4561From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Babcock, 16 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I thank you most cordially for your kind Congratulations on my Arrival, which I have the more Pleasure in, as among my other Friends, I find you and yours alive and well: I rejoice with you likewise in the safe Return of your two valuable Sons, to whom, on Account of their own Merit as well as the Obligations I am under to you, I wish it had been in my Power to...
4562From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 19 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This Line is just to salute you, and acquaint you with my Return to America, Thanks to God, well and hearty. I hope you are so. With this you will receive a Thermometer which craves your Acceptance. With the greatest Esteem, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant BF had promised to send Stiles a thermometer, May 23, 1757; above, VII , 217. On...
4563From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 23 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from American Autograph Shop, American Clipper (Merion Station, Pa.), December 1935, p. 171. Mr. Short’s Remarks were only in a Letter of his to me. I now send you the Original. You will observe that the Perallax [Parallax] mentioned in this, differs from that I sent you; But this was in the Beginning of February, the other he gave me in August; and I suppose had been...
4564From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 25 December 1762 (Jefferson Papers)
This very day, to others the day of greatest mirth and jollity, sees me overwhelmed with more and greater misfortunes than have befallen a descendant of Adam for these thousand years past I am sure; and perhaps, after excepting Job, since the creation of the world. I think his misfortunes were somewhat greater than mine: for although we may be pretty nearly on a level in other respects, yet I...
4565[December 1762] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Cranch last fryday night discovered some Instances of his skill at a Bargain. He agreed to give Greenleaf £120 old Ten or for his Chaise. The Chaise is old, the Leather damnifyed thro careless Usage, the Wheels almost ruined, the spokes being loose &c., but G. asked that Price and he could not beat him down, he could not ask him to take less, because G. was poor, and it would look like...
4566Decr. 28th. 1762. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Cranch last fryday night discovered some Instances of his skill at a Bargain. He agreed to give Greenleaf £120 old Ten or for his Chaise. The Chaise is old, the Leather damnifyed thro careless Usage, the Wheels almost ruined, the spokes being loose &c., but G. asked that Price and he could not beat him down, he could not ask him to take less, because G. was poor, and it would look like...
4567Boston. Decr. 30th. (Adams Papers)
At Goldthwaits office, spent 1/4 of an Hour with Lt. Govr. Hutch inson. The first thing he said was a Question to Goldthwait, what was the Date of the Earlyest Records of the County Court? Goldthwait answered 1670. His Honor replyed there were County Courts for 40 Years before that—and said he wanted to settle something in his own Mind, concerning the origin and Constitution of the Courts....
4568Hannah Storer Green to Abigail Smith, 1763 – 1764 (Adams Papers)
My inclinations, tho’ not my Expectations were very much disapointed in not sending you a long Letter the last time I wrote; however I must still beg your Patience and I will pay you all, the very first minute I can.—Patience my dear I recommend to you, upon more accounts than one, first upon your friends, secondly upon your own, for if you do not have Patience with me, I shall never pay you,...
4569A Scheme for a Western Settlement, [1763–1764] (Franklin Papers)
Draft (fragment): American Philosophical Society This draft of a memoir in Franklin’s hand survives only in the lower two-thirds of one leaf, written on both sides. The mention of the writer’s presence “in Connecticut in August last” indicates that it was written during the last four months of 1763 or the first seven months of 1764. Actually, Franklin was not in Connecticut during August 1763,...
4570[Town Officer, 1761–1765] (Adams Papers)
Now become a Freeholder I attended the Town Meetings, as a Member, as I had usually attended them before, from a Boy as a Spectator. In March when I had no suspicion, I heard my name pronounced in a Nomination of Surveyors of Highways. I was very wroth, because I knew no better, but said Nothing. My Friend Dr. Savil came to me and told me, that he had nominated me to prevent me from being...
