2311[Diary entry: 3 February 1772] (Washington Papers)
3. At home all day alone.
2312[Diary entry: 31 December 1770] (Washington Papers)
31. Also clear and Pleasant.
2313Tuesday July 2nd. 1771. (Adams Papers)
At Falmouth, at Mr. Jonathan Webbs, who has removed to an House very near the Court House. Last Fryday Morning, I mounted with Brother Bradbury and his Brother Bradbury, at York for Falmouth, went over the Sands but could not ford Cape Nettick, and so was obliged to go round over the Bridge, by the Mill. Dined at Littlefields in Wells, drank Tea and lodged at Aliens at Biddeford. Coll. Ting...
2314[Diary entry: 25 April 1769] (Washington Papers)
25. Raining most part of the day with the wind Eastwardly & cold.
2315To Benjamin Franklin from George Mercer, 4 April 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the Liberty to wait on you to consult you upon some Quaeries which were sent me from the Stamp Office, which I confess myself incapable to answer. As I would wish to have the Matter properly represented, and am convinced Sir there is no one so capable to instruct me as yourself, I must beg you’ll give me Leave to wait on you to morrow Morning at any...
2316Extracts from the Gazette, 1736 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 6 to December 30, 1736. [ Advertisement ] This is to certify, that I Robert Jesson, late Merchant of Philadelphia, having been afflicted with a Dropsey, insomuch that my Life was despaired of, am now effectualy cured by an Elixir which Mr. Edward Jones of this City, Gent. has the Secret of making. In Gratitude for the Favour, and for the Benefit of...
2317[Diary entry: 18 August 1772] (Washington Papers)
18. In Town all day and Night. Din’d & Supd at Arrells.
2318[Diary entry: 12 March 1770] (Washington Papers)
12. Cloudy Morning with but little Wind. Clear afternoon with the wind fresh at No. West & Cold.
2319From George Washington to William Savage, 28 June 1768 (Washington Papers)
In compliance with the Bond given to Mr Fairfax and myself, as Trustees for the use of Mrs Savage, we think it incumbent on us to request payment of the sum therein stipulated, for the purposes therein expressed. This demand we are induced to make, on full conviction that it is not in our power to release the Bond (of which, possibly, you may hereafter be convinced) without forfeiting the...
2320To Benjamin Franklin from John Mervin Nooth, [before 22 April 1773]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: printed in the Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions …, LXIII (1773), part I , 333–9. It must undoubtedly appear extraordinary, that, in the present age, when the study of electricity is become so general, and the advances that have been made in the science are so very considerable, I should attempt to recall your attention to the structure of the electrical machine. But I believe...
2321From George Washington to Robert Rutherford, 29 July 1758 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to Robert Rutherford, 29 July 1758. On 31 July Rutherford wrote to GW : “I Received Your kind favour of the 29th.”
2322[Diary entry: 9 January 1771] (Washington Papers)
9. Rid to the Mill in the forenoon and Afternoon.
2323To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Livezey, 18 November 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Tho’ I have not the happyness of an Intimate Acquaintance with thee, yet time I hope will alter that Circumstance, and bring us better acquainted; I only know thee from Some of thy Writings, the Author of which I Greatly Esteem. As thou art one of the Agents for this Province in Great Britan, I Sent a Dozen of American wine by Caaptn. Falconer, the Last...
2324From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 19 April 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of the 11th Instant, with your new Piece on Education, which I shall carefully peruse; and give you my Sentiments of it as you desire, per next Post. I believe the young Gentlemen, your Pupils, may be entertain’d and instructed here in Mathematics and Philosophy to Satisfaction. Mr. Allison (who was educated at Edinburgh, or...
2325From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 16 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Nationalbibliothek, Vienna I wrote to you per Packet, and also by Mr. Ayres, who goes in Sparks. But I must send you a Line per Capt. Falkener, and another per Capt. Story, if ’tis only to say over again that I am well, and to acknowledge the Receipt of your kind Letters and Presents of Meal, Apples, Nuts, Cranberries &c. I have written to Sally too by Mr. Ayres, My Love to her and all...
