201From Benjamin Franklin to Giambatista Beccaria, 11 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Retranslated from the Italian in Giuseppe A. G. S. Eandi, Memorie istoriche intorno gli studi del padre Giambatista Beccaria … ([Turin,] 1783), pp. 149–50. I embrace this opportunity to greet you through Signor Fromond, your most ingenious fellow countryman, and to let you know that, because my ongoing commitment to various affairs precludes my doing further research in our favorite science, I...
202Franklin’s Contributions to an Abridgment of the Book of Common Prayer, [before 5 August 1773] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in [Baron Le Despencer,] Abridgement of the Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Church of England: Together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David … (London, 1773), pp. iii-vii and verso of Psalter title page; “Some Heads for a Preface,” Dashwood Papers, Bodleian Library; three MS...
203From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 4 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I hope you continue well tho’ I have not had the Pleasure of hearing from you since your Favour of Jan. 13. The Seeds I sent you last Year were not as you supposed from that Mr. Ellis who had been your Governor, but from another of the Name, Author of the enclos’d Pamphlet. I now send you a few more East India Seeds which I had from another Quarter....
204Franklin’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...
205From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 3 August 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress <West Wycomb, at Lord Le Despencer’s, August 3, 1773: Has received Colden’s of June 2 enclosing seconds of “sundry Bills acknowledg’d in my last” and the first of Willing & Morris on Harris & Co. for £15. Encloses Ogle’s protested bill on Anderson for £83 10 s. 3 d. , which with charges totals £83 16 s. Compliments to Mrs. Colden.> See the letter BF...
206From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 3 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you pretty fully by Capt. All viâ Philadelphia, and have not since heard from you. I did purpose to have visited you in the September Packet, but begin to see that I must stay here one Winter more, on Account of some Publick Business of Importance. The Ohio Grant is still unfinish’d, and like to continue so for some time, as the Attorney...
207From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am com hither to spend a few Days and breathe a little fresh Air. Nothing material has occurr’d since mine per sutton, except the final Hearing at the Cockpit relating to Gov. Wentworth, against whose Conduct the Board of Trade had reported, and the Hearing was at the Instance of his Friends against the Report. Their Lordships have not yet given...
208From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 3 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I was in hopes the Acts passed at your Winter Session, particularly the Paper-money Act might have been presented so as to come under Consideration before the Recess of the Boards. But they have not yet made their Appearance. I had Thoughts of returning this Fall, but have now concluded to stay another Winter, thinking my being here may be of Use...
209From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you per Capt. Osborne, and have little to add, but that I had yesterday a Line from Preston expressing their Joy on the News I had communicated to them of their new Relation, that they were all well, and should write to you in a few Days via Liverpoole. This will be delivered to you by Messrs. John Hewson and Nathaniel Norgrove, who are...
210From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
LS : British Museum; ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you on the 7th Instant pretty fully, and am since favor’d with yours of June 14. I am much pleased with the Proposal of the Virginia Assembly, and the respectful manner in which it has been received by ours. I think it likely to produce very salutary Effects. I am glad to know your Opinion that those Letters came...
211From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I am favour’d with yours of June 14 and 16. the latter containing some Copies of the spirited Resolves of the Committee upon the Letters. I see from your Account of the Transaction, that you could not well prevent what was done. As to the Rumour that other Copies were come from England, I know that could not be. It was an...
212From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Danforth, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft) and copy: Library of Congress It gave me great Pleasure to receive so chearful an Epistle from a Friend of half a Century’s Standing, and to see him commencing Life anew in so valuable a Son. I hope the young Gentleman’s Patent will be as [beneficial] to him as his Invention must be to the Publick. I see by the Papers that you continue to afford her your [services,]...
213From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you pretty fully per Osborne, since which I attended the Hearing at the Council Board against the Report of the Board of Trade on the Complaint of Mr. Livius. I think I sent you a Copy of the Complaint and Answer among the Pamphlets, containing also the Report. The Time was only sufficient to hear the Counsel for Govr. Wentworth and...
