1To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 28 June 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you last Week; since which Nothing new has occurr’d, worth communicating save a [paper?] publish’d by Chattin, that has made a great Noise here; one of which I inclose for your Perusal. It has given great Pleasure to many, and only [angered?] those, as I can learn, whose Approbation of it would be a Condemnation of their own Conduct. There are many...
2To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 12 July 1753 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society On Sunday last, about 45 Minutes after 3 in the Morning, a Dwelling House, one of a continued Row on the West Side of Second-Street in this Town, was struck by Lightning, but, being at that Time untenanted, no Person was hurt. About 6 aClock the same Morning, I went to take a View thereof, and at that Time made some Notes of the Course which I observ’d the...
3William Franklin to Timothy Horsfield, 21 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Capt. Orndt having informed the Commissioners, that there are a Number of the Province Arms at Bethlehem, under your Care, which he thinks are better than those belonging to his Company; they have given him Leave to take his Choice of those Arms, and directed him to return as many of those he now has, in the Room of those he shall take. I am Sir your humble...
4William Franklin to Elizabeth Graeme, 7 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Morristown National Historical Park At this time William Franklin appears to have been deeply in love with Elizabeth Graeme of Philadelphia. Seven of his letters written to her between his leaving Philadelphia with his father and their sailing from New York survive, and one written after they reached England. Those which give information about his father’s movements and activities not...
5William Franklin to Elizabeth Graeme, 12 May 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am this Moment return’d from an Excursion of four or five Days in the Jerseys. The Mail is made up and the Post just upon his Departure. I detain him just to acknowledge the Receipt of two Letters from you, which I have not Time to read thro’. This is all that I can possibly say at present; your Regard imagine the rest, for Your truely affectionate In a...
6William Franklin to Elizabeth Graeme, 2 June 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library By one Accident or other we are still in N. York. But I know not how to complain of my Detention; for has it not afforded me the Pleasure of another Letter from my Betsy. A Letter for which I cannot be enough thankful. I must answer it in short; the Time of our Departure being now positively fix’d to this Afternoon. The Name of our Pacquet is, The General Wall ,...
7William Franklin to Elizabeth Graeme, 17 July 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I have now the Pleasure to inform my dearest Betsy that her Franklin is safely arriv’d in England about two Hours ago, after a Passage of 27 Days. I am so much hurried in getting our Things ashore, and enquiring for Horses and Carriages for transporting us up to London, that I have not Leisure to give you any of the Particulars of our Voyage. I design to do it...
8William Franklin to the Printer of The Citizen, 16 September 1757 (Franklin Papers)
I. Printed in The Gentleman’s Magazine , XXVII (September 1757), 417–18. II. Printed in The London Chronicle: or, Universal Evening Post , No. 113, Sept. 17–20, 1757, pp. 275–6. Soon after beginning his negotiations with the Proprietors, Franklin became convinced that they “were repeatedly publishing scandalous and malicious Falshoods against the Assembly and People of Pennsylvania” in the...
9William Franklin to Elizabeth Graeme, 9 December 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard College Library (Sparks) No Doubt you must be much surpriz’d at so many Vessels arriving at different Parts of America from England, without so much as a single Line from the Man who has so often, and so warmly professed himself your Friend and Admirer. The Thoughts, the Suspicions, that must naturally arise in your Breast on this Occasion, my Imagination pictures in such strong...
10To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 3 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I miss’d writing on Friday and Yesterday no Post went from hence, otherwise I should before have acknowledgd the Receipt of your Favour of the 30th. Ulto. Mr. Jackson is prevented from setting off from here so soon as he intended by reason of the matrimonial Affair he mentioned to us not being quite settled. He says he has Letters from the Parties almost...