1To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges: Two Letters, 15 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; (II) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bearer of this Letter, Mr Fabroni, has obligingly given me an oppertunity to send the inclosd to You.— He is a young Gentleman of distinguishd worth from Italy, and has been some time travelling with His ingenious Friend & Companion Mr Fontana. They mean to spend a few days at Paris on their return...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 31 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Altho my letter if opend in France may have a tendency to render you suspected of improper correspondence, I cannot as an Englishman refrain from congratulating you on the favourable turn of our affairs since my last letter of the 23d Inst: Stocks have got up two pr. Ct. within this few days, principally owing to accounts brought from America by the...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 1 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I calld again this day at the office where a Bill given you was made payable & I could learn no intelligence of mr. J. G——d more than I had before: He was in the Country but where or when He returnd no one could tell. I have no ansr. to the letter wrote to him (& left at the office) wch. containd only an enquiry whether the Bill was good or not. Dr....
4To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 18 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I recivd your letter of the 30th ulo. [ultimo] & forwarded Mr Peters Letter thro the means of His Bankers Messrs. Fuller, son & Co. The Spectacle glass has also been deliverd by our frd J T—p—e who was the person that applyd for it. He talks of pushing homewards very soon via Holland. A particular friend of mine, left for me about 3 weeks ago, both with...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 29 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I communicated what you desird in a letter of Octor. 18th. to the friend who has of late been often the subject of my letters. His reply was abundance of thanks to you, desiring His best wishes & respects &ca &ca. I have been out of the line of communicating with Him since about the 25th of last month, but I often hear from him by message of a Friend....
6To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 17 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Since my letter to you of the 12th. I have seen Jas Garnet who is loungeing & going so idly about the Streets, & whom I have detected in so many lies, that I think it necessary to apprise you of Him in order that Monsieur Chamont may be warnd not to pay too implicit faith to what Garnet may write. He told me had drawn two Bills on Him before He gave me...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 6 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr Laurens has been so ill as to retard his journy up to London very much. He arrivd in rather better health on Thursday night, & was this day examind at Lord G Germaines office & committed to the Tower— The first night he was kept at the Messengers House in Scotland Yard, & taken from thence to Lord Go Gs office about noon. He was watchd & kept very...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 26 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I risque a letter in the common post in order to forward you the Kings Speech— I wish it had been couchd in terms more likely to produce the blessings of Peace. His Majestys Speech &ca Novr 25. 79. My Lords & Gentlemen I meet you in Parliament at a time when we are calld upon by every principle of Duty, and every consideration of Interest, to exert Our...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 11 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I receivd Your favour of the 30th ulo. & find by it only one of my letters have miscarryd. By mentioning the dates of my letters I did not mean to draw you into answering any of them but meerly to assertain their safety; I well know how much better Your time is employd than by answering letters of little import, never mind me, but when you have any...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 17 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am afraid the Commn for the purchase of the Books &ca. will take me so much time as to make you suppose I neglect it, but they are old & by so many authors that I find it difficult to collect them. They shall be forwarded as soon as possible— The Accot agt. Capn. Gustavs —— was forwarded the 11th Int. I mentioned to T——e what you requested— He got the...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 9 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am without any of your favors since that by Mr. Luard, & my last to you are of the 9th. & 17th Decr. I wish to have some other name than that of Franklin to direct to, & put under cover to Monsr. Grand; as it will pass better in the Post Office, & be more secure in point of my personal safety—in one of my late letters I mentiond that of B: Forbes , as a...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The last mail brought the needful for your Friend Mr. W. P——rs’s remittance, & I immediately placd it to His credit in the Bank he requested, taking the proper rects. &c. The Excha. being rather unfavorable he lost seven shillings by the Bill; but, from his late letters, I make no doubt the remittance will be highly acceptable to Him. From there being a...