214From 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...
215From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 15 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I have now before me yours of April 6, and 29, May 21. and June 1. I rejoice with you in the first place on the good News contain’d in your last, that Sally is safely delivered of another Son. I hope he will prove a Blessing to you both. I wish your new Shop Business to prove profitable, and do not doubt it if the Shop is closely attended. Will not...
216From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 15 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I sent you per Capt. All the last Voyage some Netting Lace of our poor Cousin’s Making in Buckinghamshire: You have not mention’d how you liked it; but I now send the Remainder. The Silk Committee were so good as to make me a Present of 4 pound of Raw Silk. I have had it work’d up with some Addition of the same Silk...
217From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Smith, 15 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL (fragment of letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am much obliged by your kind Care in receiving what the Assembly have been so good as to allow me. Please to [ Franklin’s memorandum: ] Wrote to Abel James and Govr. Franklin in Recommendation of Morris Birkbeck a Quaker who goes over to look for lands. The fragment has been crossed out, presumably by BF himself. The recommendations have...
218From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Benezet, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your Favour of April 24. with the Pamphlets for which I thank you. I am glad to hear that such humane Sentiments prevail so much more generally than heretofore, that there is Reason to hope Our Colonies may in time get clear of a Practice that disgraces them, and without producing any equivalent Benefit, is dangerous to their very...
219From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; letterbook draft: Library of Congress Inclos’d is the Broker’s Account of Sales of the last Silk, Accounts of Charges, and my Account Current. The Price is not so high as we might have expected if the Ruin of Paper Credit here had not occasioned such a Scarcity of Currency as put a Stop to a Great Part of the Silk Business as well as other Businesses...
220From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of June 7. and am glad to find by it that you are safely return’d from your Virginia Journey, having settled your Affairs there to Satisfaction, and that you found your Family well at New York. I feel for you in the Fall you had out of your Chair. I have had three of those Squelches in different Journeys, and never desire a fourth. I...
221From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress This letter has hitherto been published only in an extract, which omitted a long section at the beginning and a somewhat shorter one at the end. The beginning is of particular interest, because in it Franklin discussed his view of settlers’ rights, as opposed to the rights of the crown, in land acquired from the Indians. That view came extremely...
222From Benjamin Franklin to George Morgan, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of May 4. inclosing one for Mr. Wharton. I sent it to him, requesting that he would let me know what I should write to you upon it. He call’d upon me soon after, and assur’d me, that tho’ there had been some Misunderstanding with Regard to the Partners, [the] Aff[ection be]tween him and Mr. Baynton, [ torn ] thinking they could much...
223From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I received your Favour of May 1. with the Pamphlet for which I am obliged to you. It is well written. I hope in time that the Friends to Liberty and Humanity will get the better of a Practice that has so long disgrac’d our Nation and Religion. A few Days after I receiv’d your Packet for M. Dubourg, I had an Opportunity of...
224From 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...
225From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
LS : British Museum; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I received your very valuable Favours of March 15, and April 23. It rejoices me to find your Health so far restored, that your Friends can again be benefitted by your Correspondence. The Governor was certainly out in his Politicks, if he hoped to recommend himself here by entring upon that Dispute with the Assembly. His imprudence in...
226From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am favoured with yours of April 20, and May 6. The Letters communicated to you were not merely to “satisfy the Curiosity” of any, but it was thought there might be a Use in showing them to some Friends of the Province, and even to some of the Governor’s Party, for their more certain Information concerning his Conduct and...
227From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Franklin, 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mr. John H. Bradshaw, Lahaska, Pa. (1975); letterbook draft: Library of Congress; transcript: New England Historic, Genealogical Society I received your kind Letter of Nov. 6. and was glad to hear of the Welfare of yourself and Family, which I hope continues. Sally Franklin is lately married to Mr. James Pierce, a substantial young Farmer at Ewell, about 13 Miles from London; a very...
