4151From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 11 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society At length after much Delay and Difficulty I have been able to obtain your Telescope that was made by Mr. Short before his Death. His Brother, who succeeds in the Business, has fitted it up and compleated it. He has followed the Business many Years at Edinburgh, is reckon’d very able, and therefore I hope every thing will be found right; but as it is only...
4152From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 10 July 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard College Library I received your Favour of the 12th. past, and congratulate you on the Recovery of Mrs. Winthrop and your Children from the Small Pox. Mr. Stiles return’d Æpinus to me sometime since. I must confess I am pleas’d with his Theory of Magnetism. Perhaps I receive it the more readily on Account of the Relation he has given it to mine of Electricity. But there is one...
4153From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 5 February 1771 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Columbian Centinel , July 30, 1825. I duly received your favour of October 26, with 52 s. for the Royal Society. I lately found one of the last volumes of the Transactions among my books with your name in it. I had some doubts, whether I had not sent you mine instead of it, believing I had dispatched it long before. But recollecting that mine were gone to Philadelphia, I am...
4154From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 23 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from American Autograph Shop, American Clipper (Merion Station, Pa.), December 1935, p. 171. Mr. Short’s Remarks were only in a Letter of his to me. I now send you the Original. You will observe that the Perallax [Parallax] mentioned in this, differs from that I sent you; But this was in the Beginning of February, the other he gave me in August; and I suppose had been...
4155From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 1 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I received your kind Letter of Feb. 28. which gave me great Pleasure. I forwarded your Letter to Dr. Price, who was well lately, but his Friends, on his Acct., were under some Apprehensions from the Violence of Government, in consequence of his late excellent Publications in favour of Liberty. I wish all the Friends of Liberty and Man would quit that Sink of...
4156From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 2 July 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S., &c. (quarto edition, 3 vols., London, 1817–18), III , 370–4. You must needs think the time long that your instruments have been in hand. Sundry circumstances have occasioned the delay. Mr. Short, who undertook to make the telescope, was long in a bad state of health, and much in...
4157From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 6 June 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I find among my Papers a Letter of yours, dated Dec. 7. 1769, which I must have had some Months in my Hands; and tho’ I think I have answered it, I am not certain; a Multiplicity of Business during the late Sessions of Parliament having occasioned a Forgetting of some Circumstances. It will only be a little unnecessary Labour if I answer it again. I did...
4158From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 13 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have received by Mr. Marchant the 52 s. you sent by him. I hope you received the Transactions for 1770. A new Volume is expected soon, which I shall forward by the first Opportunity. The enclos’d I have just receiv’d from Dr. Price, into whose Hands I put your Paper, which he has now return’d to me. Let me know if you would have me give...
4159From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 8 April 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the Honour of writing you a few Lines the 20th of February last inclosing a Piece of Dr. Pringle’s on the Subject of Fiery Meteors which he sent you on hearing your ingenious Account of one lately appearing in New England read to the Royal Society. This is chiefly to cover my Friend Mr. Kennicott’s Papers relating to the Hebrew Bible, and to...
4160From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your Favours of March 4 and April 19. Mr. Danforth paid me the 52 s. you sent by him. The Vol. of Transactions I think went in a Trunk that I sent to Mr. Jonathan Williams. I hope you receiv’d it safe. Mr. Danforth has succeeded in obtaining his Patent. I hope it will prove serviceable to himself as well as the Publick. Dr. Priestly is now...
4161From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Wister, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of April 30. Much Business has hitherto prevented my visiting your Creditors, with the Proposal you mention. But in a Week or two I expect a little Leisure, which I shall apply to that purpose. I wish it may prove successful, as I truly compassionate your Situation. I shall soon after let you know what may be expected from them. I...
4162From Benjamin Franklin to Witel & Fauche, 15 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS , AL (draft), and incomplete press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society I have attentively considered your Project communicated to me in yours of the 24th. past, & of which you desire my Opinion. I have some Doubts whether you will find your Bookselling and Printing Business sufficiently profitable at first for the Support of three Families; because the French Language, in which I...
4163From Benjamin Franklin to William Withering, 1 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Vaughan communicated to me a very ingenious & judicious Letter (as it appear’d to me) written by you on the Subject of calculous Complaints & the Remedies that had been propos’d for them. You were so good as to say that if I would send you a state of my Case, you might perhaps be able to point out some Plan of Proceeding that would be serviceable. I...
