4651Extracts from the Gazette, 1730 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 6 to December 29, 1730. About the End of next Month, a Course of Papers of Speculation and Amusement will begin to be inserted in this Gazette , for the Entertainment of our Readers. Those Gentlemen and others, who may be inclined to divert themselves or their Friends by trying their Hands in some little Performance of that Nature, are hereby...
4652Declaration of Cessation of Arms, 20 February 1783 (Jay Papers)
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 America Whereas Preliminary Articles, were Signed, at Paris, on the thirtieth Day of November last, between the Plenipotentiaries of his Said...
4653Reply to the Plan of Association, [6 March 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Among Franklin’s papers is a draft paragraph in his hand countering the assertion in the Plan of Association of the independent companies that the Militia Act had produced few enlistments. Obviously intended as a compliment to the German volunteers in his regiment, the paragraph appears, in an almost literal translation, in the Philadelphische Zeitung ,...
4654The American Commissioners: Memorandum for Vergennes and Aranda, 25 September 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; LS : Archivo Historico National This memorandum, under its calm surface, conveys a sense of depression; and the commissioners had reason to be depressed. They seem to have become suddenly aware that they were in deep financial trouble, because they had made commitments that they did not have the money to honor and that Congress could not....
4655Franklin: Certificate for the Capricieuse, [14 May 1783] (Franklin Papers)
D (draft): American Philosophical Society The Imperial Ship the Capricieuse, burthen about 350 Tons , Commanded by Capt. Simpson being bound from Trieste to Philadelphia, or some other Part of the United States , with Merchandize, but being uncertain what Port she may make; I hereby request that you would on his Arrival , favour the said Capt. Simpson with your Protection & Advice, for the...
4656Apology for Printers, 10 June 1731 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 10, 1731. Being frequently censur’d and condemn’d by different Persons for printing Things which they say ought not to be printed, I have sometimes thought it might be necessary to make a standing Apology for my self, and publish it once a Year, to be read upon all Occasions of that Nature. Much Business has hitherto hindered the execution of this...
4657An 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...
4658Franklin’s Specimen of Polytype Printing, 24 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Yale University Library A Wit’s a Feather, & a Chief’s a Rod; An honest Man’s the noblest Work of God. Pope. On April 10, WTF and others had visited François Hoffmann and participated in a demonstration of his polytype process, a method of reproducing handwriting or line drawings. (See the annotation of Samuel Vaughan, Jr., to BF , [April] 6, above.) BF visited Hoffmann on April 24 and...
4659Notes on the Association, 1748 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 5 to September 1, 1748. Between November 1747 and September 1748 the Pennsylvania Gazette printed many items about enemy privateering in the Delaware Bay and River, about defense, and about the Association. These notes are helpful in understanding many of the documents printed above. Because of their importance, not only as reference materials but...
4660Passport for Thomas Burdy, [2 August 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Passy, printed by Benjamin Franklin, 1779. Printed form, signed, with MS insertions in blanks: Public Record Office, London The first official document printed on Franklin’s Passy press seems to have been this passport, the first of many that would be issued throughout the war. All in French, identical in wording, the Passy passports vary only in typography—but there they differ widely. Among...
4661On the Candidacy of Barlow Trecothick, 8 March 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Chronicle, and Universal Advertiser , December 5–12, 1768; draft in American Philosophical Society. The essay as published in the Pennsylvania Chronicle purports to be a reprint from the London Gazetteer ; Crane presents strong presumptive evidence, however, that it was submitted in London but did not appear there ( Letters to the Press , p. 113). The draft in...
4662Comparison of Great Britain and America as to Credit, in 1777, [before 8 September 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress; copies: British Library, Library of Congress (two), Yale University Library In the Affair of Borrowing Money, a Man’s Credit depends on some or all of the following Particulars: 1. His known Conduct with regard to former Loans, in the Punctuality with which he discharg’d them. 2. His Industry in his Business. 3. His Frugality in his Expences. 4. The Solidity of...
4663Passport for British Merchant Ships, [ca. 3 February 1783] (Adams Papers)
We John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay, three of the Ministers Plenipotentiary of the United States of America for making Peace with Great Britain. To all Captains or Commanders of Ships of War, Privateers or armed Vessels belonging to the said States, or to either of them, or to any of the Citizens of the same—And to all others whom these Presents may concern send Greeting. Whereas...
4664The American Commissioners to the Baron von Thulemeier, 21 January 1785 (Adams Papers)
We have received the letter you did us the honour to write us on the 10 th day of December last. We supposed that the principles contained in the project of a Treaty, which we had the honour to transmit you, were a virtual answer to the requisition in the last lines of your letter of the eighteenth of October. By the second & third Articles, the citizens & subjects of each power may frequent...
