183451From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 27 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This just serves to enclose you a Letter from our Friend Bertram; and to request you would deliver my Papers on Electricity to the Bearer Mr. Darling. I have not Time to add, but that I am, with great Respect, Sir, Your most humble Servant P.S . I think you wrote me Word you had lent Watson’s Book on Electricity which I sent you last Winter to Dr. Bard. Please to...
183452From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 14 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I have lately written two long Letters to you on the Subject of Electricity, one by the Governor’s Vessel, the other per Mesnard. On some further Experiments since, I have observ’d a Phenomenon or two that I cannot at present account for on the Principles laid down in those Letters, and am therefore become a little diffident of my Hypothesis, and asham’d that I...
183453From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 13 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I am glad the electrical Observations please you. I leave them in your hands another Week. Our Workmen have undertaken the Electrical Apparatus, and I believe will do it extreamly well: It being a new Job they cannot say exactly what their Work will come to, but they will charge reasonably when done, and they find what Time it has taken. I suppose the whole...
183454From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 6 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; draft: American Philosophical Society The Observations I sent you on Baxter’s Book were wrote on a Sheet or two of Paper in Folio. He builds his whole argument on the Vis Inertiae of Matter: I boldly deny’d the Being of such a Property, and endeavour’d to demonstrate the contrary. If I succeeded, all his Edifice falls of course, unless some other way...
183455From Benjamin Franklin to John Franklin, 6 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am glad to hear that Mr. Whitefield is safe arriv’d, and recover’d his Health. He is a good Man and I love him. Mr. Douse has wrote to me per this Post at Mrs. Steele’s Request desiring an Explanation from me with regard to my Dissatisfaction with that Lady. I have wrote him in answer, that I think a Misunderstanding between Persons at such a Distance,...
183456To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 3 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society Baxters [book] was gon so much out of my memory that I could not for some time recollect any thing of it. I cannot now recollect whether I sent back your observations on it. If I have not they are among my papers which I carried to the Country and are now there. I can remember that when I lookt into that book I thought that he did not understand the subject on...
183457To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Cheston, 2 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your Favour of the 23d Ulto With Mr. Thos Fayerweathers order on Mr. Edward Scott in favour of Mr. Jeremiah Osborn Inclosed and Immediately Applyed to Mr. Edwd Scott for the Money who promised Me to pay It before the Return of our Mercury. But being Gone Down to Talbott County am afraid Shall not see him time Enough to Send It per this next...
183458From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 30 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I receiv’d your Favour of the 26th. which I shall answer at large per next Post. In the mean time please to send me, if you have it with you, my Paper of Observations on Baxter’s Book, which I want to make some present Use of, and have no other Copy. Mesnard sail’d this Day for London. But here is a Vessel bound to Bristol, which the next Post will reach. In haste...
183459Library Company to Thomas Penn, 29 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Library Company of Philadelphia Franklin informed the Library Company Directors on July 13, 1747, that he had received a letter from the Proprietor Thomas Penn, “with a compleat Electrical Apparatus” as a gift to the Library. John Sober, William Coleman, and Franklin were appointed to acknowledge it. A copy of their letter was spread on the Library Company’s minutes of September...
183460From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 29 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly , LXI (1888), 26. Your Favours of March 18 and April 1 are come to Hand with all the Books, &c. mentioned in the invoice, in good Order, and am much obliged to you for your ready Compliance with all my Requests. I believe I could have got Subscriptions for 20 Sets of the Universal History, and perhaps more, but unluckily a Ship from Ireland...
183461From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 28 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences The inclosed is a Copy of my last, which went by the Governour’s Vessel: since which we have received, by Mesnard and Ouchterlony, Hill’s Theophrastus, Pemberton’s Dispensatory, Wilson’s Electricity and some other Pamphlets. The Proprietor’s handsome Present of a complete Electrical Apparatus &c. is also come to Hand in good Order, and is put up in...
183462To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Dowse, 27 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mrs. Steel who got here last week desires me to write you in her behalf, to acknowledge the many kind Acts of Freindship she hath received from you and at the same time to sollicit you to let me or her know what new Matter you had received after her leaving Philadelphia to be displeased with her or her conduct as you Seem to be in a letter she received...
183463To Benjamin Franklin from Jonas Green, 25 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will receive by this Mail two Packets from Barbadoes, which came inclosed to me from Mr. Ja. Bingham. One of them incloses the W. India Monthly Packet, which Mr. Bingham wrote me word he sent open that I might have a sight of it. They came by Capt. Seager. Our Assembly added this Session 5 Pounds in each County to my Salary, but added to the Work...
