1From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Extract reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 209–10. I received the honour of yours dated October 28 with the Journals of the house and Mr. Turner’s Election Sermon. I waited on Lord Dartmouth on his return to town, and learnt that he had presented to his majesty our petition for the removal...
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 210–11. I received yours of October 29, and November 2. Your December packet is not yet arrived. No insinuations of the kind you mention, concerning Mr. G—y have reached me, and if they had, it would have been without the least effect; as I have always had...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Rhoads, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favours of Oct. 29 and 31, inclosing the Votes, for which I thank you. I am much obliged to the Assembly for the repeated Marks of their Confidence in me. The Great Officers of State having generally been in the Country, no public Business of consequence has for some time been transacted here. But the Parliament meets next Week, when all...
4The Preliminary Hearing before the Privy Council Committee for Plantation Affairs on the Petition from the Massachusetts … (Franklin Papers)
I: printed in [Israel Mauduit,] The Letters of Governor Thomas Hutchinson and Lieut. Governor Oliver … with the Assembly’s Address, and the Proceedings of the Lords Committee of Council … ([1st issue of 1st ed., Yale University Library;] London, 1774), pp. *77–*80 of first pagination. II: copy, Privy Council register, Public Record Office. The record of the hearing survives in two parts. One...
5From Benjamin Franklin to John Ellis, 12 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Linnean Society, London In this same Year (1652) one Mr. Edwards, a Turky Merchant, brought home with him a Greek Servant, who understood the roasting and making of Coffee, till then unknown in England. This Servant was the first who sold Coffee, and kept a House for that purpose in London. The first Mention of Coffee in our Statute Books is Anno 1660 (12 mo Regni Car. II Cap. 24). In...
6Franklin’s Ostensible Withdrawal from the Walpole Company: Two Letters, [on or after 24 January 1774] (Franklin Papers)
I. AL : Library of Congress II. ALS : New York Public Library; draft: Library of Congress Franklin had for some time been playing a minor role in the affairs of the Walpole Company. The greater his unpopularity in Whitehall, the less the promoters of the grant wanted to emphasize his connection with them. He was well aware that he was a liability, according to William Strahan, and as early as...
7Letter to the Public Advertiser, [before 31 January 1774] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This document is among those calculated to teach editors humility. We have failed to discover either its date or the source of the dialogue that drives home its point. The date depends on that of the letter to the Public Advertiser which Franklin is answering, and which we have been unable to locate. Neither could Verner Crane, and he concluded for another reason that...
8From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 2 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum This Line is just to acquaint you that I am well, and that my Office of Deputy-Postmaster is taken from me. As there is no Prospect of your being ever promoted to a better Government, and That you hold has never defray’d its Expences, I wish you were well settled in your Farm. ’Tis an honester and a more honourable because a more independent Employment. You will hear from...
9From Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts House Committee of Correspondence, 2 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I received the Honour of your Letter dated Decr. 21. containing a distinct Account of the Proceedings at Boston relative to the Tea imported there, and of the Circumstances that occasioned its Destruction. I communicated the same to Lord Dartmouth, with some other Advices of the same Import. It is yet unknown what Measures will be taken here on the Occasion; but...
10From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 2 February 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Résumé printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives … Dec. 29, 1773 [to Dec. 24, 1774] (Philadelphia, 1774), pp. 42–3. <February 2, 1774: He encloses a list of fifteen provincial acts, passed on February 26, 1773, which were presented to the King in council on January 26, 1774. > The letter was laid before the House on July 19, 1774, by Samuel Rhoads as a member of the...
11Letter from London, [on or after 7 February 1774] (Franklin Papers)
This letter and the extract from another below, February 19, seem to be companion pieces, and the signs point to Franklin as their author. They were printed in newspapers a few days apart, one in Boston and the other in Philadelphia, and describe the scene at the Cockpit in terms that frequently echo what the agent wrote to Cushing on February 15. The present letter, in fact, is little more...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Tucker, 12 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: Library of Congress Being informed by a Friend that some severe Strictures on my Conduct and Character had appeared in a new Book published under your respectable Name, I purchased and read it. After thanking you sincerely for those Parts of it that [are so] instructive on Points of great Importance to the common Interests of mankind, permit [me to] complain, that if by...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Noble, 14 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bearer, William Brown, being bred to the Tanning Business, is desirous of trying his Fortune in America. He is well recommended to me as a sober honest and diligent young Man. If it may not be inconvenient to you to afford him Employment as a Journeyman, I shall consider it as a Favour to me. The Soles you were so kind as to send me have now been in...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 15[–19]? February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society , first series, III (1794), 109–16. I Wrote a line to you by the last packet, just to acquaint you there had been a hearing on our petition. I shall now give you the history of it as succinctly as I can. We had long imagined that the king would have considered that petition as he had done the preceding one in his cabinet, and...
