2001From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 16 January 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Public Record Office In my last I wrote you that Mr. Foxcroft, my Colleague, was gone to Virginia where and in Maryland some offices are yet unsettled. We are to meet again in April at Annapolis, and then shall send you a full Account of our Doings. I will now only just mention, that we hope in the Spring to expedite the Communication between Boston and New York, as we have already...
2002To John Jay from Benjamin Franklin, 30 June 1781 (Jay Papers)
You acquaint me that Bills have appear’d drawn on you in March last, and ask very properly if this can be reconciled to the obvious Dictates of Prudence & Policy?— It cannot. And if you are unable to pay them, they must be protested: For it will not be in my Power to help you. And I see that nothing will cure the Congress of this Madness of drawing upon the Pump at Aldgate, but such a Proof...
2003From Benjamin Franklin to [Nathaniel Sparhawk], 15 June 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Joseph W. P. Frost, Kittery Point, Maine (1954) I receiv’d yours per Mr. Baynton with the Money as therein specified; and have since deliver’d it to Mr. Warren (who is now here) with Mr. Pepperill’s Letter; of which please advise Mr. Pepperill. I am Sir, Your most humble Servant Nathaniel Sparhawk (1715–1776), merchant at Portsmouth and Boston; married the daughter of Sir William...
2004From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 23 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress Mr de Chaumont informs me that it has been agreed between your Excellency and him, that I should write you a Letter, requesting your Assurance of Payment here of the Bills I am to draw in his Favour upon the Congress for 500,000 Livres, in case they should not be paid in America. He has accordingly furnished me with...
2005From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 1 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society It was with great Pleasure I received lately the Letters of my Friends from Boston by Capt. Adams. They were the first that got to hand since I left America. I thank you for your kind Congratulations on my safe Arrival here, and for your good Wishes. I am, as you supposed, treated with great Civility and Respect by all Orders of People; but it gives...
2006From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 12 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu vos deux Lettres charmantes, ma très chere fille, datées le 12 & le 26 Novre. à Nice. Je vous ai ecrite trois & je ne vois pas que vous en a reçu plus qu’une: cela me décourage un peu d’ecrire, jointe à la grande difficulté que je trouve de m’exprimer en François. Quand j’ai ecrit une longue Lettre, je ne l’aime pas; car en l’examinant je...
2007From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [7 October 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from a quotation by William Franklin in a letter of January 1, 1770, Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue , No. 860 (April 9, 1901), p. 9. It is very uncertain as yet what Turn American Affairs will take here on the Meeting of Parliament. The Friends of both Countries wish a reconciliation; the Enemies of either endeavour to widen the Breach, God knows how it will end.
2008From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 16 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Boston; copies: Columbia University Library, Henry E. Huntington Library, Library of Congress, National Archives I have received your several Favours of Jan. 30. Feb. 11. and March 1. and propose to write fully to you per next Post. In the mean time this Line may serve to acquaint you that I have paid duly all your former Bills drawn in favour...
2009From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 20 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Understanding that in Case of Mr. Laurens’s Absence, you are charged with the Affair of procuring a Loan in Holland, I think it Right to acquaint you, that by a Letter from Mr Jay of the 12th Inst, from Madrid, we are informed that the King of Spain has been so good as to offer his Guarrantee for the Payment of the Interest and...
2010From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Mazzei, [2 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Franklin presents his Compliments to M. Mazzei and acquaints him that some unforeseen Business will prevent his being at Versailles on Tuesday; He thinks too that there will be no Court, it being Mardi-gras. Who arrived in Paris around the beginning of February and spent most of the year in France. He returned to Virginia at the beginning of December:...
2011To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 8 April 1779 (Adams Papers)
I did myself the honor of writing to you a few Days since. Last Night I received yours of the 31st past. I am glad to hear the Ship is so far in order. As to the Discontents you find among the Officers and People, it is impossible for me at this Distance to judge of them, or of the means of removing them: I must therefore, as in my last, refer to your Judgment whatever you may think for the...
