2551Memorandum on the Use of Pikes, 26 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society The Pennsylvania committee of safety, almost immediately after its creation in June, 1775, began to consider arming the associators with pikes. In early July it asked to see models, and ordered a prototype made according to Franklin’s design. His memorandum was approved on August 26 and soon bore modest fruit, for on the 30th the committee distributed...
2552From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Schuyler, 10 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I did myself the Honour of Writing to you by the Return of your Express on the 8th Instant. Immediately after dispatching him, it occurr’d to me to endeavour the obtaining from our Committee of Safety a Permission to send you what Powder remain’d in our Hands; which tho’ it was thought scarcely safe for our selves to part with it, they, upon my Application and...
2553From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Schuyler, 8 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Your Letter to the President of the Congress, arrived here just now by an Express from Albany, and is brought to me, the Congress being adjourn’d and all the Members out of town but my self. I have taken the Liberty of looking into it, to see if it required any Service from hence in our Power to render. I wish we had more Powder to send you as you desire:...
2554From Benjamin Franklin to Ebenezer Hazard, 3 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your Application to be appointed Postmaster of New York, and have seen a Recommendation of you by your Provincial Congress, to which I shall pay due Respect by appointing you accordingly as soon as Commissions and Instructions can be printed, and things got in Readiness to carry the Post through. In the mean time I wish to receive from you an...
2555From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 2 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Last Night I received with great Pleasure your kind Letter of July 14. with the most agreable Additions from Mr. and Mrs. Green. God bless those two good ones! The Congress has adjourned this Morning to the 5th of September. I have now upon my Hands the Settling a new General Post Office, and a Treaty to be held with the Indians on the Ohio, besides smaller...
2556Jefferson’s Annotated Copy of Franklin’s Proposed Articles of Confederation, [June–July 1775] (Jefferson Papers)
Articles of confederation and perpetual Union proposed by the delegates of the several colonies of New Hampshire &c. in General Congress met at Philadelphia May. 10. 1775. The Art. I. name of this confederacy shall henceforth be ‘The united < colonies > states of North America.’ The Art. II. said united colonies hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other binding on...
2557Proposed Resolution by Congress, [July? 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society This resolution, as Paul Smith has pointed out, is impossible to date but may reasonably, if conjecturally, be ascribed to July, 1775. The preamble, cramped at the top of the page, seems to have been drafted after the resolution itself. The unexplained “as aforesaid” in both, and the note at the end, suggest that the draft was to be inserted in a...
2558Amendment to Jefferson’s Draft of the Congressional Response to Lord North’s Conciliatory Resolution, [on or before 25 … (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress On March 3, 1775, Dartmouth transmitted to the colonial governors Lord North’s conciliatory resolution, introduced in the House of Commons on February 20 and passed on the 27th. The assemblies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia took the position that an answer must come from Congress, to which the New Jersey delegates transmitted the resolution on May 26. On...
2559Address 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...
2560Virginia and Pennsylvania Delegates in Congress to the Inhabitants West of Laurel Hill, 25 July 1775 (Jefferson Papers)
It gives us much concern to find that disturbances have arisen and still continue among you concerning the boundaries of our colonies. In the character in which we now address you, it is unnecessary to enquire into the origin of those unhappy disputes, and it would be improper for us to express our approbation or censure on either side: But as representatives of two of the colonies united,...
2561Intended 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...
2562Resolutions on Trade Submitted to Congress, [on or before 21 July 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : National Archives; draft: American Philosophical Society News of the second Restraining Act infuriated and alarmed Congress. On July 12, 1775, it appointed a committee, of which Franklin was a member, to formulate a program for protecting the colonies’ trade. Three days later, on Franklin’s motion, the nonexportation agreement was modified to permit paying in produce for imported war...
2563Proposed Articles of Confederation, [on or before 21 July 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : National Archives These articles and Franklin’s “Short Hints” for uniting the northern colonies in 1754 are the two occasions when he formulated his ideas of what an intercolonial constitution should be. Both formulations were developed in ways that he could not have anticipated. He and others reworked the “Hints” into the Albany Plan. He never reworked the present articles, and they were...
2564From Benjamin Franklin to Margaret Stevenson, 17 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society All Trade and Business, Building, Improving, &c. being at a Stand here, and nothing thought of but Arms, I find no Convenience at present of putting out your Money in this Country, and therefore have concluded not to draw it over, but return it into your Hands; and accordingly inclose an Order for it on Messrs. John & Robert Barclay, Cheapside, with...
2565Proposed Resolutions of Thanks, [May 1775, June 1775, or early July 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society The first Continental Congress had sent to London, along with its petition to the King and address to the British people, a resolution of thanks to all those in Britain who had attempted to defend the American cause. The second Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition and another address, but no resolution of thanks to any of its British friends except the...
2566Draft of a Resolution Proposed to Congress by the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, [on or before 14 July 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Trade had bred controversy in the debates the previous autumn over the Continental Association, and controversy grew with the outbreak of war. The nonexportation agreement was to go into effect on September 19, 1775. After that date no commodities whatsoever, except rice destined for re-export, might clear for Great Britain, Ireland, or the West Indies....
