31To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Bache, 14 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Oh with what joy, and pleasure [did] I receive your wellcome letter, with the acoun[t of the] Safe arival of our Dear Son, which he will [ torn ] his Dear family, to think of his, and Dear Sally [ torn ] Makes me quit So. I have been very uneas[y for this?] Month past, and this last week I was quit[e so; not?] hearing any thing of him of So long a time, I...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Bache, 3 December 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society What extreme pleasure did my Dear Brothers letter give Me and Mine, to hear you had so greeable a Journey and that our Dear Sons Leg was so little worse for his Confinement in the Chaise, we shall all rejoice to hear it is quite recover’d. I was no little happy that My Dear Daughter, your good Lady and our Dear little Boy was well when you heard from...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 6 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last I am favored with yours of the 4th [?] 14 and 16 July by the Captain’s Osborne All and Sparks, the first dated at Preston, where I find you have been making happy by your Presence a good Old Woman and her four Daughters. Captain All told us he never saw you look better than when he left London so [that] we were pleasing ourselves with the...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 6 November 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself the Pleasure of writing you the other day by Sparks. I do not know that you will thank me for adding to the Number of your Correspondents, but the Sense I have of my Duty, prompts me to pay this Respect to you. I forgot to acquaint you in my last, that Mr. Bayard of Newyork, sent to me two Exemplifications of his Majesties Commission,...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 30 November 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send you the inclosed that you may see the Disposition the good People of this City are in, respecting the Tea, that is hourly expected. The Paper however is designed more as a Scare Crow, than any thing else. I am with Respect Dear sir Your Affectionate son Addressed: To / Doctor Benjamin Franklin / Craven Street / London He doubtless enclosed the...
36To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 31 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am favored with yours of the 17th. Novr. by the hands of Messrs. Foulger and Rant, who with their Familys arrived here in good health the 27th. Current. Mrs. Westley and her youngest Daughter suffered much by Sea-Sickness, the rest I understand bore their Voyage very well, however, they all came asshore hearty, and I have got each family into decent,...
37To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 1 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have to acknowledge receipt of your Favors of the 24th. Sept. and 5th. October, the former by the hands of Mrs. Alcock, who found her Husband settled on a small Farm on the other Side Schuylkill, not far from the Middle Ferry. [It] is not many days since she delivered to me your Letter, and I have not since had an Opportunity of going to see them, but...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This and the following letter from William, which went on the same ship, brought Franklin the news of his wife’s death. Until her final stroke neither his son nor son-in-law had warned him that she was failing, at least in letters that survive; both had written frequently and at length but had scarcely mentioned her. Perhaps they saw no change in her...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 16 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A few Days since per Captain Sparks I did myself the Pleasure. I have not much to say at present, more than that we are all well. These are the best Tidings I can send you at this time, I find but slow Sale for my Goods, but what I do sell, is for Cash, so that I am making no bad Debts; I have not sold enough to enable me to reimburse you per this...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, [3 November 1772] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have to acknowledge Receipt [of your letter of?] 22 August per Falconer. Captain Falconer has left his Ship, as she is going to Carolina for a Frieght of Rice, he purposes staying at Home this Winter. At the Request of Mr. Baynton, I send you an Extract of a Letter from Mr. Hooper a surveyor, to him, respecting the Western Boundary of this Province &c....
41To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 4 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the October Packet, I am favored by yours of 7. that Month, am obliged to you for the pleasing Intelligence, that my Mother and Sisters were well, for it is some time since I heard from them. I am glad to hear, that the Bill I sent you was duly honored. I had really forgot the five Guineas you lent me, on the Morning I left you, or should have included...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 5 May 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I venture to drop you a few Lines notwithstanding your Expectation of leaving England in all this Month. I wrote you not by the Packet, as it is now become expensive to you, the Governor (who has been with us near a fortnight,) did, and he would tell you we were all well. Per Captain Falkner, I am favored with yours of 17th. February. Note what you say...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 14 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pennsylvania Historical Society I did myself the pleasure of writing you a few Lines the other day per packet. Mr. Thomas Hopkinson has strongly sollicited to be the Bearer of a few Lines, and tho’ I am conscious that any Introduction of him from me to you, will have but little Weight, yet I cannot help complying with his Request. I must at the same time trouble you with the inclosed...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society [ Beginning mutilated ] I wrote you a few lines of the Mar[ torn ] that we were all well. We have continued so [ torn ] at this Time made happy by the Company of the Burlington Family who have been with us a few days, and intend making some Stay with us. Having disposed of almost all my dry Goods, and found them but a sorry Concern, I have...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 2 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had sett this day apart to write you a long letter, but my little Will has been so much indisposed as to take up all my time and attention, he is now in a sweet Sleep, but its so late that I can only tell you how much pleasure your desire of hearing from me gave me and to asure you I will write fully and have my Letter ready for the next Opportunity. I...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 30 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We are all much disapointed at your not coming home this Fall. I was in great hopes of seeing and presenting you with two of the finest Boys in the World, do not let any thing my dear Sir prevent your coming to your Family in the Spring for indeed we want you here much. I give you many thanks for the very eligant Silk, I never knew what it was to be proud...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, [May 1770] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am much obliged to you for asking Sir John Pringles opinion about Franklin, it has made me easier, but if it please God to spare him to us, intend having him Inoculated again when he has done cutting Teeth. I take the earliest opportunity of telling my dear Papa I have altered my intention of going to Jamaica, it never was Mr. Baches design to setle there....
