11To 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...
12To 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...
13To 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,...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 7 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am favored by yours of the 18th. Ultimo from Lake George; this I hope will find you well at Montreal. Yesterday the Alarm Guns were fired, which put the Town into some Consternation for a short time, the Alarm was on Account of three Men of War which were at the Capes, coming up the Bay, we now suppose for Water; should they attempt to come up the River...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 14 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We have not had the Pleasure of a Line from you since I last wrote you. I wish I had time to give you a particular Account of the Action between our armed Boats and his Majesty’s Ships the Roebuck of 44 Guns, and Liverpoole of 28 Guns, off Wilmington. I fully intended it this Morning, but have been so much employed, I find it impossible. I must therefore...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 5 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We are now in daily expectation of hearing from you; If I am right in my calculations, you have been gone from us fourteen weeks and upwards, and since your departure, our common Cause has under gone a variety of interesting changes and events, which no doubt, you will become acquainted with thro’ the proper channel; our situation at one time was very...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 28 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself this Pleasure under date of the 5th. Instant. Yesterday, via New England we had the agreeable Tidings of your safe arrival at Nantz, by some Vessel arrived at Newbury from Bourdeaux; tho’ we have no Letters from you, the account comes so strait, and the news is so agreeable, that we are determined to believe it. We have had a variety of reports...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 10 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We yet remain without a Line from you; tho’ we have had the pleasure of hearing you were safe arrived; this is my third Letter to you, since you left us; I think I have never mentioned to you before, that Mr. Galloway, when the Enemy were at Trenton, passed over the Delaware and took protection, three of the Allens did the same, viz: John, Andrew, and...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 20 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your last was dated 4th March. I have since wrote to you once or twice. You then mentioned, that you would have an opportunity of writing in a few days more fully to your Friends here, by a swift sailing Vessel. She has not yet made her appearance, we are longing to hear from you; Our Port has been shut up by the Enemy’s Ships for some Month’s past, nothing...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 1 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did myself this pleasure a few days ago, via Martinique, since which yours of the 5th. January came to hand, where it has staid so long I know not; We are exceedingly impatient to hear from you; I fancy the swift sailing vessel, which you mention in yours of the 5th. March, would sail in a few days, has been pickt up by the Enemy, or we should have heard...