4701Charter Party between the Secret Committee and Joseph Hewes, 14 February 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy (microfilm): University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill <February 14, 1776: The agreement is between members of the committee and Joseph Hewes of North Carolina, merchant, one of the owners of the brigantine Fanny of approximately 150 tons, now in the York River, to hire her for a voyage to Europe. She will be in good condition and well provisioned and manned. The owners will pay...
4702Notes on the Journey from Boston to Philadelphia in 1723, [c. 29 November 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society This list of days, numbers, and abbreviated words was scrawled on the verso of Ferdinand Grand’s letter of November 29. They show Franklin reconstructing his flight from Boston at the age of seventeen, which he had described in Part I of his autobiography, written in 1771. He did not have that text with him in France, but in December, 1782, he had received a...
4703Advertisement for Wagons, 22 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , May. 22, 1755 Forty-One Waggons are immediately wanted, to carry each a Load of Oats and Indian-Corn from Philadelphia to Wills’s Creek, for which they are to be paid at their Return Twelve Pounds each Waggon. Protections and Passes will be given the Waggoners by Authority of the General, to prevent their being impressed, or detained after Delivery of...
4704[Duportail and the American Commissioners]: Memorandum on Terms of Service, [11 January 1777] (Franklin Papers)
D : American Philosophical Society 1. M. de Portal demands to be at the Head of the Corps d’Ingenieurs in America: and under the Orders only of the General, or the Commander in chief in the Place where he may be. 2. He demands a Rank superior to that he enjoys at present, which is Major in the marine Infantry. 3. He proposes to take two Captains of the same Professions with him: to whom should...
4705Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One, 11 September 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , September 11, 1773; incomplete draft and notes: American Philosophical Society Franklin was pleased with this satire, which was a companion piece to “An Edict by the King of Prussia.” Both had the virtues, he believed, of brevity, comprehensiveness, and “out-of-the-way forms” that caught attention; but he preferred the “Rules” to the “Edict” for the breadth...
4706New Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Part III [September 1754] (Franklin Papers)
New Experiments and Observations on Electricity. Made at Philadelphia in America. By Benjamin Franklin, Esq; Communicated to P. Collinson, Esq; of London, F.R.S. And read at the Royal Society June 27, and July 4, 1754. To which are added A Paper on the same Subject by J. Canton, M.A. F.R.S. and read at the Royal Society Dec. 6, 1753; and another in defence of Mr Franklin against the Abbe...
4707Franklin’s Draft Memoranda to Congress, 15 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) AL (draft): American Philosophical Society As I find I have given great Offence to the honble Mr Izard & perhaps to the honble Mr Wm Lee by refusing my Assent to the Payment of their Late Drafts on the Commissioners; & as considering my Age it is probable I may never have an Opportunity in Person of explaining my Conduct in that Business to the Congress, and it may be subject to...
4708Last Will and Testament, 28 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia I Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia, Printer, being in my usual Health of Body and Mind (blessed be God) do this twenty-eighth Day of April, in the Year 1757, make, publish, sign and seal, this my last Will and Testament, viz. I will that all my just Debts, if any there are at the Time of my Decease, be paid as soon as may be after that...
4709[Two Dialogues between Philocles and Horatio, concerning Virtue and Pleasure, 23 June 1730, 9 July 1730] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 23 and July 9, 1730. Duane included these two dialogues and seven other pieces from the Gazette in his edition of Franklin’s writings ( Works , iv, 367–405) on the basis of a note, purportedly in Franklin’s hand, on the inside cover of a bound volume of the Gazette listing the essays and stating that they were “written by B.F.” Later editors have...
4710Poor Richard Improved, 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris … for the Year of our Lord 1751 . … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall. (Yale University Library) Astrology is one of the most ancient Sciences, had in high Esteem of old, by the Wise and Great. Formerly, no Prince would make War or Peace, nor any General fight a Battle, in short, no...
4711[Public Men, 10 September 1730] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , September 10, 1730. Although the paragraph in the Gazette introducing this essay may be BF ’s, its entire text is taken, with unimportant excisions, from Edward Bysshe’s translation of Xenophon’s The Memorable Things of Socrates (London, 1712), pp. 107–14. Duane printed it in his edition of BF ’s writings ( Works , IV , 401–5), as did Sparks and Bigelow;...
4712Answers to “The Claim of the American Loyalists,” [during or after February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library In the latter part of February, 1783, William Franklin and the other Loyalist representatives who had submitted a petition to Parliament at the beginning of the month published a pamphlet entitled The Case and Claim of the American Loyalists Impartially Stated and Considered . The first section, “The Case of the American Loyalists,” reviewed the...