15The Reply of Homo Trium Literarum, 16 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , February 16, 1774. This is one of the many contributions to the press that may or may not have been Franklin’s. The only evidence is internal, and it supports nothing more than the most tentative conclusion. One bit of evidence that he was the author is the signature: who would assume the character of Wedderburn’s victim except the victim himself? Who else,...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 17 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Mrs. Edward M. Korry, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. (1976); ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I received Yours of Nov. 20, 30, Dec. 28 and Jan. 1. Before this gets to hand you will have heard that I am displaced, and consequently have it n[o longer] in my Power to assist you in your Views relating [to the Post Office and as things ar]e, I would not wish to see you [concern’d in it. For...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 17 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Letter of Dec. 11. and rejoice to hear of your Welfare and easy Situation. You will hear before this comes to hand, that I am depriv’d of my Office. Don’t let this give you any Uneasiness. You and I have almost finished the Journey of Life; we are now but a little way from home, and have enough in our Pockets to pay the Post...
18From Benjamin Franklin to John Antill, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society Before I had an Opportunity of answering your Letter, I was displac’d from my Office, which puts it out of my Power to do you any Service in what you propose, and makes a more particular Answer unnecessary. I will however speak with Mr. Potts concerning his Letter, and acquaint you with the Result. Present my Best Respects to Mr. and Mrs....
19From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Nicholls Colden, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received yours of Dec. 2. and Jany. 5. inclosing the following Bills, viz. Taylor on Goddard £37 10 s. 0 d. Stute on Bogle, Somerville & Co. 31 4 s. 2½ d. Mitchell on Todd 50 4 s.
20From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society; minutebook copy: Library Company of Philadelphia I duly receiv’d your Favour of Decr. 28. and immediately order’d the Books of your Invoice to be collected. I hope they will be ready to go by one of these Ships. If not you may expect them by the next. It is said the new Edition of the Encyclopedia may be expected in about two Years. I...
21From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I am favour’d with yours of Nov. 19. advising of your Draft for £210 10 s. 5 d. which is accepted and will be duly paid. I am happy to find that my small Services have been acceptable to the Society. With my best Wishes for the Success of your laudable Undertaking, and great Esteem for your Selves, I am, Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble...
22From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society It is long since I have heard from you. I hope nothing I have written has occasion’d any Coolness. We are no longer Colleagues, but let us part as we have liv’d so long, in Friendship. I am displac’d unwillingly by our Masters, who were oblig’d to comply with the Orders of the Ministry. It seems I am too much of an American. Take care of...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Foxcroft, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received yours of Dec. 29. with the Account. I wrote by the Packet to my Family to receive no more of those Payments, being now out of the Office. I thank you for your Care in ordering the Six Barrels of Flour, which I hope to receive soon. The Tea Ship arriv’d here safe having a very short Passage. I am ever, with sincere Regard, Dear...
24From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 18 February 1774: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: British Museum Some tell me that it is determined to displace you likewise, but I do not know it as certain. I only give you the hint, as an Inducement to you to delay awhile your Removal to Amboy, which in that Case woud be an expence and Trouble to no purpose. Perhaps they may expect that your Resentment of their Treatment of me, may induce you to resign, and save them the shame of...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Clements Library; ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received your Favour of Nov. 10, inclosing a Bill of Exchange, Willing & Morris, on Errecart DelRio & Co. for £400. and am much obliged by your kind Care in forwarding it. The Acts of Feby. Session 1773, are at last presented, of which I have lately acquainted the Committee. They are now before the Board of Trade....
26From Benjamin Franklin to the New Jersey Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society With this you will receive the Act for Settling the Boundary between your Province and New York. The Obstruction given in America to the Importation of the Tea, has occasion’d great Resentment here. Happily New Jersey is out of the Question. What Measures will be taken upon it, is not yet known, but violent Ones are apprehended. Please to...
27Extract of a Letter from London, [19 February 1774] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 20, 1774. The Ministerial People here are outrageously angry with Dr. Franklin. They took Occasion, when he was attending the Committee of Council with the Petition of the Massachusetts-Bay, to set the Solicitor-General upon him, who, leaving the Business that was before their Lordships, in a virulent Invective of an Hour, filled with Scurrility,...
28Request for a Printing, 19 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , February 19, 1774. In November, 1769, when total repeal of the Townshend Acts seemed possible, William Strahan addressed a series of questions to Franklin to elicit his views on repeal and related issues. The American replied at length, concluding with a pessimistic prophecy of how the Anglo-American quarrel would develop. The questions and answers were...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 20 February 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Text reprinted and paraphrase based on Mme. Henri Saffroy sales catalogue no. 19, February, 1959. I have written fully to you and several friends by Capt. All; but as I know you like to have a letter by every ship, I add this line by Capt. Falconer. … <Continues in good health and spirits, God be praised, and hopes to arrive at home next May. Sends affectionate regards and love to the children.>
30From Benjamin Franklin to David Williams, 21 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This letter and Franklin’s brief note below, May 9, are to the best of our knowledge his only correspondence while in England with a man who later claimed to have played a brief but significant role in his life there. The Rev. David Williams (1738–1816) was a Welsh dissenting clergyman who established a school in Chelsea in 1772. He had by then abandoned...