2326To Benjamin Franklin from Harvard College: Degree of Master of Arts, 25 July 1753 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society Franklin’s first academic honor was from Harvard. On July 23, 1753, the President and Fellows recommended him to the Overseers for the degree of master of arts, citing his “great Improvements in Philosophic Learning, and particularly with Respect to Electricity, Whereby his Repute hath been greatly advanc’d in the learned World, not only in Great-Britain,...
2327Remarks & Occurances in May [1769] (Washington Papers)
22. Returnd home from Williamsburg and found my Wheat much better in general; than ever it was at this Season before—being Ranker, better spread over the ground & broader in the Blade than usual. It was also observable that in general the head was shot out, and in many places in Blossom. 27. Finishd breaking up my Corn Ground at the Mill. 29. Mopsy the Hound Bitch and Truelove another Hound...
2328The Mother Country. A Song, [1765–1772?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Cornell University Library This song occupies one side of a single sheet, at the bottom of which Jared Sparks wrote “(Franklin’s hand-writing) J. S.” The present editors agree with his identification. Nothing has been found to indicate whether Franklin composed these verses himself or merely copied them from another source because they amused and pleased him. They probably date from the...
2329To George Washington from Jonathan Boucher, 1 October 1770 (Washington Papers)
I much wish’d to have accompany’d Jack, but cannot: & what is worse, We part on an Uncertainty, which may be disagreeable. I have some Thoughts of setting off for St Mary’s this Week; & if I do get away, I can hardly expect to return again till I remove finally, which cannot well be sooner than the latter End of next Month. So that, if I do not come by Mount Vernon, Jack needs not come hither,...
2330Decr. 28th. 1762. (Adams Papers)
Mr. Cranch last fryday night discovered some Instances of his skill at a Bargain. He agreed to give Greenleaf £120 old Ten or for his Chaise. The Chaise is old, the Leather damnifyed thro careless Usage, the Wheels almost ruined, the spokes being loose &c., but G. asked that Price and he could not beat him down, he could not ask him to take less, because G. was poor, and it would look like...
2331[Diary entry: 24 October 1770] (Washington Papers)
24. Clear & pleasant Morning but cloudy & cold afterwards.
2332To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum I wrote you the 6. Inst. acknowledging the Receit. of your very obliging Packet of June 8th. and mentioning the Use I have made of your Letter &c among some of the leading Men in our H. of Represent. in whom I could confide. They agreed with me that your Principles were incontestible, your reasoning clear and conclusive, and supported by History and Fact. The King...
2333To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 6 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society My last to you was by the Mercury, Capt. Robinson, in which I promised to remit you by the next Vessel; and accordingly, you have inclosed the first Copy of a Bill of Exchange for One Hundred pounds Sterling, (the second Copy of which I have sent by Capt. Troy Via Dublin) the Exchange as you will see by the Bill 64, The Receipt of which you will...
2334Franklin’s Account of His Audience with Hillsborough, 16 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Almost exactly three years earlier, on January 20, 1768, Lord Hillsborough had become Secretary of State for the American Colonies. Franklin’s initial attitude toward the new office and the man who filled it had been favorable, but disillusionment had soon set in. Hillsborough had ordered troops to Boston, had opposed total repeal of the Townshend Acts, and...
2335[Diary entry: 18 February 1769] (Washington Papers)
18. Went a hunting with Doctr. Rumney. Started a fox or rather 2 or 3 & catchd none. Dogs mostly got after Deer & never joind. On this date GW paid Rumney for his medicines and visits during the past 12 months: £4 18s. on his own account and £19 6s. 6d. for Patsy Custis ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. ,...