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 4 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have risqued two letters to you very lately, and having an oppertunity by private conveyance I repeat to you the substance of them. Mr. Peters’s affair has been settled to His wish as you will see by his inclosd Letter. I am rather surprisd that my bill forwarded the 9th July had not appeard on the 20th Augt.— but suppose it is at the Bankers unknown to...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 17 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote You by a frd the 14th Inst. which I suppose will reach you before or abot the same time with [ this ]. I mentiond the defection & going over of Genl Arnold to the British. For this noble action He has found many advocates here, & the ministry are mightily elated therewith; putting it upon defection in the American Army, strong discontents &ca...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 21 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I was in hopes to have given you some tidings as to the bargain I was about to make for the House but as yet I am little advancd. My Brother this day slightly urgd the necessity of another meeting &a. on the business but it was “ a serious matter deserving contemplation & should be attended to ”— I have done the needful as to Mr W——P——s but have not yet...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 18 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania As the bearer Mr Jones is known to you as well as his companion Mr Paradise I need not ask your usual civility to be extended to them. They are two excellent men & of the right sort to fix themselves in our Country where I am not without hopes of seeing them settled in a year or two. They will wait upon you immediately on arrival at Paris & return...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges: Two Letters, [10 January 1780] (Franklin Papers)
(I) AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; (II) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania At Plymouth Jany 1. 1780 the Prisoners stood thus— Exchangd by the Cartel Ship 97 Escaped in all 72 Enterd into the navy 63 Dead 15 257 Remaining in Prison 183 The State at Portsmouth the same day, & since which 3 or four have escaped In Prison 227
18To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 4 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you a few lines by Capn. B—— [Belt] the 28th ultio, & hope to have it in my power in a few days to forward the Contents of this by another friend for fear it may be lost by the common conveyance of Post. The Royal Society at their last meeting, came to a resolution to have a certain number of Gold, Silver & Copper medals struck of Captain Cooke;...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 12 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you by the same conveyance with this on the 8th. Int., and the detention the bearer has met with gives me an opportunity to forward a few more news papers; as well as to inform you that I have got things in such a way with Capn. C——m as to render his situation much more comfortable and easy to himself. I wish I had it in my power to say as much...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 17 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: Public Record Office, London It was not until the 14th. inst that any person whatever was permitted to see Mr Laurens in the Tower— Then after repeated applications for admission Mr. Manning and Mr L——ns’s Son, a Youth of 17 or 18 who has been some years at Warrington School, got admission to Him. A permit was given them, signd by the Lds....
21To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 25 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania On the business of the purchase which I have wrote you about by every post save the last for four or five back, I have nothing now to say, as nothing new has arose: There has been another item from the person who has it in contemplation, “that the affair was properly attended to, that it requird deliberation, and the answer should be given as soon as...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 20 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Inclosd will inform you fully of some applications made Mr H for the release of some Prisoners now at St. Omers which seem to have passd your notice. They are American—Capturd & have lately petitiond the admiralty to procure their release. The Capt Scott mentiond also in the inclosd Letter, will I hope stand against Capt Manley; The Board of Sick &...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 14 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Since my last to you I have recd a few lines from your Relation by the hands of Mr. L——g——n, & am very much surprisd to hear that the maps &ca. forwarded to amstermdam have not yet got to hand. They went very early in Jany by the Ship Lady Elizabeth Klaas Doorn Commandr, the box markd B F and a Card naild to it with the Direction For Messrs. Fizeau...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 6 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I ventured to try the fate of two letters to you very lately by common post, cheifly to give information to you & others of a late publick arrest; as also that Mr. Peters’s remittance has been settled to His wish, and that every necessary step has been taken to give Capn. C——n——m information that I was ready to help Him to money or any other necessarys...