2567Endorsement of Legal Opinions on Land Titles Obtained From the Indians, 12 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The promoters of the Walpole Company in London had decided not to wait for confirmation of their grant before putting at least part of it on the market. They had obtained two legal opinions that their title to that part, the lands that the Indians had ceded at Fort Stanwix to the “suffering traders” was a valid one. Franklin’s involvement in their...
2568From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 8 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I thank you for your kind Letter of April 11th. It grieves me that the present Situation of publick Affairs, makes it not eligible for you to come hither with your Family, because I am sure you would otherwise like this Country, and might provide better here for your Children, at the same time that I should be made more happy by your Neighbourhood and Company. I...
2569From Benjamin Franklin to [Joseph Priestley], 7 July 1775: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in Benjamin Vaughan, ed., Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces . . . Written by Benj. Franklin . . . (London, 1779), pp. 552–4. The Congress met at a time when all minds were so exasperated by the perfidy of General Gage, and his attack on the country people, that propositions of attempting an accommodation were not much relished; and it has been with difficulty...
2570From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 7 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received with great Pleasure my dear Friends very kind Letter of April 19, as it informed me of his Welfare, and that of the amiable Family in Jermyn Street. I am much obliged by the Information of what pass’d in Parliament after my departure; in return I will endeavor to give you a short Sketch of the State of Affairs here. I found at my arrival all America...
2571From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 5 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress; copy: Pierpont Morgan Library This famous letter was unquestionably not sent. The positive evidence is that the original remained with Franklin’s papers. The negative evidence is that Strahan later gave no sign that he had received such a blast: when he responded on September 6 to a letter, now lost, from Franklin two days after this one, and when he wrote again on...
2572From Benjamin Franklin to Browns & Collinson, 27 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Pay the Ballance of my Account to John Sargent Esqr. whose Receipt shall be your Discharge. I am, Gentlemen Your old Friend and humble Servant Why BF wrote as of London the reader must guess. No record of this transaction appears in his Jour. or Ledger, and all we know about it is contained in the note itself and in the following document. The...
2573From Benjamin Franklin to John Sargent, 27 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I have written to Messrs. Browns and Collinson to pay the Ballance of my Acct to you; and I beg you to take the Trouble of receiving and keeping it for me, or my Children. It may possibly soon be all I shall have left: as my American Property consists chiefly of Houses in our Seaport Towns, which your Ministry have begun to burn, and I suppose are...
2574From Benjamin Franklin to [Catharine Greene], 17 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society I received your kind congratulations with infinite pleasure, as I learn by them that you and yours are well. I long much to see once more my native Country, and my friends there, and none more than my dear Caty and her family. Mr. Green I hope will allow an old man of 70 to say he loves his wife, it is an innocent affection. I have great Obligations to him...
2575From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 17 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you some time since, having heard from one of the Delegates that you were at Warwick, and I supposed it must be with that good Family, so I directed my Letter to you there; I hope you receiv’d it. I have since received your kind Letter of May 14. with one from dear Mrs. Green. I sympathise most sincerely with you and the People of my native Town...
2576From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 13 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wonder’d it was so long before I heard from you. The Packet it seems was brought down to Philadelphia, and carry’d back to Burlington before it came hither. I am glad to learn by your Letters that you are happy in your new Situation, and that tho’ you ride out sometimes, you do not neglect your Studies. You are now in that time of Life which is the...
2577From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Life, 5 June 1775: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Papers of the Earl of Dartmouth deposited in the Staffordshire County Record Office I have just received your Favor of April 5. giving me an Account of the Progress of my Suit. I called at your House just before I came away to settle Matters with You, and it was no small Disappointment to me that I did not meet with You. I did then propose returning in October, but I find Things here...
2578From Benjamin Franklin to Nathaniel Seidel, 2 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Moravian Archives, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania I am much oblig’d by your kind Congratulations on my Return; and I rejoice to hear that the Brethren are well and prosper. I am persuaded that the Congress will give no Encouragement to any to molest your People on Account of their Religious Principles; and tho’ much is not in my Power, I shall on every Occasion exert my self to discountenance...
2579From Benjamin Franklin to [Joseph Priestley?], May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Unfinished draft: Library of Congress During his voyage to Philadelphia Franklin made the observations on the sea that appear above under April 10. On May 16 he promised in a letter to Priestley to communicate to him “a valuable philosophical discovery” that he had made on the voyage; years later William Temple Franklin conjectured, in a note on that letter, that the discovery was related to...
2580From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 26 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Marietta College Library; copy: Harvard University Library I have just now heard by Mr. Adams, that you are come out of Boston, and are at Warwick in Rhodeisland Government: I suppose it must be at good Mr. and Mrs. Green’s, to whom present my affectionate Respects. I write this Line just to let you know I am return’d well from England; that I found my Family well; but have not found the...