31From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library A happy New Year to you, and all Friends. We arrived here, all well, about two Hours ago. Capt. Coultas tells me he purposes to start early in the Morning, so as to be at Philadelphia to morrow Evening. I have only time to write this Line, just to acknowledge the Receipt of your agreable Letters, Sally’s, Dr. Bond’s, Mr. Hughes’s, &c. and to promise particular...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just return’d from a Journey of near a Month, which has given a new Spring to my Health and Spirits. I did not get home in time to write by Osborne, but shall fully to my Friends in general by Capt. All, who sails about the End of the Week. I was charg’d with Abundance of Love to you and Sally and Ben from our Sister Bache and her amiable Daughters. I...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 29 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you yesterday per Post. This is only to acquaint you, that I am determined against going in the first Pacquet. Send me the Indian Sealskin Hussiff, with all the Things that were in it. It will be an acceptable Present to a Gimcrack great Man in London, that is my Friend. In the right hand little Drawer under my Desk, is some of the Indian Lady’s...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 28 April 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I hoped to have been on the Sea in my Return by this time, but find I must stay a few Weeks longer, perhaps for the Summer Ships. Thanks to God I continue well and hearty, and hope to find you so when I have the Happiness once more of seeing you. Your God Daughter Amelia Evans, that was, (now Barry,) is gone again with her Husband and Children to Tunis, where she...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 10 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is now nine long Months since I received a Line from my dear Debby. I have supposed it owing to your continual Expectation of my Return; I have feared that some Indisposition had rendered you unable to write; I have imagined any thing rather than admit a Supposition that your kind Attention towards me was abated. And yet when so many other old Friends...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 July 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be delivered to you by our ingenious Countryman Mr. Benbridge, who has so greatly improv’d himself in Italy as a Portrait Painter, that the Connoisseurs in that Art here think few or none excel him. I hope he will meet with due Encouragement in his own Country, and that we shall not lose him as we have lost Mr. West: For if Mr. Benbridge did not...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 23 May 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you a few days ago by Mr. Odell a young Clergyman, appointed to the Mission of Burlington, who goes by way of New York; and I purpose writing again per Capt. Egdon, who sails in a few days. As the Packet was late coming hither, I was told by the Secretary of the Post Office that she would not be dispatch’d till the second Saturday of June: But I...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 23 August 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot let Major Small go without a Line to let you know I am well; tho’ I have wrote so much lately, that I have nothing to add. I sent you a small Box of Tea per Capt. Budden. My Love to Sally and all Friends. I wrote to always every Body by Budden, enclosing my Letters in a Packet to you. They were in the Care of Mr. Logan. Adieu my dear Debby Your...
39From 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,...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 March 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d the Enclos’d some time since from Mr. Strahan. I afterwards spent an Evening in Conversation with him on the Subject. He was very urgent with me to stay in England and prevail with you to remove hither with Sally. He propos’d several advantageous Schemes to me which appear’d reasonably founded. His Family is a very agreable one; Mrs. Strahan a...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congres s I wrote to you a few Days since by the Packet. In a Box directed to Mr. Bache I send a striped Cotton and Silk Gown for you, of a Manufacture now much the Mode here. There is another for Sally. People line them with some old Silk Gown, and they look very handsome. There goes also a Bedstead for Sally, sent on Capt. All’s telling Mrs. Stevenson that...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 May 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our Family here is in great Distress. Poor Mrs. Hewson has lost her Husband, and Mrs. Stevenson her Son-in-law. He died last Sunday Morning of a Fever which baffled the Skill of our best Physicians. He was an excellent young Man, ingenious, industrious, useful, and belov’d by all that knew him. She is left with two young Children, and a third soon expected....