4665Memorandum of Agreement with Samuel Holland, 14 June 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society Memorandum of Agreement made this 14th Day of June 1753, between Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Holland Printers, viz. That the said Benjamin Franklin doth let to the said S. Holland, his Printing Press and Types with other Printing Materials, now in the Possession of said Saml Holland at Lancaster except half the Long Primer Roman and Italic, on these Terms...
4666The American Commissioners to Samuel Tucker, 22 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 22, 1778: If the French sailors enlisted in your books are to go to Boston, they should return to the ship and receive their due in wages and prize money. Otherwise, the cruise being complete, they are entitled to collect what is owed them, deducting advances, and to...
4667Extract from Two Purported Letters by Franklin, 27 July [i.e., after 11 August] 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Samuel Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania ... (16 vols., Philadelphia, [1828–35]), VI , 37. We are extremely skeptical about both these extracts. The date of the first is certainly wrong, because Hodge was not arrested until August 11. Although Hayfield Conyngham, Gustavus’ cousin, may have received advice from Franklin, we have no other evidence of contact between...
4668The American Commissioners to Schweighauser, 25 May 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: National Archives <Passy, May 25, 1778: We enclose extracts of our letters today to Mr. Williams and Capt. Jones. Please give us advance notice of any large projected expenditure, so that we may decide whether we have the money for it; we are determined not to run into debt or make commitments we cannot honor.> Published in Butterfield, John...
4669The American Commissioners to Musco Livingston, 31 August 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives We are favoured with yours of the 24, and are not able to give you any certain Directions concerning the Duties upon C. Tucker’s Prizes. We have heretofore taken a great deal of Pains concerning the Subject of Prizes, and the Duties which must be paid upon them. Mr. Schweighauser of Nantes has obtained, as We...
4670The American Commissioners to S. and J.-H. Delap, 18 [i.e., 23] July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives Having the fullest Confidence in the Security you offer for Captain William Hill Sergeant, We herewith enclose a blank Bond for you to fill up, sign and return to us: We enclose also a Letter for Captain Sergeant with his Commission and Instructions. We have the Honour to be with great Esteem &c. The date as written...
4671The American Commissioners: Instructions to John Thornton, [11 December 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library The mistreatment of American prisoners of war in England had long been on the commissioners’ minds. In February they had suggested to Lord Stormont an exchange, and the Ambassador had not replied. In April they had sent him depositions to back their claim that the British were behaving like savages, and to...
4672The American Commissioners to [John Paul Jones], 15 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives Whereas we understand that Capt. Jones has in View to strike a Stroke upon the Enemy that may be greatly to their Damage, but in its nature not probably profitable to his Ship’s Company, unless some Reward be received from the Congress adequate to the Service done, And we being of Opinion that Rewards in such Cases are not only necessary for Encouragement, but are...
4673The American Commissioners to John Bondfield, 13 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two) We thank you for the civility of your favor of the 30th. ulto. and shall be obliged to you for the earliest communication of any interesting News that may reach your Port. We have the honor to be &c. &c. In Arthur Lee’s hand, on the verso of Bondfield’s letter above of March 30. The...
4674The Antediluvians Were All Very Sober, 1745 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society This MS in BF ’s autograph was dated “ circa 1745” in I. Minis Hays, Calendar of the Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Phila., 1908), III , 435. Van Doren accepted this in Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiographical Writings (N.Y., 1945), p. 48. There is no reason for changing it except, perhaps, that BF has suggested alternative words in pencil, which he used more...
4675The American Commissioners to Lambert Wickes, [25 February? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete (?) copy: Connecticut Historical Society Your first we did not receive till eight days after it was dated, your last of the 19th last Evening. We wish to know if the Captns. who have so little regard to their Parole sighnd a written parole or not. If they did we advise you to show it to the Intendant and desire they may be obligd to live up to it. We have applied to the British...
4676The American Commissioners to Jonathan Williams, Jr., with Franklin’s Proposed Substitute, 13 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives (two); (II) AL (incomplete draft): Library of Congress We are sorry to inform you, that the state of our funds admits of no farther expenditure without danger of bringing us into great difficulties. It is therefore our desire that you will abstain from any farther purchases, and close...
4677The American Commissioners to John Gilbank, 26 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives (two) We have received your Letter of the twenty first of this Month, and in Answer to it, We assure you that We cannot indorse your Bills, as you propose. We are your humble servants In JA ’s hand.