2012From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Landais, 16 February 1779 [i.e., 17] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly receiv’d your favor of the 7th inst. I made an immediate Application to the Ministry here for Advice relative to the Conspirators, and I postpon’d writing to you till I should receive it. I suppose the Newness of the Case has occasion’d some Delay; But I will not any longer omit answering your Letter as far as I can. I am told it is a standing Rule that no...
2013From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 8 August 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Being here on the Business of the Post-Office, I have received your obliging Favour of May 19. which I shall answer by the next Pacquet. At present I have only time to introduce to you Col. Dyer, the Bearer of this Letter, a Gentleman of Character and Reputation in your Colony of Connecticut. He goes to England to lay the Affair of their Purchase on...
2014From Benjamin Franklin to Pamphili: Observations and Note on American Catholics, [before 27 August 1783] (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Archives of the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide M. Franklin après avoir lu la notte de M. Le Nonce et y avoir murement réflechi, croit absolument inutile d’envoyer cette notte au Congrés, qui d’après Ses Pouvoirs et Ses constitutions ne peut ni ne doit dans aucun cas Se mêler des Affaires Ecclesiastiques d’aucune Secte ni d’aucune Religion établie en Amérique. Chaque Etat...
2015From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens: Two Letters, 31 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS , copy and two transcripts: National Archives; ALS (draft) and copy: Library of Congress; copies: Connecticut State Library, Harvard University Library, Yale University Library; transcripts: University of Pennsylvania Library, Charles E. Feinberg, Detroit, Michigan (1960); (II) ALS : South Carolina Historical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress My Colleague, Mr. Deane, being...
2016From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel-Marc-Antoine Chardon, 19 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress J’ai lû avec Admiration votre requisitoire sur le Proces du Capitaine Mc Neill. Heureux sont les Rois qui ont des Magistrats aussi scavants et aussi habiles que vous, Monsieur, pour eclairer leur justice. J’en sens tout le Bonheur pour la Nation Americaine que j ai l’honneur de representer en cette Cour: elle sçaura Monsieur qu’elle y est traittée en Frere, et que...
2017Proposed Resolution by Congress, [July? 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society This resolution, as Paul Smith has pointed out, is impossible to date but may reasonably, if conjecturally, be ascribed to July, 1775. The preamble, cramped at the top of the page, seems to have been drafted after the resolution itself. The unexplained “as aforesaid” in both, and the note at the end, suggest that the draft was to be inserted in a...
2018From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Franklin, [May 1738?] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Letter of the 4th of May in answer to mine of April 13. I wrote that of mine with a Design to remove or lessen the Uneasiness you and my Mother appear’d to be under on Account of my Principles; and it gave me great Pleasure when she declar’d in her next to me that she approv’d of my Letter and was now satisfy’d with me....
2019From Benjamin Franklin to [John Canton], 9 March 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society Dr. Priestly left these Specimens of the Circles with me to be produc’d to the Society. As I cannot be there this Evening, when I understand the Paper is to be read, I inclose them to you. Those that look at them should be caution’d not to rub them, lest they should be defac’d before the Company have all had a Sight of them. I am, Yours &c. The letter is among the...
2020From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 3 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress It was indeed with very great Pleasure that I received and read the Letter your Exy. did me the honour of writing to me, communicating that of the President of Congress and the Resolutions of that Body relative to the Succours then expected: For the Sentiments therein express’d are so different from the Language held...
2021From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 24 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I duly received your favour of the 18th. the Letter addressed to Mr. De sartine which I Omitted mentioning before was also deliver’d. The extracts you send me are of Letters, which were written, to check the Extravagant Demands of Officers, Such as that of Wm. Morris, and Others; money having been taken upon our account at divers Ports of france by Americans and...
2022From Benjamin Franklin to Edme-Jacques Genet, 7 November 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Frederik Muller & Cie. (Amsterdam) sales catalogue, May 3–7, 1909, p. 5. <Passy, November 7, 1778: Franklin sends him some letters of Drayton. > Head of the bureau of interpreters at the French foreign ministry and editor of their secretly sponsored journal Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amérique : XXVI , 271n. Recently he had asked BF and his fellow commissioners for material...