4571II. To Jonathan Sewall, 1763 (Adams Papers)
For so I must call you, tho your late Behaviour, in Point of Ill Nature, and Jealousy, has savoured too much of the Instigations of the Devil. Jonathan, thou art become, an Artful Designing fellow.—Cunning, left handed, crooked Wisdom, is the highest Excellence thou canst aspire justly pretend to.—Had I but known this, three Years agone, I would have seen thee, gizzarded eer I would have...
4572Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft: Tables of Rates of Postage, [1763] (Franklin Papers)
Broadside: New Jersey Historical Society Franklin and Foxcroft prepared this broadside for prominent display in every American post office. While it is undated, its use of the rate structure prescribed by the parliamentary act of 1710 indicates that it must have been drawn up before word of the new act of 1765 reached the colonies, and it seems probable that the two deputy postmasters general...
4573Nathaniel Evans: Verses Addressed to Benjamin Franklin, 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , August 31–September 3, 1765; also printed (with modifications) in Nathaniel Evans, Poems on Several Occasions, with Some Other Compositions (Philadelphia, 1772), pp. 108–9. Precisely when Evans composed these verses cannot be established, but there seems to be no reason to disregard the statement in the subheading of the London Chronicle printing in 1765 that...
4574To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Franklin, [1763?] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society These Comes to Inform you that I got Home well In three Days after my Departure From you; I Have not met aney Good Opertunity to Send for that money, desire youd Imbrace the first Good One that you Have. I would Beg one Favour that youd go to the Post Office and Enqur whether there was a Letter for me, In the Time in that Time that I was In...
4575To Benjamin Franklin from Margaret Stevenson, [1763?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is the earliest surviving letter to Franklin from his London land-lady. The handwriting and spelling explain why she said in a later letter that “writing to me is an oddieus taske,” and why relatively few letters from her exist. Comparing her letters and Deborah Franklin’s on the one hand with those of their daughters on the other suggests that a...
4576Timothy Folger: Petition to Sir Jeffery Amherst, [1763] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society The end of the war with France aroused great interest in possible new settlements not only in the West but also in the region to the northeast, particularly in Nova Scotia and the Island of St. John in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, now Prince Edward Island. It was natural that these maritime lands should seem especially attractive to the people of southeastern...
4577Memorandum List of Quitrents, 1763 (Washington Papers)
A List of Lands on which Quit-Rents became due at Michaelmas 1763 In Fairfax County Mt Vernon 2126 Acres bot of [Sampson] Darrell 500 of [William] Clifton 1806 [George] Brent 238 Wm Ashford 135 George Ashford 135 Simon Pearson 178 5118 Frederick taken up
4578To John Jay from Peter Jay, early 1763 (Jay Papers)
You may read my Letter that covers this, to your Aunts Depeyster & Chambers, to prevent any exceptions at what we propose abo t . Peter, and let them act therein as they think best— Make my Complim ts . to Doct r . Johnson and tell him that I’m very sorry for M r . Punderson’s & the Peoples disappointm ts :, and ^ that ^ I wish it mayn’t prove unfortun te
4579Cash Accounts, January 1763 (Washington Papers)
Cash Jany 3— To Cash for Salt 7/6—Do for 2 Bushls 10/ £ 0.17. 6 17— To Balle Acct of Mr Saml Johnston 4.13.11 1/2 23— To Mr [Daniel] French for Smiths Work 0.10. 0 25— To Cash stopped in my hands for Security agt Milky Pearson’s Claim of Dower 60. 0. 0 25— To Cash of Mr Humphrey Peake 11. 2. 7 Contra By Cash paid Vale Crawford—Balle Acct 7. 7. 2 3/4 Jany 7—
4580To Benjamin Franklin from Elizabeth Henmarsh: Deed, 1 January 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia January 1, 1763 Abstract: In consideration of £100, Elizabeth Henmarsh of Philadelphia, widow, grants and sells to Benjamin Franklin a lot of land in Philadelphia, 16 ft. wide, north and south, and 73 ft. deep, bounded east by Sixth Street, south and west by lands of Isaac Zane, and north by land granted by Zane to James...