4164From Benjamin Franklin to John Witherspoon, 19 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I hope you will have the Pleasure of receiving, with this, your long absent Son, who appears to me a valuable young Man. On the Receipt of your Letter, I wrote to a Friend in London to furnish him with what Money he should have occasion for to bring him hither, which was done; and here I deliver’d to him the second of your Letter of Credit on Messrs. Couteulx &...
4165From Benjamin Franklin to John Witherspoon, 11 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I have received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 15th. of June last. I had before received that which you mention, sent me from the Committee of Foreign Affairs, and had immediately written to London to procure your Son’s Liberty, and to have him supply’d with Money. I have now the Pleasure to inform you that I have this day...
4166From Benjamin Franklin to John Witherspoon, 5 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Presbyterian Historical Society; copies: Columbia University Library, New Jersey Historical Society, New York Society Library I have received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 27th past. It would be a pleasure to me to see you here, but I cannot give you any Expectations of Success in the Project of obtaining Benefactions for your College. Last Year Messrs. Wheelock...
4167From Benjamin Franklin to A. M. Woedtke, 13 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Letter requesting Information relating to the Death of Frederic William de Woedtcke your Brother. He came to Philadelphia in March 1776, recommended to me by a Friend at Paris. I procur’d for him the Commission of Brigadier General, as you will see by the enclosed Copy of two Resolutions of Congress. He went into Canada with me in the...
4168From Benjamin Franklin to Woestyn frères, 17 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress Before the Rect. of your last favour of the 11 Inst. I had assured M. Le Roy who wrote me on the same subject that tho’ I could not take a Part in your Ship I was very Sensible of the Honour you proposed to do me by giving her my Name, and therefore should make no objection to it. But since you desire my Consent in Writing, I hereby give it; wishing most...
4169From Benjamin Franklin to Woestyn frères, 20 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am very sensible of the Honor you propose to do me in the naming of your Vessel; to which I have but this Objection, that I cannot merit it by taking a Part in the Enterprize. I have communicated your Scheme to some of my Friends; But they are already engaged in such Undertakings as far as they chuse to be. I shall however try some others, and I most heartily wish...
4170From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Wolrich, 1 August 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dietrich Brothers Americana Corporation, Philadelphia (1977) The Bearer, Mr. Jona. Williams, once partook with me of your Hospitality at Leeds, but it being near 4 Years since, he apprehends you may have forgot him, and has therefore requested a Line from me to re-introduce him to you. He has been ever since you saw him, settled in Business in America as a Merchant, and acquits himself...
4171From Benjamin Franklin to Henry S. Woodfall, [before 22 September 1773] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This note went to the recipient, then to a mutual friend, then back to Woodfall and eventually back to Craven Street. The note was on a covering sheet around the manuscript of the following document, “An Edict by the King of Prussia,” and explained the typographical form that Franklin wished to have given to his satire. On the verso of the sheet Woodfall...
4172From Benjamin Franklin to James Woodmason, [10 January 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I have lately receiv’d yours, without Date, acquainting me that the Paper I ordered is at length finished, & will be sent by the first Ship to Amsterdam, which I am glad to hear. If not already gone, please to insure it, and send me your Account. Present my affectionate Respects to your good Father, and believe me to be Sir, Your assured Friend &...
4173From Benjamin Franklin to James Woodmason, 25 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and press copy: Assay Office, Birmingham, England When James Watt, working in Birmingham in the summer of 1778, succeeded in developing a method of copying letters by mechanical means, he did so in order to spare himself work. But he was soon convinced to patent the process and market the materials. James Watt & Co. received a patent in May, 1780, for a copy press that would soon change...
4174From Benjamin Franklin to James Woodmason, 26 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received yours of the 12th. Instant. Inclosed I send you a Bill for twenty five Pounds Sterling, which will more than pay for the Machines, Cases, three Reams of the Paper & 1 Doz. of Inkpowder. You will account to me for the overplus if any, after paying the Freight & Charges; for having no one in London to receive them. I must request you to take the...
4175From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Woodward, 10 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft ): American Philosophical Society Desirous of being reviv’d in your Memory, I take this Opportunity by my good Friend Mrs. Blacker, of sending you a printed Piece, and a Manuscript, both on a Subject you and I frequently convers’d upon, with similar Sentiments, when I had the Pleasure of seeing you in Dublin. I have since had the Satisfaction to learn that a Disposition to abolish...
4176From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Wren, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your great attention to the wants of our poor captiv’d Countrymen, and your kind and charitable Care of Them in their sickness and other Distresses; I have often heard spoken of by such as have escaped and pass’d thro’ this Place, in the strongest Terms of grateful aknowledgements. I beg you to accept among the rest, my sincere and hearty Thanks, and my best Wishes...