4713Intended Vindication and Offer from Congress to Parliament, [before 21 July 1775] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , July 18, 1777. This document has often been reprinted but, for good reason, never explained. When it appeared in the Public Advertiser in 1777, it was introduced with what purported to be an account of its origin: “The following Paper was drawn up in a Committee of Congress, June 25, 1775, but does not appear in their Minutes, a severe Act of Parliament which...
4714Petition to the King in Council, [2 February 1759] (Franklin Papers)
I. Draft: American Philosophical Society. II. Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; also two additional copies: Historical Society of Pennsylvania During the Indian conference at Easton in November 1756, the Delaware chieftain Teedyuscung, dramatically accused the Proprietors of having defrauded his people of lands in northeastern Pennsylvania. Governor Denny promptly relayed this charge...
4715Address by Pennsylvania and Virginia Delegates in Congress to the Inhabitants West of Laurel Hill, 25 July 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress <Philadelphia, July 25, 1775: We are concerned about your continuing boundary disputes. We do not inquire into their origins or merits but, as representatives of two of the colonies united to defend the liberties of America, have the duty to remove if we can every obstacle that prevents Americans from co-operating to that end. This is our motive for earnestly...
4716Extracts from the Gazette, 1737 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 6 to December 29, 1737. Thursday Evening last [ should be Wednesday, Dec. 29], the Weather being very cold and clear, we had a fair and surprizing Appearance of the Aurora Borealis , or Northern Twilight . It was more red and luminous than that which we saw here about Six Years ago: Insomuch that People in the Southern Parts of the Town, imagin’d...
4717Note Respecting Trade and Manufactures, 7 July 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress This memorandum may have been intended as a newspaper article, although the editors have not discovered any printing of it in the London or Philadelphia papers. On the other hand, BF may have written it only for his own or his friends’ amusement. The manuscript is badly torn along its right side, so that many words are lost. The missing words have been supplied from...
4718Plain Truth, 17 November 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Plain Truth: or, Serious Considerations On the Present State of the City of Philadelphia, and Province of Pennsylvania. By a Tradesman of Philadelphia. Printed in the Year MDCCXLVII . (Yale University Library) During the late spring and early summer of 1747 the activity of French and Spanish privateers had been increasing off the Delaware capes, and each week’s newspapers reported some new...
4719Proposed Article Regarding Article 7 of the Preliminary Peace Treaty, 28 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
Article. His Britannic Majesty agrees, that within Months from this Date, and as much Sooner as may be, he will withdraw all his Armies, Garrisons and Fleets, from the Said United States, and from every Port Place and Harbour within the Same, and without causing any Destruction, or carrying away any Negroes, or other Property of the American Inhabitants, and leaving in all Fortifications the...
4720Standing Queries for the Junto, 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces , ed. Benjamin Vaughan, (London, 1779), pp. 533–6; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1727 Franklin “form’d most of my ingenious Acquaintances into a Club for mutual Improvement, which we called the Junto.” An important inspiration for it was the deep influence which Cotton Mather’s...
4721Obituary of Thomas Hopkinson, 14 November 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 14, 1751. Last Week died here the honourable Thomas Hopkinson , Esq; Judge of the Admiralty for this Province, one of the Governor’s Council, and Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, &c. A Gentleman possessed of many Virtues, without the Alloy of one single Vice; and distinguish’d for his Attachment to the...
4722Extracts from the Gazette, 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 4 to December 28, 1732. ⁂ We have no Entries this Week, the River being full of Ice. [January 4] Lost last Saturday Night, in Market Street, about 40 or 50 s. If the Finder will bring it to the Printer hereof, who will describe the Marks, he shall have 10 s. Reward. [March 30] [ Advertisement ] Choice Flour of Mustard-Seed , in Bottles, very...
4723Agreement to Admit the Ohio Company as Co-Purchasers with the Grand Ohio Company, 7 May 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Historical Magazine and Notes and Queries, Concerning the Antiquities, History and Biography of America , second series, III (1868), 18. As soon as word got about that the Grand Ohio Company had asked in January for a grant of twenty million acres, rival claimants to western lands became intensely active in London. The Mississippi Company, represented by Arthur Lee, had a...
4724Silence Dogood, No. 9, 23 July 1722 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Courant , July 23, 1722. Corruptio optimi est pessima. It has been for some Time a Question with me, Whether a Commonwealth suffers more by hypocritical Pretenders to Religion, or by the openly Profane? But some late Thoughts of this Nature, have inclined me to think, that the Hypocrite is the most dangerous Person of the Two, especially if he sustains a Post in the...
4725On the Need for an Academy, 24 August 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , August 24, 1749. By 1740 Franklin was well satisfied with his condition and prospects in Pennsylvania, but he regretted that no provision was made “for a compleat Education of Youth.” He “therefore in 1743, drew up a Proposal for establishing an Academy,” which he discussed with Rev. Richard Peters, whom he considered suitable to head such an institution....