2336To George Washington from John Defever, 18 September 1755 (Washington Papers)
Return of the stores Belonging to the Royal Trane of Artillery Left at Fort Cumberland: viz: Tumbril 1 Cover’d Waggons 15 Sling Cart Compleat 1 Round Shot with Wooden Bottoms 6 pts 100 Tin Cases fill’d with iron shot & 12 pts 112 Fix’d with Wooden Bottoms 6 pts 392 Grape shot with Wooden Tampeons and pins Compleat for Howitzers 8
2337[Diary entry: 26 February 1775] (Washington Papers)
26. Wind pretty fresh from the Northwest and a little cold towards Noon.
2338[Diary entry: 18 December 1771] (Washington Papers)
18. Went to Doeg Run & carried the Dogs with me who found & run a Deer to the Water.
2339[Diary entry: 12 July 1769] (Washington Papers)
12. Wind being in the same place—the day was also clear & pleast.
2340To George Washington from William Herbert, 30 August 1774 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to my promise to you the other day I Now Send you An Account of what Wheat & Flour Came to this Market within this last year. By the Inspectors Account (Which I had taken this morning) there are 27325 Barrels of Flour & from the Returns made by the Several purchasers of Wheat there are 140000 Bushels—two or three have not Given in their Quantaties, which at a Very moderate Computation...
2341[Diary entry: 8 August 1772] (Washington Papers)
8. Exceeding warm in the forenoon. Cooler afterwards the Wind rising from the Southwd.
2342[Diary entry: 26 March 1770] (Washington Papers)
26. Countess a hound Bitch after being confind sometime got loose and was lined before it was discovered by my Water dog once and a small foist looking yellow cur twice. GW had paid £1 16s. for a spaniel on 5 Feb. ( General Ledger A General Ledger A, 1750–1772. Library of Congress, George Washington Papers, Series 5, Financial Papers. , folio 302).
23431774. Fryday. Sept. 23. (Adams Papers)
Walked along Second Street Southward, untill I got out of the City into the Country. The Uniformity of this City is dissagreable to some.— I like it. Dined with the late C hief Justice Allen—with all the Gentlemen from North Carolina, and Mr. Hambleton Hamilton , late Governor— and Mr. Andrew Allen Attorney General. We had much Conversation, about Mr. Franklin. The C hief J ustice and Attorney...
2344Memoranda, 6–10 July 1757 (Washington Papers)
The Speaker Write to him that upon settling an acct with Colo. Carlyle of this date there appeard to be a ballance of £186.9.2 – ½ justly due him for Sundry Services done, and necessarys furnishd for the use of the Publick witht havg any connection with other accts—whether am I to pay the acct or not he is uneasy abt the Payment. Govr Whether is Jenkin’s to be continu’d as post—& how is he to...
2345[Diary entry: 5 November 1772] (Washington Papers)
5. Dined with the Council. Spent the Evening in my own Room.
2346To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie, 2 November 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yr Letter of the 24th Ulto I recd—And as You observe the absolute Necessity of having a Company of Rangers, I agree to the raising sixty, seventy or 80 Men to be Commanded by Mr Rutherfurd, but You must be certain of his raising the Men, not to load the Country with a Charge, as formerly, without Men to the different Companies; I do not doubt of Yr keeping them strictly to their Duty—his Pay,...
2347To George Washington from Adam Stephen, 21 December 1755 (Washington Papers)
I suppose Majr Lewis informed You that the Valley at the mouth of Pattersons Creek did not extend above 800 yards from hill to hill. I went up to Ashby’s and Saw Mr Boyd pay the men—He sold us some Liquor for our Detachmt as the weather was Cold, and we found that three months pay was due to some of his Men whilst others were paid off to the 4th inst. I really do not like the mouth of the...
2348[Diary entry: 27 December 1769] (Washington Papers)
27. A Very white frost but still clear & exceeding pleast. Gd. Hard froze.
2349Remarks & Occurs. in Feby. [1770] (Washington Papers)
Feby. 2d. Agreed with Joseph Goart, to come down and raise Stone out of my Quarry for my Mill at the Rate of Three pounds pr. Month 26 days to the Month and lost time to be made up. The walls of the new mill were to be built with local sandstone, which the residents of the area called freestone because of its abundance and the ease with which it could be cut and carved ( studebaker Marvin F....