43From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I wrote to you by Sutton that I was pretty well recovered of my Gout, but it return’d upon me that Day, and has handled me pretty severely for some Nights past, tho’ now I am something better. Mrs. West has another Son to whom I am Godfather. That Family is well, as is Mr. Strahan’s and Mr. Hewson’s. They always desire...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [25 March? 1756] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society … about 5 aClock in the Afternoon, tho’ I had been hinder’d near half a Day by Peter’s Illness. The 3d Day about 2 in the Afternoon, we sail’d, after parting with Col. Washington, who overtook us there, and proceeded on his Journey by Land. We were only Sunday Night and Monday Night on the Water, for on Tuesday Morning about 10 aClock, we arrived...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 9 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Line is just to let you know that we have this moment come to an Anchor here, and that I am going ashore at Portsmouth, and hope to be in London on Tuesday Morning. No Father could be tenderer to a Child, than Capt. Robinson has been to me, for which I am greatly oblig’d to Messrs. James and Drinker’s but we have had terrible Weather, and I have often...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I feel still some Regard for this Sixth of January, as my old nominal Birth-day, tho’ the Change of Stile has carried the real Day forward to the 17th, when I shall be, if I live till then, 67 Years of Age. It seems but t’other Day since you and I were rank’d among the Boys and Girls, so swiftly does Time fly! We have...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 11 June 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of April 22 and 24. and rejoice to hear that you continue well notwithstanding the Fatigues you must have undergone with poor Debby. Mr. Coleman is with me. The Surgeon from whom he hoped a Cure when he came over, being gone abroad, and his Return uncertain, he has chosen upon the best Advice, to submit to have the diseased part cut out,...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 17 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you some time since to go by Capt. Falconer, but he is still here. I have since written to you per Packet. And now write this Line to let you know I continue pretty well, but find more Exercise necessary to preserve my Health, and therefore am about to make the Tour of Ireland with my old Friend Mr. Jackson, purposing to return thro’ Scotland,...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you a long Letter of 3 Sheets per Duncan, and sent also in a large Pacquet directed to you, a great Number of Letters for my Friends. By Bolitho I shall send you some Stuff for Chair Bottoms, and an Iron Oven if I can get it on board. Seal the enclos’d before you forward it. I have this Day got a most violent Cold, but hope it will wear off...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1765 (I) (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Enclos’d is a Letter from Mrs. Stevenson, and Bill of Lading for a Chest of Goods sent you. The Pamphlets in it are to be sent up to Billy. There are some Books for Cousin Cuthbert, not all he wanted, but the rest will be sent as soon as they can be got. I wrote to you per Packet on Saturday. Love to dear Sally and all Friends. In great Haste, Your...
51From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [November? 1761] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragments only): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] Billy is now down at Bath. Inclos’d is a Letter I have just receiv’d from him inviting me there. But I must not at present leave London, as I daily expect Bills drawn on me by the Trustees. I shall be glad to receive from you, and hope it is on the Way, an Account of what is due on Mr. Spoffords Mortgage, as I have...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 4 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letters of April 24. I hope that very bad Cold you had is gone off without any ill Consequences. I have found by a good deal of Experience, that three or four Doses of Bark taken on the first Symptoms of a Cold, will generally put it by. It was a terrible Accident indeed which happened to poor Mr. Rogers and his Family. If I were to...
53From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just heard that a Ship which left London before I arriv’d is still at Portsmouth and that a Letter may reach her. I can only write a Line or two, just to let you know that I am now almost well, tho’ for 10 or 12 Days I have been severely handled by a most violent Cold, that has worried me extreamly. Those of my old Friends who were in town, have...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 8 August 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote you a pretty long Letter a Day or two ago, per Capt. Falkener our good Friend. I have nothing to add but that I am well, and purpose some little Excursion shortly to preserve my Health. Mr. Hopkinson is now here at our House to take Leave, going to morrow Morning: Mrs. Stevenson presents her Compliments to you and Sally, and Miss Stevenson, that is our...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received yours of Oct. 14. and one without Date, which I suppose to be written since. Capts. All, Osborne, and Sparkes, are arrived; and a Barrel of Apples with another of Cranberries are come, I know not yet by which of them. I am glad to hear you continue so well, and that the Pain in your Side and Head have left you. Eat light Foods,...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 13 July 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the great Pleasure of hearing from you and Sally last Night per Packet. I cannot now answer every particular of your Letters, having many to write that are to go per this Days Mail: but will per next Opportunity. Mrs. Stevenson bids me tell Sally that the striped Gown I have sent her will wash; but it must be with a light hand in a cold Lather. I am...
57From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 24 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We din’d at Bristol, and got here last Night in good time; the River was hard and firm, and we got well over. Sir John Sinclair came to us and very obligingly offer’d his Chariot and four for the rest of the Journey. This Morning we set out for Brunswic. The Thing I wanted to mention to you, but forgot, was; that in the Hurry of our Arrival from Chester I...
58From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of Jan. 3. per Packet, and one from Sally. I wrote to you very fully by the late Ships. This is only to let you know I am well, and particularly that my Arms, which you enquire after, have perfectly recover’d their Strength. Your Account of Mr. Coleman’s fresh Disorder, grieves me exceedingly. I have had a Visit from Mr. Bache’s Sister, who...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 30 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , 10. Every other day, since we have been here, it has rained more or less, to our no small hindrance. It rained yesterday, and now again to day, which prevented our marching: so I will sit down half an hour to confer a little with you. All the things you sent me, from time to time, are safely come to hand, and our living grows every day more...
60From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 7 August 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you June 13. July 11. July 22. and July 24. I have now little to add, except to acquaint you that we continue pretty well, tho’ I begin to feel the want of my usual yearly Journeys. We shall therefore, having little to do at present, set out in a few Days for Harwich and possibly may take a Trip over to Holland, but purpose to be again in London,...