48To Benjamin Franklin from Theophylact Bache, 10 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your much esteemed favor of 19th Sepr. was handed me by Mr. Alexander Chysholm. I shall pay due attention to this stranger, and shall be happy in doing him service. He has been to Phila: and is much disappointed in his expectations of setling there. He intends waiting here until Spring, before he determines what to do: We hope to get him well fixed at...
49To Benjamin Franklin from George Baker, 13 July 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Dr. Baker waited on Dr. Franklyn, in order to shew him the inclosed paper, which is extracted from a paper which Dr. B. is to read this afternoon at the College of Physicians. If Dr. Franklyn has any thing to object, or to add, Dr. B. will take it as a particular favour, if he will send his alterations to him in Jermyn-Street . George Baker (1722–1809),...
50To Benjamin Franklin from John Balfour, 21 November 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I believe I forgot to mention in my last, that at your desire, I had not sent over any power of Attorney to make effectual the Debt due to us by Mr. James Parker of New York, I have had several Letters from him promissing a Remmittance, and also from one Mr. John Holt who it seems had enterd into Copartnership with him. The Debt has been long due; and was...
51To Benjamin Franklin from John Balfour, 5 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The friendship you showd me in transacting the Debt that was due to me by Benjamin Mecom (for which I reckon myself much oblidgd to you) embol[dens me] to ask the favour, that with your Convenience you will also tr[ansact the] debt due to me, by Mr. James Parker of New York lately deceasd. [ Torn. ] I send you the Accompt, by which there is a ballance due to...
52To Benjamin Franklin from John Balfour, 2 September 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am favourd with yours of the 9th Current giving me an Account of Mr. Mecoms affairs, which is indeed very bad, however the young Gentleman is much to be pitied, as it woud appear that his Circumstances in a good measure have gone wrong thro an Act of Providence. I am not uneasy with respect to myself, but am a little so with respect to Mr. Hamilton, who...
53To Benjamin Franklin from John Balfour and Company, 26 March 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The occasion of my giving you this trouble is to inform you that in the later end of December or the beginning of January last, I receivd a bill from Mr. David Hall, of which you have an exact double on the other side. This bill when presented at London was refusd to be paid, upon which it was returnd regularly protested. I did not chuse to send it back to...
54To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 15 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 322–6. Moitié dormant, moitié éveillé, j’ai beaucoup rêvé la nuit derniere. Il faut vous dire sur quoi, et comment, afin que vous jugiez si ce sont des rêves, ou des rêveries; s’il faut s’y arrêter, ou les oublier. J’ai songé à la vie, à la mort; mais plus à celle-ci qu’à celle-là. Je recherchois ce qui...
55To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 29 December 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Dans le moment que je traçois cette première demie ligne on m’a annoncé une persone envoyée par M. Le Prince de Conti pour me demander si j’avois reçu la description et la figure que vous m’avez promise de votre cheminée, et me prier de lui en faire part aussitôt que je l’aurai. J’ai repondu que vous sauriez incessamment l’interêt que S.A.S. y prenoit et...
56To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 8 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is apparently the earliest surviving letter in a correspondence which, as the wording makes clear, had been going on for some time. Out of it was evolving a friendship that with the years grew in significance for both men. Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg (1709–79) had interests as broad as Franklin’s own and, like him, engaged in a range of activities that was...
57To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [19 December? 1772]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 129–33; ALS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society The document that follows is in two parts, a printed extract and the conclusion of a letter in manuscript. The two are quite different in subject matter; neither contains any evidence of precisely when it was written, or of its belonging...
58To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 12 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 246–57. J’ai trouvé votre Lettre à M. Néave beaucoup trop courte, parce que les choses excellentes qu’elle contient, m’ont appris à en desirer beaucoup d’autres dont je n’aurois peut-être jamais eu la moindre idée. On ne m’a point fait apprendre à nager dans ma jeunesse, et je n’y ai gueres songé...
59To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 1 May 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 330–1. J’étois monte sur un ton bien grave dans mes dernieres lettres; il sembloit que j’eusse respiré l’air d’Angleterre, on dira que vous m’aviez gâté l’esprit. Il est vrai que l’électricité est de tous les pays, mais c’est bien la moindre chose qu’en France on l’habille à la Françoise; tout, sans...
60To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 22 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Votre lettre du 10e. août m’a penetré l’ame du plus delicieux sentiment, en me montrant de quelle façon la mienne du 28e juillet vous avoit affecté. C’est un nouvel aiguillon pour me presser d’executer mon projet d’un petit voyage à Londres; cependant ma grande affaire n’est point encore terminée, peutetre le sera t’elle sous huit jours, peutetre durera...