4726Silence Dogood, No. 13, 24 September 1722 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Courant , September 24, 1722. In Persons of a contemplative Disposition, the most indifferent Things provoke the Exercise of the Imagination; and the Satisfactions which often arise to them thereby, are a certain Relief to the Labour of the Mind (when it has been intensely fix’d on more substantial Subjects) as well as to that of the Body. In one of the late pleasant...
4727The Organization of John Van Etten’s Company, 12 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
I. DS : New York Public Library. II. MS , and III. DS : Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The three documents printed together here illustrate how a company of provincial troops was organized in 1756 and, in general, what was expected of its members. All three are in the hand of William Franklin, who accompanied and assisted his father throughout the period of service on the...
4728An Account of the Export of Provisions from Philadelphia, [16 February 1741] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The General Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for all the British Plantations in America , I (January 1741), 75. (Yale University Library) Eighteenth-century periodicals contained almost nothing original, and the General Magazine was no exception. The printer extracted news from American and English papers, essays from London journals, and laws, proclamations, treaties, debates,...
4729Genealogical Chart of the Franklin Family, [July 1758] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Soon after returning to London from his July visit to Ecton and Banbury, Franklin made an elaborate genealogical chart in which he brought together both the information he had gathered on this trip and his own previous knowledge. He drew circles to represent individuals and inserted in each (sometimes spilling over the edges) such vital data as he had...
4730Poor Richard, 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1735. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1735 ... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) This is the third Time of my appearing in print, hitherto very much to my own Satisfaction, and, I have reason to hope, to the Satisfaction of the Publick also; for the Publick is...
4731Passport for John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Servant, [7 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Yale University Library Nous Benjamin Franklin Ministre Plenipotentiaire des treize Etats Unis de l’Amerique septentrionale Prions touts ceux qui sont a prier de vouloir bien laisser surement et librement passer l’honorable John Adams sujet des dits Etats allant a Nantes avec son fils et un Domestique sans leur donner ni permettre qu’il leur soit donné aucun Empechement, mais au contraire...
4732Franklin’s Journal of His Health, 4 October 1778[–16 January 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress As my Constitution appears to have undergone some considerable Changes within the last 3 or 4 Years, it may be of Use to make some Notes of the Changes past, and to continue them, in order to ascertain what are hurtful or beneficial. I had enjoy’d continu’d Health for near 20 Years, except once in two or three Years a slight Fit of the Gout, which generally terminated...
4733Franklin’s Account with the Province of Georgia, [2 May 1774]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
DS. Yale University Library; ADS : American Philosophical Society <London, May 2, 1774. The first entry is June 1, 1769, and the last April 30, 1774. The charges are for three years’ salary at £100 per annum, £107 12 s. 9 d. for a mace and gowns, £16 1 s. 2 d. for the legal services of Thomas Life, and £15 12 s. for miscellaneous expenses, a total of £439 5
4734On Conversation, 15 October 1730 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , October 15, 1730. The opinions expressed in this essay are exactly those Franklin is known to have held and which he set down in his autobiography and elsewhere. In addition the style and organization seem very like those of the young Franklin—sometimes colloquial and anecdotal, always clear and competent, though not yet exhibiting that mastery of language...
4735The American Commissioners: Request for Payment from the Farmers General, [before 30 May 1777] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Pennsylvania Library Nous soussignés tant en notre nom que comme fondés des pouvoirs des colonies unies de l’Amérique Septentrionale prions M. De St. Marc Receveur général des fermes du Roy à Paris de payer au Trente May préfix à M. Grand Banquier demeurant à Paris que nous avons à cet effet choisi et désigné la somme d’un million de Livres pour le premier terme convenu et...
4736Extract from a Pamphlet, [9 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , April 7–9, 1767 As the bare letter of a Governor of one of our provinces, accusing his People of rebellious intentions , is by many here thought sufficient ground for inflicting penalties on such province, unheard , without farther evidence , and without knowing what it may have to say in its justification: I wish you would give the Public the following...
4737Queries on the Plan of Association, 4 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , March 4, 1756; also printed in The Pennsylvania Journal , March 4, 1756. When Governor Morris signed Franklin’s commission as colonel of the Philadelphia City Regiment on Feb. 24, 1756, he knew very well its importance in the complex and continuing struggle over defense, which at this time centered on implementation of the Militia Act, and was conducted at...
4738Franklin’s Use of “Prudential Algebra,” [before 3 August 1773?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society These seemingly random jottings turn out to have more significance than at first appears. They are the only example we have yet encountered of Franklin’s using his private decision-making method, which he had offered to Priestley the year before. It involved listing in separate columns the reasons for and against a given action, then striking out those that...
