4801Suppositions and Conjectures on the Aurora Borealis, [before 7 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) AD (draft): Library of Congress; D : Bibliothèque de l’Institut de France; two copies: Library of Congress On December 3, 1778, at six o’clock in the evening, the sky lit up with what physicist Pierre Bertholon described as the most spectacular auroral display in recent memory. Huge patches of vivid red flashed in all corners of the heavens; columns of color and bursts of light...
4802“Benevolus”: On the Propriety of Taxing America, [11 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , April 9–11, 1767. This letter was reprinted in London in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , April 13, 1767, and in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , June 8, 1767. Franklin’s authorship is specifically recognized in the manuscript list of his pieces that were reprinted in the Philadelphia newspaper. The letter also appeared in Boston and Williamsburg papers...
4803Experiments and Observations, [April 1751] (Franklin Papers)
Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, by Mr. Benjamin Franklin, and Communicated in several Letters to Mr. P. Collinson, of London, F.R.S. London: Printed and sold by E. Cave, at St. John’s Gate. 1751. (Yale University Library) Franklin’s reports on electricity had an immediate and favorable reception in England. The first account of his experiments,...
4804Franklin: Passport for a Portuguese Vessel, [after 24 May 1782] (Franklin Papers)
D (draft): American Philosophical Society Having seen & examined certain Authentic official Papers which shew that the Ship La Nostra Signora d’achagat et St Joao a Portuguese Vessel of about one hundred and eighty Tons, Commanded by Capt. Jozé Raymundo, is by the special Permission of his most Christian Majesty, destined to St Domingo, loaded with Provisions, Wine, Flour, & other necessary...
4805Letter from London, [on or after 7 February 1774] (Franklin Papers)
This letter and the extract from another below, February 19, seem to be companion pieces, and the signs point to Franklin as their author. They were printed in newspapers a few days apart, one in Boston and the other in Philadelphia, and describe the scene at the Cockpit in terms that frequently echo what the agent wrote to Cushing on February 15. The present letter, in fact, is little more...
4806Franklin: Receipt for Chaumont to Sign, 23 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Received of Benjamin Franklin Esquire Minister in France of the United States of America, a Set of Bills of Exchange drawn by him on the President of Congress for Four hundred Thousand Livres Tournois, being on Account of Cloth sold to him by me for their Use. And also another Set of Bills of Exchange drawn as aforesaid, for One hundred Thousand Livres...
4807Franklin’s Contributions to an Abridgment of the Book of Common Prayer, [before 5 August 1773] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in [Baron Le Despencer,] Abridgement of the Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the Use of the Church of England: Together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David … (London, 1773), pp. iii-vii and verso of Psalter title page; “Some Heads for a Preface,” Dashwood Papers, Bodleian Library; three MS...
4808Account of Dr. Priestley’s New Experiments, [10 March 1768] (Franklin Papers)
Autograph abstract: The Royal Society A brief Account of that Part of Doctor Priestly’s Work on Electricity, which relates the new Experiments made by himself. This Part is divided into thirteen Sections. Section I. contains Experiments on the Excitation of Glass Tubes fill’d with compress’d Air, whereby he discover’d that the compress’d Air, does not, as had before been thought, prevent the...
4809Passport for Cyprian Sterry and John Smith, [24 September 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society; ADS (fragment): Boston Public Library To all Captains & Commanders of Vessels of War, Privateers, & Letters of Marque, belonging to the United States of America, or to any of their Allies. It being represented to me, and appearing by good Testimony that Cyprian Sterry, & John Smith Junior, Natives of America & Subjects of the United States, having...
4810Franklin’s Thoughts on Privateering and the Sugar Islands: Two Essays, [after 10 July 1782] (Franklin Papers)
(I) Copies: Library of Congress (three), Massachusetts Historical Society, Public Record Office, William L. Clements Library; (II) Copies: Library of Congress (two), Public Record Office, William L. Clements Library We print these two essays after July 10, 1782, because they elaborate themes addressed in Franklin’s letter of that date to Benjamin Vaughan (above). There is no question that...
4811Journal, 1764–1776; Ledger, 1764–1776 (Franklin Papers)
MS account books: American Philosophical Society December 10, 1764 As Franklin had done when he went to England in 1757, he began a new record of his financial transactions when he started his second mission in 1764. Probably the new record consisted at first of a series of rather informal entries such as those in his “Account of Expences,” 1757–1762, described above, VII , 164–5, and cited...
4812Scheme of the First Philadelphia Lottery, 5 December 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 12, 1747. The most urgent problem for the Association was not armed men, but money. Volunteering for military service, especially when there was no likelihood of being called to duty unless one’s own city was actually threatened, was one thing; it was another to make a free gift of money to buy supplies. Franklin’s solution was a lottery. Managers...