4177From Benjamin Franklin to James Wright, 9 July 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: William L. Clements Library When Mr. Hunter came to Town, I conferr’d with him on the Subject of Supporting a regular constant Post between Charles Town in South Carolina and Williamsburgh in Virginia, agreeable to what Pass’d when I had the Pleasure of Meeting you at the General Post Office. He was Concerned to hear, that by the Death of Mr. Fareis who we had appointed to Carry on that...
4178From Benjamin Franklin to James Wright, 3 July 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Before this reaches you, you will have heard that the House is adjourn’d. A Bill to strike £10,000 Exchange Money is pass’d, and nothing else done. I spoke several Times to the Speaker and Committee, about sending you some Money by the Return of the Members; but Mr. M’Conaughy slipt away without Leave, and so without their Knowledge; and afterwards the Business...
4179From Benjamin Franklin to James Wright, 9 July 1759 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; transcript: John L. W. Mifflin, Middlebush, N.J. (1955) By the Cornelia Capt. Smith I sent you in a Box to Mrs. Franklin Norden’s Egypt. cost £4: 4: 0 Maintenon’s Letters and a Book of Husbandry 0: 6: 0 A Thermometer 1: 11: 6 £6: 1: 6 which I hope are got safe to hand. There has been at my House one Mary James
4180From Benjamin Franklin to James Wright, 26 June 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: John L.W. Mifflin, Middlebush, N.J. (1955) I am glad to learn that the Flour is mostly if not all got up to Conegocheeg, and that you have so good a Prospect of getting Waggons to forward it to Wills’s Creek. The Governor has sent down the Bill and proposes to pass it with about 30 Amendments, of which one is that the Commissioners named in the Act to dispose of the £5000 for...
4181From Benjamin Franklin to John Wright, 24 July 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I think I gave you some Expectations of going out with you to your Place on the Forest on Saturday next. If I did, I hope you will be so good as to excuse me, till the Saturday following, or some other subsequent Day that may suit you, this being inconvenient to me; wherein you will oblige, Your very humble Servant Addressed: To / Mr Wright / at Smith, Wright &...
4182From Benjamin Franklin to Patience Wright, 4 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 14th of March past, and if you should continue in your Resolution of returning to America thro’ France, I shall certainly render you any of the little Services in my Power: but there are so many Difficulties at present in getting Passages from hence, particularly Safe ones for Women, that methinks I should advise your Stay...
4183From Benjamin Franklin to Susanna Wright, 21 November 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. David H. Stockton, Princeton, N.J. (1960); also transcript: John L. W. Mifflin, Middlebush, N.J. (1955) Your Guests all got well home to their Families, highly pleas’d with their Journey, and with the Hospitality of Hempfield. When I had the Pleasure of seeing you, I mention’d a new [kind of Candles very convenient] to read by, which I think you said you had not seen: I take the...
4184From Benjamin Franklin to Susanna Wright, [28 April 1755] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Collection of the late Frank J. Mather., Jr., Princeton, N.J. (1955); also transcript: John L. W. Mifflin, Middlebush, N.J. (1955) I thought from the first, that your Proposal of calling the several Townships together, was very judicious. I was only at a Loss how to get them call’d by some Appearance of Authority. On the Road from your House hither, I considered that at the Court of Oyer...
4185From Benjamin Franklin to Susanna Wright, 11 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. David H. Stockton, Princeton, N.J. (1960) I should sooner have answered your Favour of the 27th past, but that I have been in daily Expectation of getting home the Piece you desired which is lent to a Friend. I hope to have it ready for the next Post. In the mean time I send you two Pamphlets in which you will have the Pleasure to see a most impudent Imposture detected, and the...
4186From Benjamin Franklin to Wulffen, 11 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I shall take care to send your three Letters to America as you desire. I am sorry you are not satisfy’d with the 20 Guineas I have lent you but demand 30 more. I know nothing of what may be due to you, nor have I any Authority to pay it. I sent you Word with the last Money, that you were not to expect any more of me, and I now confirm it; there are...
4187From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Wyld, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: William L. Clements Library I have received yours of the 18th. Instant. I omitted answering your former, being informed that your Bill had not been honoured, whence I conceived that you had imposed on me. I am glad to hear that it is otherwise. Since you were here, I have received notice that no more such Passports are to be granted, the Traders having abused them: So that I must renew...
4188From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Yarnold, 27 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday yours of the 25th. On your Arrival here, when you first mentioned to me your purpose. I gave to you and your friend my candid Opinion that your scheme of becoming military Officers in America could not Answer your Expectation, and I advis’d you to return to England and apply your selves to some Profession more likely to be advantangeous. I wish...