4678A Sword for the Marquis de Lafayette: Four Documents, [before 24 August–c. 24 August 1779] (Franklin Papers)
(I) D : American Philosophical Society; (II) ADS : American Philosophical Society; (III) AL : American Philosophical Society; (IV) D : National Archives; D (draft): American Philosophical Society On October 21, 1778, Congress granted Lafayette leave to return to France. They thanked him for the “disinterested zeal” that had brought him to America and directed Franklin to present him “an...
4679On Absentee Governors: I, 26 August 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , November 28–December 5, 1768, from The Public Advertiser , August 26, 1768. It is wonderful what a Clamour an unreasonable Opposition will often make against Measures of Government in themselves the most reasonable, just and prudent. The Assembly of Virginia had granted an ample fix’d Salary for the Support of their Governor. The Event was, that the...
4680Franklin: Discharge of Captain Fage’s Parole, 1 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Three copies: Public Record Office; ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Being informed by Richard Oswald, Esqr., Minister Plenipotentiary. from His Britannic Majesty to treat here of Peace, that General Conway desires much to have an English Officer, Capt. Fage of the Artillery, absolved of his Parole, having occasion for his Service as Aid de Camp; and Application being made to me for...
4681The American Commissioners to Sartine, 27 September 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; four copies: National Archives <Passy, September 27, 1778: We received yours of the 21st relative to the retaking of the Isabelle by Captain McNeill. Since comte d’Estaing has probably retaken American vessels from the English, we should soon have intelligence on how this was handled. In the meanwhile we have advised Captain McNeill to turn over...
4682The American Commissioners to Sartine, 16 July 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives <Passy, July 16, 1778: We shall take the first opportunity to send to Congress and the government of Massachusetts your letter of the 14th; it will, we are confident, lead to exertions for the relief of the islanders. Success is undoubted if British warships are withdrawn from the area; if not the difficulty will be...
4683The American Commissioners: Memorandum for the French and Spanish Courts, 23 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères, Archivo General de Simancas; DS (draft ): Princeton University Library; copy: Archivo Historico Nacional This memorandum had been in preparation for more than a fortnight. On the 8th Franklin had made the original draft, now lost, and Lee had suggested changes that his colleagues accepted; on the 9th the document was ready to be copied and...
4684Proposal for the Great Seal of the United States, [before 14 August 1776] (Franklin Papers)
On July 4, 1776, Franklin, John Adams, and Jefferson were named as a committee to suggest a seal. Each man proposed designs, and one of Jefferson’s closely resembled Franklin’s. In addition the painter Pierre Du Simitière, who had been called in as a consultant, produced a version of his own. A letter from John Adams of August 14 described the various proposals; hence Franklin’s had been...
4685Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in [William Clarke], Observations On the late and present Conduct of the French, with Regard to their Encroachments upon the British Colonies in North America. … To which is added, wrote by another Hand; Observations concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries,&c. Boston: Printed and Sold by S. Kneeland in Queen-Street. 1755. (Yale University Library) The “immediate...
4686William Denny, Franklin, and the Provincial Commissioners: Order to Pay Lewis Ourry, 29 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Per Week Col. 20 s . Pay to Lieut. Lewis Ourry, or Order, the Sum of Two Hundred and Forty-six Pounds Nine Shillings, being for the Discharge of the Quarters of 1 Col. 1 Lieut. Col. 1 Major, 7 Captains, 28 Subalterns, and 1 Surgeon, for 15 Weeks; 1 Capt. and 3 Lieuts. 17 Weeks; 2 Captains and 2 Lieuts. 3 Weeks, at the Rates in the Margin; it being...
4687Memorandum on a Proposed Dutch Loan, [April 1779] (Franklin Papers)
D : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères M. de Neuville d’amsterdam Continue a Donner de Bonnes Esperances Sur L’emprunt de M. franklin, qu’il n’a fait que pressentir parceque L’emprunt de Langleterre, La prise de Ste. Lucie, Celle de Pondichery et quelque tentatives Reelles ou Supposées de M. Neker pour trouver de L’argeant en hollande, luy ont parus trop importants pour operer en...
4688Smith, Wright & Gray Account Book, 1764–1774 (Franklin Papers)
MS account book: American Philosophical Society [April 24, 1764] In the spring of 1764 Franklin opened an account with the London banking firm of Smith, Wright & Gray; he kept it at least moderately active until the summer of 1774. A record of this account, separate from his other financial books and records, survives among his papers in the form of a comparatively small volume, of which 24...
