1To Benjamin Franklin from ———, 1754 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This letter, undated, unsigned, and in an unidentified hand, survives among Franklin’s papers. Internal evidence indicates that it was written by someone in the colonies and at about the middle of the eighteenth century. Because the problem of colonial union was being so actively discussed in 1754, it is tentatively assigned to that year. According to your...
2To Benjamin Franklin from ——: The Dispute over Commissions for the Militia, [January 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Draft (incomplete): American Philosophical Society The author of this document, which survives among Franklin’s papers, might have been any one of several well-informed members of the anti-proprietary party who was in Philadelphia at the end of December 1755. The handwriting has not been identified. The manuscript consists of three pages, the first two of which are numbered 5 and 6, and the...
3To Benjamin Franklin from ———, 10 May 1757 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society The accurate determination of longitude by a ship at sea long remained an unsolved problem. Several theoretically possible methods were advanced during the two centuries and a half after Columbus, but when put to actual test none proved both practicable and sufficiently reliable to serve the needs of mariners, especially of those embarked on long...
4To Benjamin Franklin from ———, [1759–1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL (fragment): Historical Society of Pennsylvania [ First part missing ] Franklyn for the Favor of his Invitation, sho’d have answer’d his Card sooner but has been kept at Westminster the whole Day, begs Leave now to say, that He will wait on the Doctor, and in the mean Time begs his Acceptance of his most respectful Compliments. The writer has not been identified, though the handwriting bears...
5To Benjamin Franklin from —————, 8 August 1764 (Franklin Papers)
AL (mutilated): American Philosophical Society [I am] returning you my kind thanks for your favour in lending me the Perusal of Mr. Pringles account of the Meteor seen in England &c. some time agone, which I herewith return. I have been at some Pains in geting the account of this that appear’d here the 20th Ulto. in the Evening, but a Great Deal Appears from what has been said to be Imperfect...
6To Benjamin Franklin from ———: a Memorandum, [December? 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania After Franklin reached Paris he received a number of unsigned, undated proffers of services or advice. Many may have gone into the wastebasket, but five that appear to have come soon after his arrival are among his papers. Three of these we have identified, if only tentatively, and discuss elsewhere. One of the remaining two is a brief note in English,...
7To Benjamin Franklin from ———, [December 1777]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <[Brussels, December, 1777, ] in French: You do not know me, and my name would not mean much to you. I am fond of great souls, and want to pay tribute to their virtues. Sincere congratulations on the defeat of M. de Burgoÿne, obtained by skill and bravery. M. de Washington has those qualities, and we may hope that Sir Howe, now in check, will be checkmated....
8To Benjamin Franklin from ———, 3 January 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society <Würzburg, January 3, 1778, in French: I am desolated that the plan I proposed to you cannot be carried out. None of those concerned in it bears you ill will, because on similar occasions you may well have been let down; but I want to prove my good intentions. Next spring or thereabouts I am going to America at my own expense, with my wife, my...
9To Benjamin Franklin from ———, [before 18 May 1778]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete AL or ALS : University of Virginia Library <[Before May 18, 1778 ], in French: You know about the prize, we believe, that the famous Cunningham, in the corvette the Vengeance belonging to Congress, made last December of the French ship Le Gratieux , Captain Augustin Letournois, bound from London to Corunna with a cargo of English manufacture. This Captain [Conyngham], believing that...
10——— to the American Commissioners, 11 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <On board the Boston , Port Louis, July 11, 1778: Jerome Cazneau, sergeant of marines, obtained shore leave and persuaded the other Frenchmen aboard to quit the ship. He did everything in his power to alienate them from returning to duty. The General, though under orders to assist us, gave them the choice of staying or quitting, even though he was reminded...