag, I cannot get it back and he is expected to sail soon; probably this will come to hand first. In that I sent the first of each of the three Bills, I now send the...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 21 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I am directed by the House of Assembly to desire you will please to purchase for the use of the House a Mace to be made of Silver and double gilt to cost a Sum not exceeding £100 Sterling also two Gowns [ in margin: 5 foot 8 inches, 5 foot 10 inches, size of persons] such as you think would be proper for the Speaker and Clerk of an American Assembly. So soon...
13Ordinance of Georgia Reappointing Benjamin Franklin as Agent, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society Whereas leave was Given by the late house of Assembly to bring in an Ordinance for reappointing Benjamin Franklin Esquire to be agent for Soliciting the affairs of this Province in Great Britain And Whereas the Dissolution of the said Assembly immediatly following prevented the said Ordinance from going through its regular forms And Whereas the said...
14From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania However reluctant a man may be within his sprere of action to give trouble to another, yet the circumstance of distance of place lays him under an indispensable necessity, and when that happens his first thought leads to the object of his confidence, and he is exercised therein in proportion to the trust he is to repose. I have motives...
15From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin or John Fothergill, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been for weeks past meditating a Voyage to London, which would be attended with very great inconvenience, to sell my Estate in St. Christophers, as a long lease thereon is now almost expired, when a presumptious thought occurred, that if you would condescend to look down from Affairs of the highest publick concern, to an Affair of the highest private...
16From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook copy): Historical Society of Pennsylvania After writing the rough draft of a Letter to you this day at very considerable length, I was informed by a friend that it was highly probable that you would return by next June, which occasioned me to accomodate that Letter to that Circumstance and to direct it to you or Dr. John Fothergill refering him in a private Letter to the same. I...
17From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook copy): Historical Society of Pennsylvania Please to be refered to what I wrote you the 27th. Ulto, on considering the possibility of your not obtaining £6,500 Sterl. for my Estate the Sum by which you were then limited, and as I would not have my purpose mared by failing of the above sum, and in Case you cannot obtain an intermediate Sum I even consent to take Six Thousand...
18From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society If by this time you have not succeeded in [the sale of my Plantation,] according to what I wrote you the 27th. Feby. and 20th. March, as [I am anxious to] transfer my Property from the West-Indies to the more eligible Situa[tion of my] own residence, and as a last effort, although I have little doubt that by [the time] this gets to your hands, that you will...
19To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 8 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was per Packet of the 20th Feb: and Capt. Munds being not yet sail’d, I have now to add. This covers a Bill of £250, Sterling Exchange 67½ so that it rises here, Wats & McEvers on Messrs. Harley & Drummond, dated Feb. 28. 1770. Of this Bill the Sum of £135, this Money, is on Account of B. Mecom’s Books sold at Auction, and £283 15 s. , the...
20To Benjamin Franklin from John Perkins, 12 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When I imagin myself possess’d of any new Thought I think it, in the first place, due to your Inspection and accordingly have inclos’d my Conjectures on the Caudae Cometive; to gether with the small Tract on Epidemic Colds. I confess there is something unnatural in phylosophic Speculations at a Time when the Nation is involv’d in such Disorder and...
21To Benjamin Franklin from John Perkins, 12 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Just as I was about inclosing my papers it came in my head to mention to you a notion I have sometimes had that Pit-Coal is a vegitable production as of Grass or other Herbage of which the rich and fat Soil of our fresh Marshes is form’d. We know that these are constantly filling up by the Annual Supplys of this kind so that perhaps many places that were...
22To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 17 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The last Letter I had the Pleasure of receiving from you, was dated April 14, 1767, since which I have wrote you twice, but have not been favoured with an Answer to either of those Letters. In that Letter you acknowledged the Utility of settling our Accounts, and promised to forward the Paper of Remarks you made, on looking over the Settlement by Mr....
23To Benjamin Franklin from Rudolph Raspe, 17 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I sympatize still so much with Your publick Spirit and Your Genius, You have happily devoted to Your countries service and the improvement of natural Philosophy, that the keeping me in Your good remembrance is the least liberty I can indulge me with. I cannot therefore neglect to trouble You with these lines and to recommend You Mr. Lichtenberg Professor of...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nairne, 19 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania When You did me the pleasure of calling on me last week, I mention’d to You that I had been trying to freeze water in which different quantities of Sea Salt had been dissolv’d, You then said You wish’d I had tasted the Ice, for it was thought to be fresh; At that time I had not tasted it, but since have tried the following Experiment; I took two ounces...
25To Benjamin Franklin from the New Jersey Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 27 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society In our last we inform’d you of a Bill, that pass’d the House and Council for amending the practice of the Law which the Governor did not then think proper to assent to, and directed you not to solicit the Royal Assent to a Bill pass’d and sent over in 1765; In this Session a Bill has been agreed upon by the whole Legislature, Intitled “An Act to provide a...
26To Benjamin Franklin from [Jean-Baptiste] LeRoy, 22 April 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Il y a des Siecles que je n’ai eu de vos nouvelles Monsieur cependant vous savez combien elles m’intéressent. J’attends avec impatience le moment de nos fêtes pour le mariage de M. Le Dauphin parceque jespere bien qu’elles nous ameneront des Anglois et qu’il y en aura quelques uns qui m’apporteront quelques lettres de vous. Vous ne doutez pas du plaisir que...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Hopkinson, 23 April 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Lord North being at the Head of Affairs and having show’d an Inclination in my Favour upon an Application made in my Behalf by Mrs. Johnson makes me flatter myself that, something or other may possibly be obtain’d for my Benefit. To this purpose I have wrote to the Bishop of Worcester, and as he is in the Country during the Summer Season have told him...
28To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 23–24 April 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of Feb 10. by the Harriot Packet, I just received. She and the Lord Hide Packet came both in at Once. My last to you was the 8th March, by Capt. Munds, who had lain here a long While: Since that having received some Money from Boston and Bills being low here, only 65, I laid it out in a Bill for £150 Sterling drawn by Wats and McEvers, on Harley and...
29To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 25 April 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Some Hours after I had sent my Letter to the Office to go with this Packet, Mr. Colden’s young Man brought me the inclosed Bill of Exchange for £50 Sterling which he offered me as he had just bought it @ 62½——and it being 2½ per Cent. cheaper than any to be got, I took it drawn this Day, Henry Thompson on Messrs. Pearson & Baillie of Liverpool——on which I...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Rogers, 4 May 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the French and Indian War Robert Rogers and his Rangers had become a byword on both sides of the Atlantic. They had raised more havoc and killed more of the enemy, Franklin wrote in 1759, than all the British regulars had. After the war Rogers fell on bad times. In the autumn of 1764 Franklin, it is said, offered to recommend him to the government;...