4813Poor Richard, 1746 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1746. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1746 , … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin. (Yale University Library) Preface . A Table for the more ready casting up of Coins , in Pennsylvania. No. Ps. Eight. Spanish Pistoles. English Guineas. Moidores. £ s. d. £ s. d.
4814Poor Richard Improved, 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris … for the Year of our Lord 1752 . … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall. (Yale University Library) Since the King and Parliament have thought fit to alter our Year, by taking eleven Days out of September, 1752, and directing us to begin our Account for the future on the First of January,...
4815A Letter from a Gentleman in Crusoe’s Island, [April? 1764] (Franklin Papers)
Draft (unfinished): Library of Congress This fragment of a projected pamphlet or newspaper article in Franklin’s hand, apparently never finished, is dated at the end of April 1764 because of its statement that John Penn, “young Cruso,” arrived in Pennsylvania with a commission as governor six months ago—Penn arrived on October 30, 1763. Though Franklin not infrequently employed the allegorical...
4816Promissory Note to John Phillips, 5 [?] May 1724 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I Promise to Pay or Cause to be paid unto John Phillips Bookseller The Just Sum of Three pounds Three Shilling In money by January next as witness my hand John Phillips (1701–1763), opened a bookshop on the south side of Boston Town House, 1723. He was subsequently deacon of Brattle Street Church, colonel of the Boston Regiment, captain and treasurer of...
4817Opinions and Conjectures, [29 July 1750] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences Opinions and Conjectures concerning the Properties and Effects of the Electrical Matter, arising from Experiments and Observations made in Philadelphia, 1749. §1. The Electrical Matter consists of Particles extreamly subtile, since it can permeate common Matter, even the densest Mettals, with such Ease and Freedom, as not to receive any perceptible...
4818Plan of Conduct, 1726 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Robert Walsh, “Life of Benjamin Franklin,” Delaplaine’s Repository of the Lives and Portraits of Distinguished Americans (Philadelphia, 1815–17), II , 51–2. “Perhaps the most important Part” of the foregoing Journal, Franklin wrote in his autobiography, was “the Plan to be found in it which I formed at Sea, for regulating my future Conduct in Life.” The plan does...
4819Extracts from the Gazette, 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 1 to December 29, 1741. Our River has been fast some time, And we hear from Lewes, that ’tis all Ice towards the Sea as far as Eye can reach. Tuesday and Wednesday last are thought to have been the coldest Days we have had these many Years. [January 8] Great Quantities of English Half-pence being Imported here, since the falling of our Exchange, to...
4820Proclamation for a General Fast, 9 December 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Broadside: Yale University Library The minutes of the Governor’s Council of December 8, 1747, record that that body, “taking into Consideration the State of the War in general, the Sickness that lately rag’d over this City and the Province, the probability of our Enemies making a Descent on the City, and the Calamitous Situation of our Frontiers,” in order to awaken the inhabitants to “a just...
4821On the New Office of Secretary of State for the Colonies, 13 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 21, 1768. On January 12, 1768, the Gazetteer published an attack on the newly created Secretaryship of State for the American Colonies signed by “ Old England ,” the correspondent whom Franklin had recently rebuked for his intemperateness. The rebuke had had no effect: the effusion was as strongly worded as the previous one, and more...
4822A Defense of Mr. Hemphill’s Observations, [30 October 1735] (Franklin Papers)
A Defence Of the Rev. Mr. Hemphill’s Observations: or, an Answer to the Vindication of the Reverend Commission. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin at the New Printing-Office near the Market. 1735. (Boston Public Library) Franklin’s Observations on the Proceedings against the Rev. Mr. Hemphill (see above, pp. 37–65) was answered by A Vindication of the Reverend Commission of the...
4823[A Meditation on a Quart Mugg, 19 July 1733] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 19, 1733. This essay was first printed by Smyth ( Writings , 11, 198), who considered it a “highly characteristic production.” The present editors, however, believe that the essay is not sufficiently characteristic of Franklin’s style to be attributed to him. No external evidence of authorship has been found and it is therefore omitted here.
4824Preamble for a Bill, [18 June 1755] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania On April 2 the Assembly had voted £15,000 from funds of the General Loan Office to repay money borrowed for victualling Braddock’s troops and provisioning the proposed expedition against Crown Point. By the middle of June these funds were practically exhausted and additional sums appeared to be necessary for these and other military expenditures....
4825Franklin’s Copy of News Brought by Captain Jenkins, [c. 15 February 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères The use of this news is an interesting example of American propaganda at work. The Captain brought a mixture of true and false information that was supposedly available on Nantucket when he left it for France on January 6. The island at that time of year, even today, is scarcely the nerve center of American news; where, then, did his come...