4581To George Washington from Robert Stewart, 18 January 1763 (Washington Papers)
Two Days ago I arrived here, after a tedious Journey render’d doubly disagreeable by the excessive badness of the Roads & the extreme rigour of the weather, I was detain’d three Days at the River Susquhana, which was fill’d with such quantitys of driving Ice, as to make it impracticable for Boats; it at length shut up and I at some risque cross’d upon the Ice. On my arrival at this place I...
4582Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on the Laws, [19 January 1763] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1762–1763 (Philadelphia, 1763), p. 13. Throughout Franklin’s absence in England he had been re-elected to the Assembly from the city of Philadelphia every October. When the House met on Jan. 10, 1763, he appeared to take his place for the first time in about five and three-quarters years, and at once resumed an active part in...
4583From Thomas Jefferson to John Page, 20 January 1763 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been thinking this half hour how to begin my letter and cannot for my soul make it out. I wish to the Lord one could write a letter without any beginning for I am sure it allways puzzles me more than all the rest of it. And to tell you the plain truth I have not a syllable to write to you about. For I do not conceive that any thing can happen in my world which you would give a curse to...
4584Agreement with Christopher Hardwick, 22 January 1763 (Washington Papers)
Articles of Agreement made and Indented this Twenty Second day of January In the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty three between George Washington of Fairfax County and Colony of Virginia Esqr. of the one part and Christopher Hardwick of the County of Frederick and colony aforesaid Planter of the other part Witnesseth that the said George Washington is hereby obliged to...
4585From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 23 January 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received with great Pleasure my Dear Friend’s Favour of December 20. as it inform’d me that you and yours are all well. Mrs. Franklin admits of your Apology for dropping the Correspondence with her, and allows your Reasons to be good; but hopes when you have more Leisure it may be renew’d. She joins with me in congratulating you on your present happy...
4586[February 1763] (Adams Papers)
Last Thurdsday afternoon, rode to Germantown, and there stayed at my friend Cs. till the last Night. Four Nights, and four days. Those 2 families well deserve the Character they hold of friendly, sensible, and Social. The Men, Women and Children, are all sensible and obliging. Mem. The notable Anecdote of Coll. Josa. Quincy. The Hydrostatical Experiment. And the other of Mrs. Lincoln, equally...
4587Boston Feby. 1763. (Adams Papers)
This day learned that the Caucas Clubb meets at certain Times in the Garret of Tom Daws, the Adjutant of the Boston Regiment. He has a large House, and he has a moveable Partition in his Garrett, which he takes down and the whole Clubb meets in one Room. There they smoke tobacco till you cannot see from one End of the Garrett to the other. There they drink Phlip I suppose, and there they...
4588Feb. (Adams Papers)
This Action of Trover is an Innovation, one of the new and subtle Inventions in Derogation of the Common Law, that my Lord Coke has treated with so much righteous severity. It is in its Effects and Consequences subversive of all real Actions. It will destroy one of the strongest securities of our landed Property, the Rule that all real Titles shall be tryed in the County where the Land lies....
4589Prout’s “Bill in Chancery”: Suffolk Superior Court, Boston, February 1763 (Adams Papers)
Humbly petitioning showeth Timothy Prout of Scarborough in the county of Cumberland Esqr. 1. That well and true it is that the said Timothy on the said tenth of December A.D. 1753 became bound unto the said Christopher Minot in the sum of two hundred pounds lawfull money of this province conditioned to pay the sum of one hundred pounds like money with lawfull interest on or before the tenth of...
4590Draft of a Letter to All Young Gentlemen on the Evils of Factionalism, February 1763 (Adams Papers)
Braintree, February 1763. Printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 1:242–243 . Incomplete and evidently not published contemporaneously, this satirical fragment anticipates one of the themes developed in JA ’s newspaper pieces signed “Humphry Ploughjogger”; see the following entry . Printed : ( JA,...