183464To Benjamin Franklin from G. Row[se?], 21 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I’m informd of Some Letters from Virginia being directed for your care, if any arrived please send per Enoch Story and if any shoud Soon come to hand please to Order the Post to deliver them at my house which will much oblige Sir Your humble Ser[vant] Addressed: To Mr. Benjn. Franklin Postmaster in Philadelphia By favour Captn. West The signature is...
183465To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 19 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I can scarce ever forgive thee for not shewing me, in now above two years and a half, Dr. Colden’s Answer to my Objections to his Fluxions: For he had good reason to say that either my Memory had fail’d me, or I had read that piece with little attention; the last of which is exactly true, tho’ I remember not now what other business diverted me from...
183466From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 16 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I receiv’d your Favour of the 4th Instant. I ought before this Time to have acknowledg’d the Receipt of the Book, which came very safe and in good Order, to hand. We have many Oil Mills in this Province, it being a great Country for Flax. Linseed Oil may now be bought for 3 s. per Gallon; sometimes for 2 s. 6 d: But at New York I have been told it generally holds...
183467To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 13 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I received this afternoon a Copy of the Proposals for printing another Edition of Universal History of which I had a sight of the first vol: about two or three years since from my Friend Richd Peters, of which notwithstanding I could not approve of some particulars in the Preface which 1 was very sensible were wrong, tho’ I cannot remember at...
183468To Benjamin Franklin from James Turner, 6 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Herewith I send the Seal which you so long ago Spoke to me for, for Mr. Read. The Occasion of my sending it to you and not directly to him was because that the Seal being very heavy might cause him a great Charge which I thought he might be eased of by my sending it to you as you are Postmaster. I am very Sorry that I disappointed the Gentleman of it so...
183469To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 23 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank You heartily for Your kind preamble to the Subscription. I only object against its being made publick so as to engage persons in America and Great Britain. I think such a procedure would betray somewhat of meaness of Spirit and of a confidence in Him who hitherto has never left me in extremity, since I think a private subscription among my Friends...
183470From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 5 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society Mr. Harrison tells me you are still in New York, as deeply engag’d in Publick Affairs, I suppose, as ever. When I consider your present Disposition to Retirement and Philosophical Meditation, I pity you: But I hope that Success will attend your Cares for the Publick Good; and the Satisfaction arising thence will make you some Amends. The Deserters who are come...
183471Verses on the Virginia Capitol Fire, 1 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-York Gazette, revived in the Weekly Post-Boy , June 1, 1747, Supplement. The capitol at Williamsburg, Virginia, was destroyed by fire on January 30, 1747. Addressing a special session of the General Assembly on April 1, Governor Sir William Gooch plunged directly into the matter: “The astonishing Fate of the Capitol occasions this meeting, and proves a Loss the more to be...
183472From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Hall will acquaint you of the Footing we are about to go upon &c. &c. I have only time to acquaint you, that I have sent you several Bills lately, and will speedily remit you whatever shall be due to you after the Receipt of the Parcel of Books some time since wrote for. My best Respects to Mrs. Strahan and Wishes of Happiness to you and all Yours, in...
183473To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 1 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I shall be pleased to Hear that Mine per Mesnard and Dowers are come safe to your Hands with the books &c. and 4 Transactions all Committed to the Care of Elias Bland to putt up with his Letters. via N York I advised of your Bill on Oliver for £47 5 s. 5 d. is received and placed to Account. Inclosed are some proposals. Pray send one to J: Logan. I am with...
183474From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 25 May 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences In my last I informed you that In pursuing our Electrical Enquiries, we had observ’d some particular Phaenomena, which we lookt upon to be new, and of which I promised to give you some Account; tho’ I apprehended they might possibly not be new to you, as so many Hands are daily employed in Electrical Experiments on your Side the Water, some or other...
183475From Benjamin Franklin to [William Strahan?], 1 May 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, N.Y. (1955) This is only to cover a Bill of Exchange for Eleven Pounds 2 s. 2½ d. Sterl. drawn on Richd. Atkinson of Colthouse by Wm. Satterthwaite, and to inform you that we are all well, as I hope this will find you and yours. I am Your most humble Servant This via New York. Copy with first Bill and Letter of Advice via Boston by the Mermaid...
