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...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, [June? 1773] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Extract from Kalm’s Travels into America. “It has been found repeatedly that these Trees [Peach Trees] can stand the Frost much better on Hills than in the Vallies; insomuch that when those in a Valley were killed by the Frost, those on a Hill were not hurt at all. It is remarkable that in cold Nights, all the Leaves to the height of 7 and even of 10 feet from the...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 21 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; draft: American Philosophical Society Inclos’d I send a Boston Newspaper in which the Sermon is advertis’d. The Speaker of the Assembly of the Massachusets, in his Letter to me says, “The Bishop’s Sermon is much liked, as it discovers a catholick Spirit, and Sentiments very favourable with regard to America.” Dr. Chauncey, an ancient Dissenting Minister of...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 10 March 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library In Page 26 and seq. of the oldest of these Pamphlets, and Page 64 and seq. of the newest, your Lordship will find the Subject of Communication with Settlements on the Ohio pretty fully handled. The Rarity of Goods brought from distant Countries makes People willing to give such an additional Price for them as more than compensates the Charge of Carriage. A...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 28 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received my dear Friend’s Letter of the 8th past, and should have written sooner, but that I have been in continual Expectation of being able to visit you. A Succession of thwarting Businesses has prevented my giving my self that Pleasure hitherto. And writing by Post is now attended with such Inconvenience, that I am apt to postpone it. I am glad the Conduct of...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 7 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I find it impossible to visit my dear Friend at Twyford as I promis’d myself. My Time is totally engross’d by Business. The Petition from the Congress has been presented to the King by Lord Dartmouth to whom we delivered it for that purpose. The Answer we receiv’d was, that his Majesty had been pleased to receive it very graciously, and had commanded him to tell...