183241From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 11 July 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): Yale University Library I receiv’d your Favours of June [ and] July 4. I am sorry for the Faults in the I[ntroduction] and shall endeavour to be more careful. The Contents and Introduction are to be prefix’d, tho’ printed last; they shall be plac’d in the same Order as in the M.S. Perhaps a few of the Oeconomy’s might sell in your Parts by your Recommendation: If you think so...
183242Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital: Memorial to the Proprietors, 6 July 1751 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; also draft and copy in Minutes, Pennsylvania Hospital July 6, 1751 This document, drafted by Franklin and Israel Pemberton, is omitted here for the reason stated above, p. 111; but is printed, with editorial annotation, in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital , May 1754, in the next volume.
183243From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 29 June 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: The Royal Society In Capt. Waddels Account *Ph. Tr. No. 492. p. III . of the Effects of Lightning on his Ship, I could not but take Notice of the large Comazants (as he Calls them,) that settled on the Spintles at the Topmast-Heads, and burnt like very large Torches before the Stroke. According to my Opinion, the Electrical Fire was then drawing off, as by Points , from the Cloud, the...
183244From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 June 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I receiv’d yours of March 26. with the Books per Smith in good Order: And your Account, which agrees with mine except in a Trifle, the Share of the Charges on Ainsworth carried to J. Read’s Account. I am concern’d at your laying so long out of your Money, and must think of some Way of making you Amends. I have wrote to Smith at Antigua to quicken him in...
183245William Watson: An Account of Franklin’s Treatise, [6 June 1751] (Franklin Papers)
MS : The Royal Society; also printed in Phil. Trans. , XLVII (1751–52), 202–11. An account of Mr. Benjamin Francklin’s treatise lately published intitled, Experiments and observations on Electricity made at Philadelphia in America, by Wm. Watson, F. R. S. Mr. Franklin’s treatise, lately presented to the royal Society, consists of four letters to his correspondent in England, and of another...
183246From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 21 May 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library Budden is arrived, and every thing you sent per him come safe to hand. Both the Library-Company and the Academy are exceedingly oblig’d to you, and would be glad of any Opportunity of serving you or any of your Friends. The Academy goes on as one could wish: We have excellent Masters, and the Boys improve surprizingly: The Number now 70 and daily encreasing. I...
183247An Act to Encourage the Establishing of an Hospital, 11 May 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in [Acts of the Pennsylvania Assembly] Anno Regni Georgii II … Vigesimo Quarto … [October 14, 1750, to May 6, 1751] (Philadelphia, 1751), pp. 155–8. May 11, 1751 This document, the original draft of which was by Franklin, is omitted here for the reason given above, p. 111; but is printed, with editorial annotation, in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital , May 1754, in the next...
183248Felons and Rattlesnakes, 9 May 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette May 9, 1751. In the eulogy which he delivered before the French Academy of Sciences on Nov. 13, 1790, the Marquis de Condorcet noted that Franklin sometimes made a point in conversation with a fable, tale, or anecdote. “Chargé de demander l’abolition de l’usage insultant d’envoyer les malfaiteurs dans les Colonies, le Ministre lui allégait la nécessité d’en...
183249Experiments and Observations, [April 1751] (Franklin Papers)
Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Mr. Benjamin Franklin, and Communicated in several Letters to Mr. P. Collinson, of London, F.R.S. London: Printed and sold by E. Cave, at St. John’s Gate. 1751. (Yale University Library) Franklin’s reports on electricity had an immediate and favorable reception in England. The first account of his experiments,...
183250To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 27 March 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am now so prodigiously Engagd as well in my publick business as on Account of our very great National loss the Death of the Prince of Wales that I can only acknowledge the Receipt of thy kind Letters with the Tracts Inclosed. I have sent per Capt. Richey in the Beulah the Magazins for Febuary. I am thy sincere friend Prince of a short Illness an...