183476The Speech of Miss Polly Baker, 15 April 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The General Advertiser , April 15, 1747. When Franklin wrote The Speech of Miss Polly Baker is not now known, though 1746 is a likely date. How a copy found its way to London is also a matter for speculation. All that is certain is that the earliest printing of the piece yet discovered was in a London newspaper, the General Advertiser , of April 15, 1747. Within a week five London...
183477From Benjamin Franklin to [John Franklin], 2 April 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: American Philosophical Society I should be glad you’d send me the first informations you receive, of what Admiral Warren is doing or like to do in England. And whether the wasted[?] is returning in Orders. We want much to hear that the Fleet is preparing to come from England, in Order to carry on the Expedition. Billy is so fond of a military Life, that he will by no means hear of...
183478From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 28 March 1747 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 1–2. This is the earliest surviving letter in which Franklin alludes to his electrical investigations. It introduced the fourth edition of his Experiments and Observations in 1769. That edition, its predecessors and its successor, will be discussed below, under their...
183479From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 27 March 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Noël J. Cortés, Philadelphia (1954) There are, I am informed, Six Hands employed in blowing Glass; at first there were but two, who instructed the Rest. The two first Workmen were taken in as Partners by the Person who found Stock, and set up the Business, the others are Servants, therefore there are no Workmen to be engag’d here for you. They work seven Months in the Year, and ’tis said...
183480To Benjamin Franklin from William Dames, 16 March 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society [ Missing ] letters frequently are sent down by the westren [ missing ] post to Annapolis, which occations a [ missing ] delay, Expence, and trouble, Shall be obliged [ missing ] if you give your Young Man directions [ missing ] all my Letters for our New town, or [Chester?]town post, to be by him forwarded me. [ Missing ] Can in any shape serve...
183481To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 6 March 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I utterly forgot to send thee the N York Paper by my Son who was here this Morning but I now do it with my hearty thanks. I ordered him further to see thee to day and to beg thy Excuse for my desiring thee to send me a List of your Addition of Books to your Library which I did not the least apprehend would be sufficient to fill so much as one...
183482To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Darling, [February 1747?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notes for a letter: Yale University Library 1. How many men imployed in the whole? 2. How many men imediately about the Glass blowing? 3. How maney feet of Glass Do they make a Day? 4. How Do they Sell it per foot in their Philedalphia? 5. What are the Stone they make their furnace of and 6. Where Do they Git them? 7. Where are the pots made that Contain the metal? 8. Who makes them? 9. Can...
183483To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 23 February 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Yesterday was the first time that I ever heard one syllable of thy Electrical Experiments, when John Bartram surpriz’d me with the account of a Ball turning many hours about an Electrified Body, with some other particulars that were sufficiently amazing. I have now by me Fr: Hawkesbee’s Experiments printed in 1709 and saw his whole Apparatus in 1710...
183484From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 10 February 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Miss S. Berenice Baldwin, Woodbridge, Conn. (1959) I wrote a Line to you per last Post, which I hope came to hand. The Ingredients of Common Window and Bottle Glass are only Sand and Ashes. The Proportions of each I do not exactly know. The Heat must be very great. Our Glasshouse consumes Twenty-four Hundred Cords of Wood per Annum tho’ it works but Seven Months in the Year. (But the...
183485From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 27 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I receiv’d yours of the 26th past, which I shall endeavour to answer fully per next Post. In the mean time please to tender my best Respects and Service to good Mr. and Madam Noyes, and the most agreable Ladies their Daughters, with Thanks for the Civility they were pleased to shew me when at Newhaven. We have printed nothing new here lately, except the Enclos’d...
183486From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Thomas S. Gates, Philadelphia (1957); also duplicate: Yale University Library I wrote a Line to you some days since, via New York, enclosing a Bill of £25 Sterling; the second in a Copy by some other Vessel from that Port; the third you have herein, together with a Bill of £60 Sterling, which I hope will be duly honour’d. My Wife wrote to you per Mesnard for 6 Nelson’s Justice, 6...
183487From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Yale University Library This is only to enclose a Bill of Exchange for £25 Sterling, and to wish you and good Mrs. Strahan, with your Children &c. many happy new Years. Mr. Hall continues well. We shall both write largely per Seymour. This via New York. I am, &c.
183488Poor Richard, 1746 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1746. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1746 , … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin. (Yale University Library) Preface . A Table for the more ready casting up of Coins , in Pennsylvania. No. Ps. Eight. Spanish Pistoles. English Guineas. Moidores. £ s. d. £ s. d.