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 8 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania In Consequence of this passport Mr Robt Temple Charterd The Brig Temple 120 Tonns, no Guns, Capt. Jno Fletcher, 11 Seamen From Mr Tracey at Newbury Port, & binds Himself to Tracey that the Vessel shall be put in safety into a French or Spanish Port—which Mr Temple thought could be effected as a Flag of Truce. This has been refusd Him by Lord G. Germain,...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 25 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I did not receive Your letter of the 18th. handed me by Mr H. time enough for the Office Hours to make enquiry of or about Mr. G——d; But I calld there this Evening & went to Mr. G——s Lodgings, where neither His Landlady or the Servant could give me further accots. of Him than that He had been near three weeks in the Country but where they could not...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges: Two Letters, 13 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bearer of this, Capn. Benjamin Joy, waits upon Your Excellency on a matter of Business which will be explaind by Himself to You. He is so well recommended and His attatchment & active services for the cause of His Country are so well known to me, that I cannot but back His solicitation to Your Excellency with my strongest wishes that...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 3 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I have seen your letter of the 17th. Novr & have communicated the Contents to Mr H, but I fear nothing will be done as to the sailing of the vessel until specifications of numbers are recd, abot. which you were last week wrote to by Mr H., & who at the same time acknowlegd the Rect of the pass. Mr H——n also wrote you on that subject. The draft on G——...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 15 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I expect this will be handed to you, in the course of a few weeks, by a particular Friend of mine, Mr Willm Burn of the house of Messieurs Burn & sons of Lisbon: He is the Gentleman, whom in two late letters I solicited the favour of You to procure a Passport for (to be sent under cover to Messrs. Freres Aubert Tollot & Co. Turin) that would enable Him...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 29 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I recd yr. letter of the 18 Int. & answerd it, as far I could do so, by frydays post. Since that period I have been twice to the office where Mr G——d is a Clerk, & the answers to my questions about Him were rather extraordinary. I could find out nothing but that He had been 3 or 4 weeks in the Country (neither his Bror Clerks nor his Landlady at His...
31To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 7 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am to beg the favour of you to inform me by first post, If the following American bills of Exa. are good ones; They are lodgd in my hands by a Countryman who waits to know their fate; that is, whether others of the same tenor & date have, or have not been paid. A letter sent to the former direction by Post, W.S. C—— at N——os Coffee Ho. with such...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 4 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania 3d. Dr. 17th Novr 1779 Saty. 4th. Decr. 79 Dr. Sir Altho I wrote you by last nights post, I cannot omit so good an opportunity as that of a fu——e [fugitive?] Countryman making the best of His way to some friends at the Texel (and where He promises to put it into the post office) of writing to you. I observe in yours of the 17 Novr. recd a few days ago,...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 9 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Our friend Mr. B——n having given me an oppertunity to convey a letter by a safer conveyance than that of the common post, I make free to inclose it to you in order to be forwarded to Mr W——n should he be out of P——s. I have but a few minutes before Mr. B—— closes his packet to appologise for the freedom I take & to offer my services here. I am not many...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 6 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you a few days ago by Capt Snelling, and sent a few news papers & books. I now embrace the oppertunity by capn. Cozeneau to send you the news papers of the day & a few political publications, which tho in the lump may not be worth your reading, will in some measure shew the disposition of the times, which seem to be galloping fast on to some...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 30 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am very sorry to be so frequently troublesome and repeatedly asking favours of You; But when I reflect on your readiness to do good, & that my present application is to help a deserving Man, I flatter myself I shall stand forgiven. Dr. Upton Scott of Annapolis in Maryland is necessiated to seek His way back to His Country, Family & Home, by the same route...
36To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 19 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Encouragd by an offer of getting this Letter deliverd safely by a private hand, I sit down to acknowlege the receipt of Your obliging favor of the 23d. Octor. relative to Mr. C: D——ks bill remitted by me; and to thank you Sir for your kind offers of attention therein made. I should think my time very well taken up in writing to you whenever I had any...