2350Memorandum List of Quitrents, 1763 (Washington Papers)
A List of Lands on which Quit-Rents became due at Michaelmas 1763 In Fairfax County Mt Vernon 2126 Acres bot of [Sampson] Darrell 500 of [William] Clifton 1806 [George] Brent 238 Wm Ashford 135 George Ashford 135 Simon Pearson 178 5118 Frederick taken up
2351From George Washington to John Didsbury, 20 July 1767 (Washington Papers)
Please to send the following Shoes &ca and apply to Messrs Cary & Co. for the amount. For Geo. Washington &ca For Mastr Custis & to him chargd 1 pr dble Campaign Boots pr Mea[sur]e 6 pr strong Shoes } For a boy 14 yrs old—the last were too smal 2 pr Neat Pumps 1 pr Do Do Shoes 1 pr Strg Calfskin Slippers 6 pr Womans bla: Callimanca pr Mea[sur]e to be broader in the Soles & not so strait over...
2352[Diary entry: 25 April 1772] (Washington Papers)
25. Cool, and Calm in the Morning but windy afterwards from the Northwest.
2353[Diary entry: 18 October 1770] (Washington Papers)
Thursday 18th. Dind in the Fort with Colo. Croghan & the Officers of the Garrison. Supped there also meeting with great Civility from the Gentlemen, & engagd to dine with Colo. Croghan the next day at his Seat abt. 4 Miles up the Alligany.
2354To George Washington from Henry Bouquet, 6 July 1758 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Henry Bouquet, 6 July 1758. On 10 July GW wrote to Francis Fauquier : “A Letter from Colo. Bouquet of the 6th . . . I have just receivd.” GW then quotes two paragraphs from the missing letter from Bouquet.
2355[July 1766] (Adams Papers)
Monday after Commencement. Last Saturday, I accidentally found a curious Volume, which Oaks Angier found in a Chest of Books be longing to an Uncle of his who died 45 Years ago. The Title Page and all the rest is gone till you come to the 18th. Page. It seems to be a Collection of Pamphlets, published in the memorable Year 1640, bound up together, in one Quarto Volume. Lord Digbies Speech. 9....
2356To Benjamin Franklin from Trevor Newland, 17 April 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Forc’d out of Town at an hours warning by a Gentleman who insisted upon my taking a seat in his carriage to Bath, prevented my Waiting upon you, not only for the Memorandum relative to Lecock, but to say fare well, which I hope you’ll excuse. I now find myself distant from Lecock between five and six miles, I shall have ocasion to go that road verry soon,...
2357[On Freedom of Speech and the Press, 17 November 1737] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 17, 1737, and following issues. Duane ( Works , IV , 319–40) and, on his authority, though less certain, Sparks ( Writings , ii, 285–311), printed this long historical essay with its examples drawn mainly from Roman and English history. It is signed “X.” No evidence, internal or external, persuades the present editors that Franklin wrote it.
2358[Diary entry: 22 August 1772] (Washington Papers)
22. Rid to the Plantations at the Ferry, Mill, Doeg Run, & Muddy hole—also to the Mill & Ditchers there.
2359[Diary entry: 8 February 1769] (Washington Papers)
8. No thaw yet. Grd. close blockd up and very cold. Wind still at No. Wt. but not so hard. Afternoon somewhat more moderate—quite clear. On the 6th. at Night the River was almost froze across & on the 7th. & last Night quite.
2360[Diary entry: 5 May 1769] (Washington Papers)
5. Dined at the Governors and supped at Mr. Carters. Robert Carter (1728–1804) of Nomini Hall in Westmoreland County, a grandson of Robert “King” Carter, had become a member of the council in 1758 and now lived in a handsome town house next to the Governor’s Palace. He returned to live at Nomini Hall in 1771 but remained on the council until the Revolution ( morton Louis Morton. Robert Carter...