4826Franklin’s Remarks on Judge Foster’s Argument in Favor of the Right of Impressing Seamen, [before 17 September 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Copy with autograph additions: Library of Congress Sir Michael Foster (1689–1763) was one of the most respected jurists of the eighteenth century. In 1743 he was recorder for the city of Bristol, a judicial post that required him to prosecute criminal cases such as the one which led to his discussion of the Royal Navy’s right to impress or forcibly recruit sailors. On April 25, 1743, Alexander...
4827[To Marat], 24 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague; copy: Library of Congress I received your obliging Invitation to attend your curious Experiments, on some Day between the 21st & 30th of this Month: But as I am laid up with the Gout, and see no Prospect of being able to go to Paris within that time, I can only return you my Thanks. If you have any Description of those Experiments written, I should be...
4828A Narrative of the Late Massacres, [30 January? 1764] (Franklin Papers)
A Narrative of the Late Massacres, in Lancaster County, of a Number of Indians, Friends of this Province, By Persons Unknown. With some Observations on the same . Printed in the Year M , DCC , LXIV . (Yale University Library) News of the massacre of six Indians at Conestoga Manor by men from Paxton and Donegal, two communities on the Susquehanna, on December 14, 1763, reached Governor Penn on...
4829Toleration in Old and New England, 3 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Packet , June 3, 1772; incomplete draft: American Philosophical Society I Understand from the public papers, that in the debates on the bill for relieving the Dissenters in the point of subscription to the Church Articles, sundry reflections were thrown out against that people, importing, “that they themselves are of a persecuting intolerant spirit, for that when they had...
4830Certificate for Arendt, [18 May 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Colonel D’Arendt in the service of the United States of America, having had leave to come to Europe for the recovery of his health, and being about to return to his Duty, I do hereby certify at his request, such Captains or Owners of Ships as he may apply to for a Passage, that from his Character for Probity, and the Pay he must have due to him in America, I make no...
4831“Une Abonnée,” [after 27 August 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: American Philosophical Society Letters to the editor written in the guise of a woman were one of Franklin’s earliest and favorite forms of satire. The present example is the only instance we have seen of his crafting this sort of spoof in France. Whether it was truly intended for publication or simply meant to amuse his friends is not known; no mention of...
4832Preliminary Articles of Peace, 30 November 1782 (Jay Papers)
Articles agreed upon by and between Richard Oswald Esquire the Commissioner of his Britannic Majesty, for treating of Peace with the Commissioners of the United States of America, in behalf of his said Majesty, on the one part; and John Adams Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, ^ and Henry Laurens, ^ four of the Commissioners of the said States for treating of Peace with the Commissioner of his said...
4833Poor Richard, 1739 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1739. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1739 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) Encouraged by thy former Generosity, I once more present thee with an Almanack, which is the 7th of my Publication. While thou art putting Pence in my Pocket, and furnishing my Cottage...
4834Treaty of Carlisle, 1 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
A Treaty held with the Ohio Indians, at Carlisle, In October, 1753. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, at the New-Printing-Office, near the Market. MDCCLIII . (Yale University Library) November 1, 1753. A Treaty , &c. To the Honourable James Hamilton , Esq; Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in Chief, of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New-Castle, Kent...
4835Note on Marginalia in Another Letter, an Anonymous Pamphlet, [1770?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notations appear on pp. 139–40 of a copy in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania of Another Letter to Mr. Almon, in Matter of Libel (London, 1770). The author is discussing the American claim that Parliament has no jurisdiction over the colonial assemblies because they are constitutionally coequal with it. Franklin’s comments were largely obliterated when the copy was cropped in...
4836A Proposed Article for the Treaty of Alliance with France, [on or before 27 January 1778] (Franklin Papers)
D : Library of Congress The commissioners met with Gérard on January 8 and agreed to negotiate two treaties, one of amity and commerce and the other for an eventual alliance. On the 18th Gérard presented them with drafts of both, which he asked them to return. They consequently spent the next days in making copies and translations of the drafts, a chore that they dared not entrust to a...
4837Speculation on the Speed of Ships, 5 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
MS : Library of Congress During his homeward voyage Franklin took time off from writing his journal of the peace negotiations in London to return to a question that had intrigued him for years: why do westbound ships have a longer crossing of the Atlantic than eastbound? Almost three decades earlier he had advanced a tentative answer in terms of the earth’s rotation; he now sketched a new one...
4838Address to the Associators, 7 December 1747 (Franklin Papers)
MS (fragment): American Philosophical Society The Associators—almost 600 in number—assembled with their arms at the court house on December 7 for their first meeting. Secretary Richard Peters, at the order of the President and Council, informed them that their “Proceedings are not disapprov’d by the Government,” and assured them that commissions would be “readily granted” to the officers...