183489Extracts from the Gazette, 1746 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 7 to December 30, 1746. [ Advertisement ] All Persons indebted to the Printer hereof for a Year’s Gazette, or more, are desired to make Payment. [February 11] From Lancaster County, and the upper Parts of Philadelphia County, we have received several Accounts of the Mischiefs done by mad Dogs, among the black Cattle, Horses, Sheep, &c. many of...
183490To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Lucas, 2 December 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library As my husbeand Robt. Lucas in his Life time Did take the Newes Papers, and now is Decesed I now think it no Longer Proper to have them, these are to Requst the faver of you to Stoop them, and Send Down what his Estate is indebted to you for them and I Shall Pay for them at the time oppointed by Law. From Sir your humble Servant Addressed: To Mr. Benjamin...
183491To Benjamin Franklin from James Smith, 25 October 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Drayton M. Smith, Philadelphia (1958) Yours of the 17th mentioning my chance in the New York Lottery for which I return you thanks And when you Shall get the money Please to Acquaint me. I may have Occation of Somthing in your way So that if you please to let the money lye with you tell then. I am with respects Sir Your Most humble Servant Addressed: To Mr. Benjamin Franklin...
183492Receipt to Sarah Read, 21 October 1746 (Franklin Papers)
MS Receipt Book: American Philosophical Society Among Franklin’s papers in the American Philosophical Society is a receipt book of his mother-in-law, containing 27 receipts between 1715 and 1760, most of them between 1733 and 1747. Payments are recorded to William Rakestraw for carpentry, to Samuel Alford for making a silver spoon, to Anthony Nicholas “for Iron work Done too pump & Seller...
183493From Benjamin Franklin to [Thomas Hopkinson?], [16 October 1746] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; also transcripts: Library of Congress and American Philosophical Society Vaughan ( Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces , London, 1779, pp. 478–86) thought the addressee was Andrew Baxter; Duane ( Memoirs, … with a Postliminious Preface , Phila., 1834, II , 383–5) thought it was Francis Hopkinson; Sparks ( Works , vi, 87–93) and Bigelow ( Works , II ,...
183494From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 16 October 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I have receiv’d your Favour of the 13th. Instant, and am glad to hear you are return’d well from Albany, which I understand has been a very sickly Place this Fall. I did not imagine you would have been detain’d there so long, or I should have done my self the Pleasure of writing to you by my Son. Our Interpreter Mr. Weiser is return’d. He tells me that as soon...
183495From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 25 September 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (2): Western Reserve Historical Society and Pierpont Morgan Library; also duplicate: Yale University Library Your Favours of Feb. 11. and May 1. are come to hand. Mesnard arrived safe this Morning, and I suppose I shall have the Trunks out in a Day or two. Our other Ships Lisle and Houston not yet come, but daily expected. I am much oblig’d to you for your ready Compliance with my...
183496From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 10 July 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I have your Favours of June 2d. and the 7th Instant. I thank you for your little Treatise. I have interleav’d it, and am Reading it and Making Remarks as Time permits. I deliver’d one, as you directed, to Mr. Evans; another to Mr. Bertram. The former declares he cannot understand it; the latter told me the other Day, that he could not read it with the...
183497From Benjamin Franklin to William Vassall, 19 June 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard College Library I received your Favour of the 9th Inst. with the New System of Morality. We have nothing lately publish’d here fit to send you in Return. A few Copies of the Enclos’d have been just printed at New York, at the Expence of the Author, who is a Friend of mine. His Intention in this small Impression, is, by distributing the Pieces among the few Learned and Ingenious...
183498From Benjamin Franklin to William Vassall, 29 May 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard College Library I have your Favour of the 19th Instant, with some Queries relating to the Small Pox; in Answer to which I am to acquaint you, That by the best Informations I have been able to procure, and which I believe are pretty near the Truth, between 150 and 160 Persons (mostly Children, the Small Pox having gone thro’ this Place twice within these 15 Years) have been...
183499From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 May 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; also duplicates: New York Public Library and Pierpont Morgan Library This is only to enclose a third Bill, for £15.0.0 Sterling the first and second of which went from this Port directly and from Annapolis: And to desire you to send me two setts of Popple’s Mapps of N. America one bound the other in Sheets, they are for our Assembly; they also want the...
183500To Benjamin Franklin from George Scholtze, 5 May 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Benj: Franklin to Geo: Scholtze. … Dr. 1733. october 30. To 22 yards of Dowlas at 2 s. 6 d. per £2 15 0 1734. october 31. To 1 lb. of Green Tea at 11 s. per lb. 0 11 0