4689On Titles of Honor, 18 February 1723 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Courant , February 18, 1723. Mero meridie si dixerit illi tenebras esse, credit. There is nothing in which Mankind reproach themselves more than in their Diversity of Opinions. Every Man sets himself above another in his own Opinion, and there are not two Men in the World whose Sentiments are alike in every thing. Hence it comes to pass, that the same Passages in the...
4690Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania, [October 1749] (Franklin Papers)
Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania. Philadelphia: Printed in the Year, M,DCC,XLIX . (Yale University Library) This pamphlet was printed after September 13, 1749, when Logan wrote the account of his library which Franklin printed in a footnote. It was printed before October 23, if, as seems likely, he enclosed it to Strahan, to whom he wrote on that day, “I am now...
4691The Legal Tender of Paper Money in America, 13 February 1767 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library This paper appears to be the “Hints of Arguments” Franklin told Jackson in the letter immediately below that he had drawn up for the use of the Duke of Grafton when the proposed bill for the repeal of the Currency Act should reach the House of Lords. The subject matter of the paper, its date, and the statement that it was “presented to one of the Ministry” all...
4692Franklin and Silas Deane to Gerard, 1 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; two AL (drafts): American Philosophical Society; copy: Harvard University Library; two copies: National Archives Mr. Lee having signified to us, that on farther Consideration he has changed his Sentiments relating to the 12th Article; and that he cannot join in Signing the Treaty if that Article remains in it: And as Unanimity is of some...
4693The Commissioners to Gabriel de Sartine, 17 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
We have received the Letter which your Excellency did Us the Honour to write to Us, on the 14 of this Month, and in answer to the Proposal Enquiry, contained in it, We beg Leave to acquaint your Excellency that there is not now in France, nor to our Knowledge, in Europe, any Frigate or other Vessell of War, belonging to the United States. If there was, We should not hesitate to order her,...
4694Bill of Exchange Drawn on Robert Morris, 16 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society Exchange for £4000. Tournois. At thirty Days Sight of this my first of Exchange, Second, Third and Fourth not paid, Pay to the Count de Langeron or order, the Value of Four Thousand Livres Tournois, in the current Specie of the United States, according to the then common Rate of Exchange, with or without Advice from, Sir, Your humble Servant We publish the...
4695The American Commissioners to Vergennes, 26 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères We beg your Excellency’s Permission to make an appeal from the Judgment of the Admiralty at Nantes which ordains a confiscation of two Prizes (British Westindia Ships) taken legally on the high seas by two American Privateers, and that Your Excellency will be pleased to request his Majesty to suspend the Departure of those Prizes, and their...
4696Franklin or Arthur Lee (?) to Genet, [c. 26 October 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amérique XII , part II , cahier LVIII , pp. ccxxv–ccxl On October 24 Genet wrote each of the commissioners asking a response to a number of articles in a New York loyalist newspaper. The Affaires in its cahier dated October 26 (but probably published somewhat later) printed three such responses. The third of these (pp. ccxl–ccxlvii) was a translation...
4697Articles of Agreement with James Parker, 20 February 1742 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society Articles of Agreement indented made the twentieth Day of February in the year of our Lord, One Thousand seven Hundred and Forty-One, Between Benjamin Franklin, of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania Printer, of the One Part, and James Parker of the said City, Printer, of the other Part: Whereas the said Benjamin Franklin, and James...
4698Scheme for Supplying the Colonies with a Paper Currency, [11–12 February? 1765] (Franklin Papers)
Draft (first part only): American Philosophical Society; remainder reprinted from Thomas Pownall, The Administration of the Colonies (4th edition, London, 1768), pp. 243–53. When Franklin first heard that Grenville had proposed an act of parliament levying stamp duties on the colonies, he wrote Richard Jackson, June 25, 1764, that he thought he “could propose a better Mode by far, both for us...
4699Reply to a Piece of Advice, 4 March 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , March 4, 1734/5. In your Paper of the 18th past, some Verses were inserted, said to be design’d as a Piece of Advice to a good Friend. As this Piece of Advice, if it had been intended for a particular Friend alone, might have been as well convey’d to him privately; I suppose the Author by getting it publish’d, thinks it may be of Use to great Numbers of...
4700Franklin: Answers to Queries from Dr. Ingenhousz, [after 3 May 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Question I. Answer By the Circumstances that have appear’d to me, in all the Jarrs that I have seen perforated at the Time of their Explosion, I have imagined that the Charge did not pass by those Perforations. Several single Jarrs that have broke while I was charging them, have shown, besides the Perforation in the Body, a Trace on both sides the Neck,...