1From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 24 June 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This letter is the first that survives in a correspondence that continued for the rest of Franklin’s life. The acquaintance had in all likelihood originated through Shipley’s brother William, whom Franklin had known for more than fifteen years. By 1771 it embraced the Bishop’s whole family, and was thriving as the green bay tree. Jonathan Shipley (1714–88) was...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 25 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I should have been happy in accompanying your Lordship on that agreable Party, or in being at Twyford instead of this dusty Town; but Business kept me here longer than I expected. I now purpose to set out on Tuesday next, if nothing at present unforeseen does not happen to prevent me. I hope to find the good Family well, which will add greatly to the...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 15 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Many Thanks for your Letters to the Primate and Mr. Jackson; which I shall take care to forward if I should happen not to have an Opportunity of delivering them personally. Your repeated kind Invitations are extreamly obliging. The Enjoyment of your Lordship’s Conversation, good Mrs. Shipley’s kind Care of me sick and well, and the ever-pleasing Countenances of...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 19 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library By the Southampton Coach, I have sent your Lordship the Book of State Trials, which would have been sent sooner but that I hoped to send the Northumberland Book with it. I have search’d and enquir’d among my Friends for that Book, and cannot find it. I suppose I have lent it, and do not yet recollect to whom. I din’d on Sunday last at Sir John Pringle’s with...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 14 December 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Hearing that your Lordship had called in Cravenstreet during my Absence, I went next Day to your House hoping to find the Family there, but was mortified with the Information of your being still at Twyford. I should have thank’d you before for your kind Letters in my favour to the Primate and Mr. Jackson. The Primate was at Armagh, and did not come to Dublin ’till...