4839The Petition to the House of Lords against the Massachusetts Government and Administration of Justice Bills, [before 11 … (Franklin Papers)
Summary of DS : House of Lords Library In March a group of Americans in London had petitioned against the Boston Port Bill, and in May much the same group protested against the two coercive measures that followed. It was Arthur Lee, we assume, who again drafted separate petitions to the King, Lords, and Commons; and Franklin again signed them all. They were as fruitless as the signers, after...
4840The American Commissioners to All Whom It May Concern, 18 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society; two copies: National Archives These are to certify that the Bearer of this, Mr Gillam Tailor, is a Native and an Inhabitant of Boston in the State of Massachusetts Bay, that he is of a respectable Family, and unexceptionable Character. That he has acted for Some Years, in the public Service of the united States of America, in the Capacity of...
4841List of Articles Purchased by Fizeaux, Grand & Cie. on Franklin’s Orders: résumé, 26 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
D : Library of Congress <Amsterdam, August 26, 1779: The articles in question, to be purchased in Holland and delivered to Nantes by La Ville de Bordeaux , Capt. Claas, are thirteen in number. Eleven of them call for pharmaceuticals, two for textiles. The pharmaceuticals comprise large quantities of hipoquana root and jalap (both purgatives), sublimated sulphur ( fleur de soufre ), pannacea...
4842Memorandum, [18 April 1746] (Franklin Papers)
MS : American Philosophical Society Sally was inoculated April 18, being Fryday at 10 a Clock in the Morning. Sarah Franklin (Genealogy, D.3) was about two and a half years old. Her brother Francis had died of smallpox before he was inoculated. See above, II , 154. The memorandum is in BF ’s hand.
4843Toasts at an Independence Day Banquet, [5 July 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society The anniversary of American independence, which fell on a Sunday in 1779, was celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic on Monday, the fifth of July. While back in Philadelphia the French minister plenipotentiary, consul, local officials, and visiting dignitaries were being hosted by Congress, in Passy Franklin was hosting Americans and French friends of the...
4844Extracts from the Gazette, 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 3 to December 25, 1744. Wednesday last a Fire broke out in the Roof of a House in Second Street near the Church, but there being sufficient Help at hand, it was presently extinguished. Axes were observ’d to be of great Use; for when Holes were made in the Shingling, the Water from Engines and Buckets readily enter’d, and did ten times the Service...
4845A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, 1725 (Franklin Papers)
A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain. London: Printed in the Year MDCCXXV . (Yale University Library) As a journeyman in Samuel Palmer’s printing house in Bartholomew’s Close Franklin worked on the third edition of William Wollaston’s The Religion of Nature Delineated . Some of the author’s arguments “not appearing ... well-founded,” he composed “a little metaphysical...
4846On the Conduct of Lord Hillsborough, [beginning of August 1772?] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Because this essay exists only in a copy, it cannot be accurately dated. It was written for the public, to turn it against the Minister and his policies, at a time when Hillsborough’s political fortunes were declining and before his resignation became known during the first week in August. His replacement by Lord Dartmouth, a happy event for Franklin, led him to...
4847Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, 20 November 1728 (Franklin Papers)
Autograph MS : Library of Congress; also transcript: Library of Congress Franklin mentioned this private liturgy in his autobiography. Though he had had a conventional religious upbringing and contributed to the support of the Presbyterian meeting in Philadelphia, he seldom attended public worship, preferring to use Sundays for his own studies. Once, however, persuaded to go to church, he went...
4848Proposals for Preparing the Academy Building, [December 1749?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (fragment): American Philosophical Society With by-laws signed and funds promised for the Academy, the trustees had next to decide on its location. Some (including Franklin at first) favored a country town as less corrupting to students’ morals; others preferred Philadelphia, where James Logan offered a lot in Sixth Street. In either case a suitable building would cost a good deal of money....
4849Franklin’s Diary of Correspondence, [12 February-2 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Feb. 12. 1779:— 5 OClock Recd my Appointment of M. P. at this Court. Waited upon M. De Vergennes who not being at home I waited upon M. Renvalle, inform’d him of it. 13 Wrote Jona. Williams acquaing him with my late appt. cong Goods to be bought for Wm Green Esqr &c Wrote Mr Coffyn informg him of my nomination. Approving what he had done for the Prisoners....
4850Card to the Public, 23 September 1742 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , September 23, 1742. It being asserted in a printed Paper, directed to the Freeholders of Pennsylvania , that the Assembly had concealed the State of the publick Accounts from the People, by artfully deferring the Publication of their Minutes, in order to prevent a Detection of some suppos’d Mismanagement of the publick Money; I think I owe this Justice to...