1411From Benjamin Franklin to Margaret Stevenson and Mary Hewson, 19 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote to you, my dear dear Friends, very lately, and directed my Letter to Cheem in Surrey. Mr Whitefoord tells me that you are removed to Kensington Square, and I fear that my Letter may therefore not find you. I sent it under Cover to Mr William Hodgson, Mercht in Coleman street, which I mention that in case it has not come to hand, you may there enquire for...
1412From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 6 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: National Archives (two), Library of Congress, Columbia University Library; press copy: National Archives; transcript: National Archives By perusing the enclosed Instructions to Col. Lawrence & myself, your Excellency will see the Necessity I am under of being importunate for an Answer to the...
1413From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Beraud de Ciccati, 2 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur, avec la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 14 du mois dernier, celle que vous y avez incluse pour Monsr. votre fils, et que j’auroi Soin d’envoyer en Amerique par la premiere occasion qui se presentera. Si par une précaution que je crois nécessaire vous m’en addresséz des Duplicata, comme vous le ditez dans votre...
1414From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 10 July 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This is only to acknowledge the Receipt of three very agreable Letters from you, and to promise an Answer as soon as I have a little got thro’ a Hurry of Business, that beats every philosophical Thought out of my Head. As you are on the Study of Magnetism, I send you herewith a Work of the greatest Master of Practical Magnetics that has appear’d in any Age. With...
1415From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Wharton, 1 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Favours of the 14th. & 20th. past, But have been so continually harass’d by the Gout, as to be unable to write or think. I congratulate you on your mirculous Escape. But am extreamly concerned at the various Accidents that have so long delay’d & prevented your happy Return to your family, Friends & Country.— I thank you for the Information relating to...
1416From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 3 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am favoured with yours of Jan. 5. and am glad to hear that you and yours are well. The Flour and Bisket came to hand in good Order. I am much oblig’d to you and your Brother for your Care in sending them. I believe I wrote you before that the Demand made upon us on Account of the Packet Letters was withdrawn as being without Foundation. As to the...
1417From Benjamin Franklin to [Thomas Holme], 30 March 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from John Bigelow, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin (Federal edition, N.Y. and London, 1904), XII , 281–3. I am favored with yours of the 27th instant, enclosing a bank note of £20, which makes £70 now repaid by Overal. I acquainted you in mine by last Saturday’s post that I had reason to think the whole sum to be repaid would not be so great as I before computed it,...
1418From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 9 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It appearing on the Examination of Mr. Ross’s Accompts, that the Committee are very considerably indebted to him, I conceive you may Safely Settle with him the accts. you have with the Committee agreable to Orders received by him from Robert Morris Esq. I have the honour to be &c. Ross had represented in Nantes Morris’ firm of Willing & Morris, and the orders...
1419From Benjamin Franklin to John Alleyne, 15 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; printed in John Alleyne, The Legal Degrees of Marriage Stated and Considered, in a Series of Letters to a Friend (2nd ed., London, 1775), appendix, pp. 1–2. I have never heard upon what Principles of Policy the Law was made prohibiting the Marriage of a Man with his former Wife’s Sister, nor have I ever been able to conjecture any political...
1420From Benjamin Franklin to John Langdon, 17 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Letters by Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Others. Written during and after the Revolution, to John Langdon, New Hampshire (Philadelphia, 1880), pp. 81–2. I was much oblig’d by your News of Gen. Burgoyne. Accept in Return my Congratulations on the Conclusion of two Treaties with France, one of Amity and Commerce the other of Alliance: which are on the most equal Terms, leaving...
1421From Benjamin Franklin to Charles-Guillaume-Frederic Dumas, 1 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have just time to acknowledge the Receipt of your two Packets, A and B. with the Pamphlets enclos’d, the Contents of which are very satisfactory. You will hear from me more fully in a little time. With great Esteem I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant See Cornelius Stevenson to BF above, Aug. 22, 1776....
1422To Benjamin Franklin from Deacon M. Auer, with Franklin’s Note for a Reply, 21 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Rien n’est plus genereux, que l’Action, que Vous venez de faire, Monseigneur! La pauvre Veuve Hoeklin se croit heureuse. Elle a reçu un Billet que Son Excellence, Votre Beaufils aye accepté 200 Pound de Mons. Schneider a Germantown. Mons. Richard Bache a ecrit lui meme. Mais a cette heure nous sommes en peine. Permettez donc, je Vous supplie, de Vous...
1423From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 13 July 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the great Pleasure of hearing from you and Sally last Night per Packet. I cannot now answer every particular of your Letters, having many to write that are to go per this Days Mail: but will per next Opportunity. Mrs. Stevenson bids me tell Sally that the striped Gown I have sent her will wash; but it must be with a light hand in a cold Lather. I am...
1424From 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...
1425From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 19 February 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of an ALS and copy: Library of Congress In reading over again your Favour of the * Inst, I perceive a Question which I did not before observe, and omitted to answer in mine of the 17th. viz. Whether I will pay your Disbursements for the Brigantine Active? You do not mention to what Sum they may probably amount; I have no Orders to make such Payments; and I daily expect Mr. Palfrey,...
