Benjamin Franklin Papers

From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 27 January 1747

To Thomas Darling9

ALS: Yale University Library

Philada. Jan. 27. 1746/7

Sir

I receiv’d yours of the 26th past,1 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,2 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 Pamphlet,3 which I send, in hope it may afford the Ladies and yourself some Amusement these long cold Winter Evenings. I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant

B Franklin

Endorsed: I Received this Letter Feb 12 1746/74

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

9Thomas Darling (1720–1789), A.B., Yale, 1740; licensed to preach, 1743; tutor in Yale College, 1743–45, where Ezra Stiles was one of his students. After his marriage, 1745, to Abigail, daughter of Rev. Joseph Noyes, he entered business and was for a time a partner of Nathan Whiting. He was subsequently a justice of the peace, county court judge, and delegate to the General Assembly. He was quietly Loyalist during the Revolution. Dexter, Biog. Sketches, I, 642–3.

1Not found.

2Rev. Joseph Noyes (1688–1761), A.B., Yale, 1709; tutor in the College, 1710–15; ordained minister of Center Church, New Haven, 1716; was instrumental in bringing Yale to New Haven. During the Great Awakening a part of his congregation grew dissatisfied with his theology and dull preaching and formed a separate church; the Yale students were withdrawn for their own services, 1753; and this student congregation became a church in the College, 1757. Dexter, Biog. Sketches, I, 85–9. BF visited Noyes on his return from Boston, December 1746. Darlington, Memorials, p. 333.

3Perhaps Reflections on Courtship and Marriage, which BF printed in April 1746. See above, p. 74.

4On the back of this letter Darling made notes for questions he submitted to BF in February. They are printed below, pp. 112–13.

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