4739Scheme of the Second Philadelphia Lottery, 2 June 1748 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 2, 1748. The drawing of the First Philadelphia Lottery was followed immediately with a proposal to open a second, in which the tickets should be of four classes and prices instead of one, and prizes would be pieces of eight. To meet the demand for coin the Lottery Managers bought dollars in New York, Rhode Island, and Boston. Franklin printed 500...
4740Franklin and Hall: Notice to Debtors, 25 April 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 25, 1765. As the Partnership of Franklin and Hall , Printers of this Paper, is now near expired, a Settlement of the Accounts betwixt them is become absolutely necessary; and there being a very considerable Number of Sums, both great and small, due to said Partnership, and many of them of a long Standing, this serves earnestly to request all indebted...
4741A Defense of Conduct, 15 February 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 15, 1737/8. Dr. Evan Jones, “chymist” at the Golden Paracelsus’ Head in Philadelphia, had a simple-minded apprentice Daniel Rees, who thought he wanted to be a Mason. With several cronies, one a renegade Mason, Jones, thinking to have some agreeable sport, set up a burlesque initiation ceremony, complete with scandalous oath of allegiance to...
4742List of Medals Awarded by the United States, 17 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Liste des Mèdailles accordées par Les ètats unis de L’amerique depuis Le Commencement de La guèrre jusqu’en 1780.—six medailles. Noms. actions années. son excèllence Le general wasshington pour La prise de boston 1775. son excèllence Le gènèral gates pour La prise de L’armèe de burgoyne à saratoga 1777. son excèllence Le gènèral wayne. blessè . pour La prise du fort...
4743Household Accounts of Benjamin Franklin and John Adams at Passy, 1 October 1778 – 23 February 1779 (Adams Papers)
1778 1778 Octr. 1 Passy Octr. 1. 1778 Sir Pay to the honble. John Adams Esqr., or order the Sum of Six thousand Livres, and Charge the Same to Account of the Commissioners 6000. B. Franklin John Adams Oct. 2 Cabaret for Stationary, per Receipt 84. 10. 6 Washerwomans Account for D. Franklin 78. 12 Dennis Account
4744Franklin and Chaumont: Agreement on Accounts and Receipt, [28 May 1784] (Franklin Papers)
(I) ADS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; press copy of ADS : American Philosophical Society; D (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: the marquis de Bausset, Ivry-sur-Seine (1961); (II) press copies of two DS : American Philosophical Society The “Experiment” that Franklin proposed to his landlord on May 2 succeeded. Chaumont finally accepted the judgment that their arbitrator,...
4745Slippery Sidewalks, 11 January 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 11, 1732/3. Walking the Street on one of these late slippery Mornings, I caught two terrible Falls, which made me, by way of Precaution for the future, get my Shoes frosted before I went home: for I am a stiff old Fellow, and my Joints none of the most pliant. At the Door before which I fell last, stood a Gentleman-like Looby, with a couple of...
4746“A Virginian”: First Reply to Mr. Pym, 23 August 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Lloyd’s Evening Post, And British Chronicle , August 30–September 2, 1765. During 1765 and 1766 the English newspapers printed many letters and other contributed pieces on both sides of the controversies relating to the colonies. Unquestionably, one of the most important of the writers was Benjamin Franklin. Yet, because he, like most of the others, signed his pieces only with a...
4747Authorization to William Frizzel to Carry Mail, 10 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Princeton University Library I do hereby permit William Frizzel, to carry and deliver Letters between Philadelphia and Lancaster, and to receive the usual Postage for his own Use, till a regular Post shall be established for that Stage. Endorsed: Benjn. Franklin’s Comission to of [ sic ] Wm Frizzle to ride Post 1757 William Frizel ( sic ) announced in Pa. Gaz ., Aug. 24, 1758, that after...
4748An Open Letter to Lord Buckinghamshire, [4 March 1774] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , March 9, 1774. You gave us Reason to expect some Weeks ago that you would move the House of Peers with a Subject of some Importance. The Public was amused, as the Custom is on such Occasions, with guessing what the Subject might be. It is now said that you intended to bring on the Affairs of North America, but the Motion is deferred till some further Accounts...
4749Silence Dogood, No. 11, 20 August 1722 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Courant , August 20, 1722. Neque licitum interea est meam amicam visere. From a natural Compassion to my Fellow-Creatures, I have sometimes been betray’d into Tears at the Sight of an Object of Charity, who by a bear [ sic ] Relation of his Circumstances, seem’d to demand the Assistance of those about him. The following Petition represents in so lively a Manner the...
4750Paragraph on the Treatment of Massachusetts, 14 March 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , March 14, 1774. It is proper the Public should be informed, that while every Species of Falshood, Invective and Abuse is daily uttered in every Newspaper against the People of Massachusetts Bay; while they are branded as Rebels, Insurgents, &c. while W——e is hired to calumniate them in Speeches and M——t in Pamphlets; the Representatives are absolutely...