1426From Benjamin Franklin to [Peter Templeman], 2 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Royal Society of Arts Furman & Co. Merchants of this Place, send by Capt. Caton, 60 Keggs of Sturgeon, which they hope will be found so well cured as to obtain the Society’s Approbation, and a Premium. They have desired me to introduce their Claim to you by a Line in its favour; but I have told them the whole will depend on the Merits of their Fish when it comes to London. I can only...
1427From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 14 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh Purposing to embark for America in a few Days, I cannot depart without taking Leave of my dear Lord Kaims, to whose Civilities and Friendship I have been so much oblig’d, and for whom I shall ever retain the sincerest Esteem and Affection. I congratulate you cordially on the Success of your last Work. It does you great Honour. I hear it every where well...
1428From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 7 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Chicago Historical Society I send you per Capt. Morton 20 Reams whited Brown Paper, and 10 of blue. Please to acquaint Mr. Langdon of it; I think that is the Gentleman’s Name who wrote to me for some of both Sorts, but I have mislaid his Letter. He wanted it for Packing Sperma-Ceti Candles. The Price of the brown you know; the blue is 1¼ Dollar per Ream. Credit my Account with the Money...
1429From Benjamin Franklin to the Duc de la Vrillière, [4 September 1772] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society It was with the greatest Pleasure I received the Information your Grace has condescended to give me of my Nomination by the King to fill a Vacancy in the Academy of Sciences as Associé etranger. I have a high Sense of the great Honour thereby conferr’d on me, and beg that my grateful Acknowledgments may be presented to his Majesty. With the greatest...
1430From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Babcock, 5 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Returning hither from Portsmouth, I find your agreeable Favour of Augt. 19. containing your kind Invitation to Westerly, where I am sure I could pass some Days with great Pleasure; but doubt whether it will be in my Power. I perceive the Artifice of your Eloquence, which in some degree saves me from being carried away by its Force. You promise me the Communication...
1431From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society; minutebook copy: Library Company of Philadelphia I duly receiv’d your Favour of Decr. 28. and immediately order’d the Books of your Invoice to be collected. I hope they will be ready to go by one of these Ships. If not you may expect them by the next. It is said the new Edition of the Encyclopedia may be expected in about two Years. I...
1432From Benjamin Franklin to Georgiana Shipley, 15 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I imagine the good Family is by this time establish’d in London for the Winter. The Bearer Mr Alexander, will give you an Opportunity of acquainting me how they do, as he returns immediately. It is therefore I write this Line by him, which I cannot lengthen, having too Short a Notice of his Departure. It may serve at the same time to inform you, who I know...
1433From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 1 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society There is a Stile in some of your Letters, I observe it particularly in the last, whereby superior Merit is assumed to yourself in point of Care, and Attention to Business, and Blame on your Colleagues is insinuated without making yourself accountable by a direct Charge, of Negligence or Unfaithfulness, which has the Appearance of being as artful as...
1434From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph-Mathias Gérard de Rayneval, 22 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress With this I have the honour of sending you all the Letters I have received from or written to England on the Subject of Peace. M. de Vergennes should have seen them sooner if I had imagined them of any Importance: for I have never had the least Desire of keeping such Correspondence secret. I was, as you will see,...
1435From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 26 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am very sensible of your Merit with the United States and wish it was in my Power to serve you under the Difficulties you represent to me in yours of the 17th. Inst. But I have no Money at Command which is not appropriated to answer Contracts we have made here or Drafts of the Congress daily arriving, and I dare not presume to hazard a Possibility of Disappointment,...
1436From Benjamin Franklin to [John Ellicott], 22 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library In coming thro’ New York to this Place, I made a second Enquiry after Mrs. Holland, and was assur’d there was not nor had been in that Place any such Person. As I return I shall notwithstanding cause an Advertisement to be printed in the Newspapers, if possible by that means to gain Intelligence of her. I will likewise cause another to be printed in the Virginia...
1437From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 18 February 1774: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: British Museum Some tell me that it is determined to displace you likewise, but I do not know it as certain. I only give you the hint, as an Inducement to you to delay awhile your Removal to Amboy, which in that Case woud be an expence and Trouble to no purpose. Perhaps they may expect that your Resentment of their Treatment of me, may induce you to resign, and save them the shame of...
1438From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 9 January 1749 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This just serves to cover a Bill of Exchange for £8 8 s. o d. Sterling, and to let you know we are all well. It goes via New York, our River being full of Ice. I shall write you largely per our next Vessel, particularly about Mr. Read’s Affair. I wrote to you per our two last Vessels. The Post just going, cannot add but that I am Dear Sir, Your obliged Friend and...
1439From Benjamin Franklin to John Coakley Lettsom, 6 [or 17] March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Thomas Joseph Pettigrew, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the Late John Coakley Lettsom … (3 vols., London, 1817), I , 171–2 of second pagination. I received your favour of September last. It found me labouring under a painful disorder, which continued long, and put me much behind-hand in my correspondence. I thank you for the valuable publications that accompanied it,...
1440From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, 15 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Albert H. Smyth, ed., The Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., New York, 1905–07), V , 405–6. I am much obliged to you for introducing me to the Knowledge of Mr. le Marquis d’Ecrammeville, who appears a very amiable Man, with an excellent Understanding. Abraham Mansword’s Advice to his Countrymen is very good. I hope they will have more of it. Pray inform me by a Line,...