228From Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress By forwarding the Hutchinson letters Franklin had jeopardized his position in London; by writing this one he exposed himself, without knowing it, to eventual prosecution. The letter was addressed to the Speaker but intended for the House, where it was not read until January, 1774. Long before that, however, its contents became known. The point of the...
229From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Mather, 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft) and extract: Library of Congress By a Line of the 4th. past, I acknowledged the Receipt of your Favour of March 18. and sent you with it two Pamphlets. I now add another, a spirited Address to the Bishops who opposed the Dissenter’s Petition. It is written by a Dissenting Minister at York. There is preserv’d at the End of it a little fugitive Piece of mine, written on...
230From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I believe it is long since I have written any Letters to you. I hope you will excuse it. I am oppress’d with too much Writing, and am apt to postpone when I presume upon some Indulgence. I received duly yours of Jan. 19. Apr. 20. May 5 and May 15. Our Relations Jenkins and Paddock came to see me. They seem to be clever sensible Men. Is there not a...
231From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Sr., 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Pierpont Morgan Library; ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress In looking over your Letters I find in that of Nov. 12, mention of a Prize of £20 which you have drawn. It never came into my Hands, and I cannot find that Smith, Wright and Gray know any thing of it. If I knew the No. of the Ticket, I could enquire farther. I am much obliged by your Care in Hall’s Affair and glad you...
232From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I rejoiced to learn by yours of Dec. 26, that your Business went on so prosperously, and that you keep Touch so well with my good Neighbour Mr. Warren. I think that by persisting steadily in your Plan, you will find the Profits encrease yearly, and become at length very considerable. And all along you will have...
233From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; transcript: University of Virginia Library I am here in my Way to Oxford, where I am going to be present at the Installation, and shall stay a few Days among my Friends there. By Capt. All who sails next Week I shall write fully to you, and to Friends in Philadelphia. This is my only Letter per Packet. Love to our Children, and to Benny Boy. I am,...
234From Benjamin Franklin to Matthew Maty, 1 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society Our ingenious and worthy Brother Mr. Walsh, having long had an Intention of drawing up from his Minutes a full Account of the numerous Experiments he made on the Torpedo, which Intention his other Avocations have not permitted him to execute, it is but lately that I have obtain’d his Permission to lay before the Society what he had in the...
235From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, [June? 1773] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Extract from Kalm’s Travels into America. “It has been found repeatedly that these Trees [Peach Trees] can stand the Frost much better on Hills than in the Vallies; insomuch that when those in a Valley were killed by the Frost, those on a Hill were not hurt at all. It is remarkable that in cold Nights, all the Leaves to the height of 7 and even of 10 feet from the...
236From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 29 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I wrote to you by favour of M. Poissonnier, on the 22d Instant, since which I have received yours of the 20th. with some more Sheets. I have now gone through all that are come to hand, and the following are all the Corrections that occur to me to propose for your Errata, some of which are scarce worth Notice. Premiere Partie Page 295 line 11. from...
237From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy, 22 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society However glad I am of the Occasion, I forbore indulging my self in the Pleasure of congratulating by the first Post my dear double Confrere, on his Election into our Royal Society; because Mr. Walsh undertook to give you the Information, which would make a Second Expence unnecessary, and I saw I should soon have this opportunity by the favour of M....
238From Benjamin Franklin to François Rozier, 22 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I am much oblig’d by your very polite Letter and Present of your valuable Collection. Please to accept my hearty Thanks. I had before purchased of M. Magalhaens all the Numbers of small Form. I think it must prove a useful Work to Science in general, and I wish it Success. When any thing occurs to me that may be suitable for it I shall not...
239From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 4 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I can now only acknowledge the Receipt of your much esteem’d Favours of March 15 and Apr. 23. which gave me great Satisfaction. By the next Opportunity I purpose to write to you fully, and among other Things give you my Thoughts on the Warming of your Meeting-house. I send you a french Pamphlet containing some liberal Sentiments on...