4189Franklin and James Wilson to Jasper Yeates, 4 July 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania <Philadelphia, July 4, 1776: The Congress has appointed you a commissioner of Indian affairs in the middle department, and asked us so to inform you. A conference will be held at Pittsburgh on July 20, which Congress hopes you will attend. Although this may be inconvenient, we know that your regard for the public will outweigh any consideration of your...
4190The American Commissioners to John Young, 2 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Connecticut Historical Society You will receive by Mr. Moylan dispatches for Congress, which you will secure ready for sinking in Case of Danger. On your Leaving the River Nantes it has been recommended as the safest to keep well in with the Coast of France until you can leave the Continent intirely. Of this you will be the best judge. We advise you to avoid speaking with every Vessel on...
4191From Benjamin Franklin to Moses Young, 6 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Before I received yours of the 27th. past, I had Information from M. B. Vaughan of Mr. Laurens’s Treatment & Situation, and had sent orders to a Correspondent in London to furnish him with what Money he might have Occasion for. Your Zeal for his relief is nevertheless very commendable: I have also sometime since sent to London the Proposal of Congress to exchange for...
4192The Busy-Body, No. 2, 11 February 1729 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , February 11, 1728/9. All Fools have still an Itching to deride; And fain would be upon the laughing Side. Pope. Monsieur Rochefocaut tells us somewhere in his Memoirs, that the Prince of Conde delighted much in Ridicule; and us’d frequently to shut himself up for Half a Day together in his Chamber with a Gentleman that was his Favourite, purposely...
4193Memorandum on Chatham’s Plan of Conciliation, [on or after 1 February 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress On January 29 Chatham left with Franklin the conciliatory plan that he introduced as a bill in the House of Lords three days later, and the American studied and copied it. At the end of his copy is the following memorandum on the rejection of the bill. The above Plan was offered by the Earl of Chatham to the House of Lords, on Wednesday Feb. 1. 1775, under the Title of...
4194Contract between Vergennes and Franklin, 16 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Archives Nationales; DS , two copies, and transcript: National Archives Contrat entre le Roi et les Treize Etats-Unis de l’Amérique Septentrionale, passé entre M. le Cte. de Vergennes et M. Franklin, le 16. Juillet 1782. À ce Contrat sont annexés les Pleines-Pouvoirs des Plénipotentiaires respectifs. Contrat entre le Roi et les Treize Etats-Unis de l’Amérique Septentrionale. Le Roi ayant...
4195The Busy-Body, No. 8, 27 March 1729 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , March 27, 1729. ——Quid non mortalia Pectora cogis Auri sacra Fames! Virgil. One of the greatest Pleasures an Author can have is certainly the Hearing his Works applauded. The hiding from the World our Names while we publish our Thoughts, is so absolutely necessary to this Self-Gratification, that I hope my Well-wishers will congratulate me on my Escape...
4196Advertisement, 1 November 1750 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 1, 1750. Whereas on Saturday night last, the house of Benjamin Franklin, of this city, printer, was broken open, and the following things feloniously taken away, viz. a double necklace of gold beads, a woman’s long scarlet cloak, almost new, with a double cape, a woman’s gown, of printed cotton, of the sort called brocade print, very remarkable,...
4197Observations upon [Thomas Pownall], State of the Constitution of the Colonies, [1769?] (Franklin Papers)
MS (copy): American Philosophical Society In December, 1769, or possibly in the following month, Thomas Pownall attempted to formulate general principles of law that applied to the issues in dispute between Britain and her colonies. He composed a short document in two parts; the first set forth six principles, and the second adduced corollaries from them. This document he had printed but not...
4198The American Peace Commissioners: Declaration of the Cessation of Arms, 20 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ADS and AD (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives By the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making Peace with Great Britain: A Declaration of the Cessation of Arms, as well by Sea, as Land, agreed upon between His Majesty the King of Great Britain and the United States of...
4199Franklin’s Conjecture on the Foregoing, [after 12 August 1772] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: the Royal Society The Aurora Boreales , tho’ visible almost every Night of clear Weather in the more Northern Regions, and very high in the Atmosphere, can scarce be visible in England but when the Atmosphere is pretty clear of Clouds for the whole Space between us and those Regions, and therefore are seldom visible here. This extensive Clearness may have been produced by a long...
4200Poor Richard, 1743 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1743. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1743 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) Because I would have every Man make Advantage of the Blessings of Providence, and few are acquainted with the Method of making Wine of the Grapes which grow wild in our Woods, I do here...