1411From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 17 March 1770: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania What you say with regard to advancing Money for Building Mills, Bloomeries, &c. has a good deal in it, and I believe most of the Persons concerned will think with you when the Settlement comes under Consideration. I sent you a Part of L. Evans’s Map, containing the Bounds of the intended Province: You see by that, that the Scheme is much enlarg’d...
1412From Benjamin Franklin to Michael Hillegas, 17 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Museum, or, Universal Magazine , VII (1790), 224–5. I received your favour of November 25, and have made enquiries, as you desired, concerning the copper covering of houses. It has been used here in a few instances only: and the practice does not seem to gain ground. The copper is about the thickness of a common playing card: and though a dearer metal than lead, I am...
1413From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 18 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Letters are all in Capt. Falconer, but as Capt. Sparks has just been so kind as to call and acquaint me that he sails to day, and I understand that Falconer will not sail till the 20th. I just write this Line to acquaint you that I am well. Mrs. Stevenson and Polly, join me in best Affections, &c. My Love to our Children, &c. I am, my dear Debby, Your...
1414From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Gilpin, 18 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I receiv’d your Favour by the Hand of Mr. Abel James. An Accident happen’d to it in his Chest by the Breaking of a Bottle of some Liquid that obliterated part of it. I see however that it contains some good Remarks on the Advantages of Canals for internal Navigation in our Country, to which I heartily wish Success. What you tell me of the Practicability of...
1415From Benjamin Franklin to Humphry Marshall, 18 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I was duly favoured with yours of Oct. 30, and glad to hear that some of the Colours on Experience were found useful. I show’d the Specimens you sent me to an ingenious skilful French Chemist, who has the Direction of the Royal Porcellane Manufacture at Seve near Paris, and he assured me that one of those white Earths would make a good Ingredient in that kind of...
1416From Benjamin Franklin to [Charles Thomson], 18 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (copy): Schaffer Library, Union College This well-publicized letter arrived in America in May, at the height of the controversy over whether to relax or maintain the nonimportation agreements now that Parliament had repealed most, but not all, of the Townshend duties. An extract containing virtually the entire letter was sent to Boston and promptly printed and reprinted there, while...
1417From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 21 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): the Rosenbach Foundation The movement to secure total repeal of the Townshend duties failed in the House of Commons on March 5, when the government succeeded in having the duty on tea retained as proof that Parliament still had the right to tax. This failure was more than a routine setback for Franklin. It forced him to face the question of whether the whole policy of...
1418From Benjamin Franklin to Smith, Wright & Gray, [April 1770]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library [No place or date, but April, 1770. Encloses four bills: on Harley & Drummond for £200, on W. Cunningham for £20, on D. Milligan for £52, and on Alex. Grant for £30, and asks for a receipt by bearer for £302. ] BF entered these bills in his Jour., p. 23, under April 2, 1770. The first three, remittances by Parker on his postal accounts, were mentioned in his letters...
1419From Benjamin Franklin to [Joseph Smith?], 12 April 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (postscript only): William C. Coles, Moorestown, N.J. (1954) Yesterday I attended the Board of Trade and the Objections to the Bergen Act were repeated by my Lord Hillsborough, viz. that it related to private Property; in a Course of Trial at Law, which was stopt by the Act. I alledg’d that it was only a supplementary Act for compleating a Business directed by a former Act and partly...
1420From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 14 April 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum I suppose Govr. Pownall acquaints you with what has pass’d this Session relating to our American Affairs: All Europe is attentive to the Dispute between Britain and the Colonies; and I own I have a Satisfaction in seeing that our Part is taken every where; because I am persuaded that that Circumstance will not be without its Effect here in our Favour. At the same time the...