240From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 4 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress In the paragraph of this letter that deals with the Tea Act, Franklin implies that the purpose of the statute was “to keep up the Exercise of the Right” to tax the colonies. This idea was sure to be a red rag to the Bostonian bull. All that is known about the passage of the act, however, indicates that the ministry avoided the...
241From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Mather, 4 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your respected Favour of March 18. with the valuable Pamphlets it enclosed for which I thank you: By the next Opportunity I shall do myself the Honour of writing to you fully. At present I can only add that I am, with great Esteem and Respect, Reverend Sir, Your obliged and most obedient humble Servant [ In the margin: ] I send you a...
242From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Sr., 4 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I have just time to acknowledge the Receipt of yours of April 15. with the £50 Bill, (Ross and Mills) part of the Money you receiv’d for me of Hall. I have purchased the Things for my Sister directed in her Invoice, and they go by this Ship. I shall do you every Service in my Power relating to the Commission Business, &c. Tell Jonathan I received his...
243From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 2 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of April 7. inclosing Coningham and Nesbit’s Bill on D. Harvey & Co for £200 with which your Account is credited. In my last I acknowledged the Receipt of Christie’s renew’d Bill for £338 17 s. 2½ d. I am glad the last Years Accounts are to come by the next Packet, for then we shall have the whole settled and pass’d together, there...
244From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 2 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL (copy ): Public Record Office; ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Since my last, which was of the 6th past, I have been honour’d with yours of March 6. and 24. inclosing a Petition to the King, and a Letter to Lord Dartmouth. On considering the whole, I concluded that a longer Delay of presenting the first Petition and Remonstrance was not likely to answer any good Purpose, and...
245From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received yours per Capt. All. This is just to let you know I am well, as all our other Friends here are: I have been so hindred to day, that I can only add my Love to our Children, and that I am ever, Dear Debby, Your affectionate Husband The letter was DF ’s of April 28, now lost, which BF mentioned in writing her on July 15. Capt. All in the Richard Penn...
246From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 28 May–1 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete draft): American Philosophical Society; incomplete translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), 1, 321. I have received your Favour of the 13th Instant with several Packets of the Sheets. I have examined more of them, and hope to finish examining the rest before next Post, when I shall send you what Remarks have...
247From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg and Thomas-François Dalibard, [on or before 25 May 1773] (Franklin Papers)
Translation printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed. Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 332–4. Ma réponse à vos questions sur l’attendrissement des viandes par l’électricité ne peut être fondée que sur des conjectures; car je n’ai pas des expériences suffisantes pour garantir les faits. Tout ce que je puis donc dire pour le présent, c’est que je suppose qu’on peut employer...
248Franklin’s Contributions to a History of the British Colonies in America, [before 20 May 1773] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The History of the British Dominions in North America from the First Discovery of That Vast Continent by Sebastian Cabot in 1497, to Its Present Glorious Establishment as Confirmed by the Late Treaty of Peace in 1763 … (London, 1773); draft of one paragraph: American Philosophical Society In the spring of 1773 William Strahan published a volume of American history, presumably in the...
249From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 6 May 1773 (Franklin Papers)
LS (duplicate): Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress Franklin’s account in this letter of his interview with Lord Dartmouth indicates how little scope was left to either of them, two years before Lexington, to further reconciliation between Massachusetts and the mother country. Both the Englishman and the American wanted an end to the quarrel, yet neither could find a...
250From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 4 May 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 312. Ce jeune Docteur est mort, et toutes les notes qu’il avoit faites de ses curieuses expériences ont été perdues par je ne sçais quel accident entre nos amis le Chevalier Jean Pringle, et le Docteur Huck; mais il paroit que ces Messieurs, s’ils ne retrouvent pas les papiers, comptent...