37To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you on a matter of business by Capn. B——t [Belt] the 28th. ulo. & hope as the interest of himself & five or six other Countrymen is nearly concernd, the prayer of his petition has been complyd with. I have many applications of a similar nature; & I rather encourage them, from seeing the advantages that must arrise to the Country for which they...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I find my letter to you of the 9th. ulo. was lost by the Packets being taken & the mails thrown overboard. Those of the 24th advising of the Bishops picture being sent you via ostend to the care of Mr Bowens, that of the 26 by Post inclosing the Gazette, & that of the 29th. offering you from Mr S—— H——tl—y any part of some Good Rum that he has lying at...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 22[–26] March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 290–3. I left England a few days back, and until my conversation and some consultations with Mr. Adams on a matter which will be mentioned to you by him, and more particularly explained in this letter, my determination was to have seen you, as well on that...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 10 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Your favr. of the 26th. ulo. got safe to hand, & I have consulted with Mr. H—— on the mode of distributing your benefactions to some unhappy sufferers— A vessel saild from Plyo. with 100 on the 5th. Int. There remains there but 86 and what is rather singular there is pardons lodgd for 68 of that number agt. the return of the vessel. Means are taking to...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 28 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania We have at length got some accots from Clinton. A packet which left N York the 30th Mar is and. There are no official dispatches from Clinton himself, but it appears from what I can gather at all quarters, His fleet after much buffiting about & the loss of four or five transports, got to Tybee the beginning of Feby. there took in one Regt, Refreshments...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 17 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania This will be handed you by a Capn. Jno Snelling a native of Boston tho for many years past He has been employd in the Streights Trade to & from London. He is well recommended to Me as an honest Amn. meaning to push out to his Home thro France, & as he wishes to take yr. advice about proceeding to Nantes &ca. I have given him a seperate introductory line...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 18 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Mine of the 12th. & 14th. Inst. have I suppose got safe to hand— The last would give you some idea how matters stood at the parting of our friend with another personage in regard to a certain matter: The opening was auspicious & the parting favourable to our wish— Since that period till yesterday the affair remaind in embrio; others I apprehend were...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 3 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I hope e’er this that the picture of your valuable friend, has reachd you. I have been very uneasy abot. it & wrote to Mr Bowens (who long ago acknowlegd the Rect of it in safety & that it shoud be forwarded) to clear up to you where the stoppage was occasiond. I am almost afraid to pay your valuable frd. a visit till I hear it is in safety for the...
45To Benjamin Franklin from T[homas] D[igges], 18 September 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania My having an oppertunity to forward this under cover to my freind Mr. I[zar]d, induces me to obtrude a few lines on You. Mr. Alex[ande]r Dick and some companions of his was lately with me, and their situation and circumstances demanded of me every alleviation of their wants that I had in my power to afford them; in the doing of which I was obligd to...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 31 May[–1 June] 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have wrote You from time to time since I had the pleasure of seeing You, about a matter we conversd upon, and my last was by post the 25 Int.; since which time nothing matereal has transpird, nor any circumstance appeard to cast a damp upon the business I wish so ardently to be brought forward; on the contrary we have reason rather to be elated, for...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 26 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania My friend Mr Bromfield can best explain to You the business He is going upon as well as give you every accot. of the proceedings relative to the Brigantine Temple (the Cartel) in which He came from Boston. As I forwarded five Seamen from among our frds. to that vessel this day, I hope it will not be many days before She sails. There being nine Seamen,...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 12 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania My journey hither was a favourable one & I am in hopes will turn out to good account; I have not yet however been able to deliver all Your letters—those for the environs of London are yet in my possession, as I preferred keeping them a day or two to make a personal delivery of them, to the risqueing them by penny post. I this day deliverd Miss Shipleys—...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, [on or before 27 October 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: Public Record Office, London I wrote you lately that Jones was not to be found here consequently the Bill irrecoverable from Him. He is at Am——m. playing his tricks so I understand. The person who accepted the Bill & acknowleges the acceptance, may be obligd by Law to pay what has been advancd on it. I hear our sick frd is better— His disorder...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Digges, 24 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I took the liberty, in a letter of the 9th. Inst. to solicit the favour of You to help me to a full length portrait of yourself. It is to oblige a deserving and ingenious Engraver who means to employ his present time in producing a good print therefrom, & to take the plate with Him to a Country where his prospects for future happiness & success are...