183251From Benjamin Franklin to James Parker, 20 March 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in [Archibald Kennedy], The Importance of Gaining and Preserving the Friendship of the Indians to the British Interest, Considered (New York, 1751), pp. 27–31. (Yale University Library) Edward Eggleston first attributed this letter to Franklin in a note to John Bigelow, who accepted it ( Works , II , 217 n). There is also, however, contemporary evidence of Franklin’s authorship: the...
183252Subscription for Christ Church Steeple, 18 March 1751 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Dorr, A Historical Account of Christ Church, Philadelphia (New York and Philadelphia, 1841), pp. 98–9. The vestry of Christ Church, Philadelphia, unanimously voted, March 11, 1751, to erect a steeple and hang a chime of bells. The next week the subscription book was opened, Governor James Hamilton’s name leading the list of about three hundred signers with...
183253Record of Birth and Baptism of James Madison, Jr., [16 March] 1751 (Madison Papers)
James Madison junr. was born on Tuesday Night at 12 o’Clock it being the last of the 5th. & begining of the 6th. day of March 1750–1 & was Baptized by the Revd. Mr. Wm. Davis, Mar. 31. 1751 and had for God-Fathers Mr. John Moore & Mr. Jonatn. Gibson & for God-Mothers Mrs. Rebecca Moore, Miss Judith Catlett and Miss Elizabeth Catlett. The 1759 publication date of the Bible indicates that this...
183254To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 22 February 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library On the other Side is the Account of the Books I now send. I next must thank thee for thine of the 27: Sepr. with our Friend Kalms observations which are very acceptable to the Curious Here. I was in hopes to send thy Work which is all printed but the Engraveing is not so may Expect it soone. Thee art under great obligations to Docr. Fothergill who has annexed a...
183255From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 4 February 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society I receiv’d yours of Oct. 4. via New England, with the Account of what you have laid out on Books and Mathematical Instruments for the Academy, by which I perceive there is but about £20 in your Hands, much too little, I fear, for the Philosophical Apparatus! and the Misfortune is, that our other Expences in purchasing, Building, &c. are like to pinch us so in the...
183256From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 February 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote you per Capt. Budden, who sail’d the Beginning of December, and sent you a Bill of Exchange on Jonathan Gurnel & Co. for Fifty Pounds, and desired you to send me Viner’s, Bacon’s and Danvers’s Abridgments of the Law, with Wood’s and Coke’s Institutes. I have no Copy of the Letter, and forget whether I added the Compleat Attorney in 6 or 8 Vols. 8vo. the...
183257Petition for the Pennsylvania Hospital, 23 January 1751 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Pennsylvania Hospital January 23, 1751 The founding of the Pennsylvania Hospital is one of the best-known episodes in Franklin’s public career, for he related the history of it in his autobiography at length, if not accurately in all details, and he printed the relevant documents in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital , 1754. Franklin’s friend Dr. Thomas Bond was one of the first to...
183258From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 9 January 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I receiv’d your Favour of the 14th past, with the Noetica, which I shall immediately put to press, for I think it scarce necessary to ask Subscriptions for so small a Work; and believe we can not find a more suitable Piece of the kind to use in our Academy. Please to accept the enclos’d (with my Compliments) for the New Year. The Assembly sitting hurries me so...
183259Idea of the English School, [7 January 1751] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in A Sermon on Education. Wherein Some Account is given of the Academy, Established in the City of Philadelphia. Preach’d at the Opening thereof, on the Seventh Day of January, 1750–1. By the Reverend Mr. Richard Peters. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, at the Post-Office. 1751. (Yale University Library) As the principal advocate of an English school which,...
183260From George Washington to Robin, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
As its the greatest mark of friendship and esteem absent Friends can shew each other in Writing and often communicating their thoughts to his fellow companions mak⟨es⟩ me endeavour to signalize myself in acquainting you from time to time and at all times my situation and employments of Life and could Wish you would take half the Pains of contriving me a Letter by any oppertunity as you may be...
183261GW to ——, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
I should receive a Letter or Letters from you by the first and all oppertunetys with the greatest sense or mark of your esteem and affection whereas its the greatest Pleasure I can yet forsee of having in fairfax to hear from my Intimate friends and acquaintances I hope you in particular ⟨wi⟩ll not Bauk me of what I so ardently Wish for. ADf , DLC:GW . For background to this letter, see the...
183262From George Washington to John, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
As its the greatest mark of friendship and esteem you can shew to an absent Friend In often Writing to him so hope youl not deny me that Favour as its so ardently wish’d and Desired by me its the greatest pleasure I can yet forsee of having in fairfax to hear from my friends Particularly yourself was my affections disengaged I might perhaps form some pleasures in the conversasions of an...
183263From George Washington to Sally, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
This comes to Fredericksburg fair in hopes of meeting with a speedy Passage to you if your not there which hope you’l get shortly altho. I am almost discouraged from Writing to you as this is my fou[r]th to you since I receivd any from yourself. I hope you’l not make the Old Proverb good out of sight out of Mind as it’s one of the greatest Pleasures I can yet foresee of having in Fairfax in...
183264From George Washington to Richard, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
The Receipt of your kind favor of the 2d of this Instant afforded Me unspeakable pleasure as I am convinced I am still in the Memory of so Worthy a friend a friendship I shall ever be proud of Increasing you gave me the more pleasure as I receiv’d it amongst a parcel of Barbarian’s and an uncooth set of People the like favour often repeated would give me Pleasure altho. I seem to be in a Place...
183265Memorandum, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
When I see my Brother Austin to Enquire of Him whether He is the Acting Attorney for my Brother and as my Brother Laurence left Directions with the Hon. W. Fx to remit his Pay as Agetant whether it would not be more proper to keep it to Pay the Notes of Hands Thats Daily coming against him and to write word to Williamsburgh to Acquaint his Hon. my B:A: to write him word. AD , DLC:GW . For...
183266Memorandum, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
Mem. To Survey the Lands at the Mouth of Little Cacapehon & the Mouth of Fifteen Mile Creek for the Gentlemen of the Ohio Com. AD , DLC:GW . For background to this document, see the editorial note to GW to Ann Washington, Sept.-Nov. 1749 , and GW to Thomas Fairfax, Oct.-Nov. 1749, source note . The Ohio Company, founded in 1747 to promote European settlement and trade with the Indians in the...
183267Memorandum, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
Memorandom to have my Coat made by the following Directions to be made a Frock with a Lapel Breast the Lapel to Contain on each side six Button Holes and to be about 5 or 6 Inches wide all the way equal and to turn as the Breast on the Coat does to have it made very Long Waisted and in Length to come down to or below the Bent of the knee the Waist from the armpit to the Fold to be exactly as...
183268Memorandum, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
Memorandom to Charge Mrs Ann Washington with 4/9 pd. the 20 of July to a Maryland Hou[se]wife as also Major Law: Washington with 1/3 ent[ered] the 15 of August 5/9 the 17 Do 2/6 Do. Read to the reign of K:John. AD , DLC:GW . For background on this document, see the editorial note to GW to Ann Washington, Sept.-Nov. 1749 . In an entry for 20 July 1748 in his account book, GW noted this sum as...
183269Poetry, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
AD , DLC:GW . For background to this document, see the editorial note to GW to Ann Washington, Sept.-Nov. 1749 . Aside from the fact that this poem is in GW’s handwriting, no evidence has been found that it was of his own composition. Another fragment of a poem appears in the pages of the diary: “T’was Perfect Love before But How I do adore.”
183270Poetry, 1749–1750 (Washington Papers)
AD , DLC:GW . For background on this document, see the editorial note to GW to Ann Washington, Sept.–Nov. 1749 . No evidence has been found that GW composed this work. This is an acrostic for Frances Alexander.