2023From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 5 February 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum I have just received your kind Favour of Jan. 1. by Mr. Bowdoin, to whom I should be glad to render any Service here. I wrote to you some Weeks since in Answer to yours of July and November, expressing my Sentiments without the least Reserve in Points that require free Discussion, as I know I can confide in your Prudence not to hurt my Usefulness here by making me more...
2024From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 6 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS , AL (draft), and copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I have receiv’d several Letters from you lately inclosing others for the President of Congress; and for Spain, all of which are sealed & forwarded, except the last for the President containd in yours of the 26th. past, which shall go by the first Opportunity. The Reading of those Letters gave me much Information, and...
2025From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [c. 15 September 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society J’accepte avec un plaisir infini, ma chere amie, la Proposition que vous me faites avec tant de bonté de m’adopter pour vôtre Pere. Je serai bienheureux en la Parenté d’une si bonne enfante; et comme en venant m’etablir ici, j’ai perdu la douce Compagnie et l’Attention respectueuse d’une Fille affectionnée, cette Perte sera reparée, et j’aurai la...
2026From Benjamin Franklin to Wuybert, Lunt and MacKellar, Officers and the Other Prisoners at Forton, 20 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received yours of the 2d. Instant. I beg that you will be assured that your long Detention, is not owing to any Neglect of you by the Commissioners. Our first Applications for exchanging you, were haughtily rejected. You were at that time consider’d as Rebels, committed for High Treason, who could only be delivered by course of Law. We then did every thing...
2027“The Spectator”: The Duke of York’s Travels, 10 May 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , May 15, 1765 I have observed all the News-papers have of late taken great Liberties with a noble Personage nearly allied to his Majesty. They have one Day made him Commander of a Fleet in the Mediterranean; again in the Channel; then to hoist his Flag on board a Yacht, and go on a grand Commission to Copenhagen; then to take a Tour to Brunswick, and so parade...
2028From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 13 March 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote to you very fully per Falconer of Feb. 17. and have since received yours of Jan. 21. together with one from the Committee, and the Messages, which, as you will see by my Answer to the Committee, I communicated to Lord Hillsborough. His Lordship read them deliberately, and took Notice that the Message of the Assembly seem’d to insinuate, that the Governor...
2029From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 25 October 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society This last Summer I have enjoy’d very little of the Pleasure of Reading or Writing. I made a long Journey to the Eastward, which consum’d 10 Weeks; and two Journeys to our Western Frontier: One of them to meet and hold a Treaty with the Ohio Indians, in Company with Mr. Peters and Mr. Norris. I shall send you a Copy of the Treaty as soon as ’tis printed. I...
2030From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Rhoads, 10 February 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Favour of Nov. 9. and am glad to hear of the Welfare of you and yours. Mentioning to a Friend of mine, Mr. Wooller, an Engineer, your Idea of Paint and Sand, to make Roofs durable and safer from Fire (which I hope you will try, as I think it very likely to succeed) he communicated to me an Account of a new Method of Covering, in the...
2031From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Sharpe, 21 April 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library I approve very much of engaging Dr. Hay. I know not whether he will chuse to appear for us before the Attorney and Sollicitor General, but before the Committee of Council perhaps he may have no Objection. If the Constitution of the Province is to be attack’d, as you intimate, the Cause is of so much greater Weight. If the Privileges of a single Englishman are of...
2032From Benjamin Franklin to Tuthill Hubbart, 27 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS on loan, Los Angeles County Museum: Mr. Jerome L. Padelford, San Gabriel, Cal., and Mrs. Martin L. Potter, Tacoma, Wash. (1955) I am much obliged by your care in sending me constantly the Boston Newspapers, which I request you to continue till you hear of my Return; adding such political Pamphlets or Sermons as may be published among you. I am glad I did not see your Name among the...
2033From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 9 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Line is just to let you know that we have this moment come to an Anchor here, and that I am going ashore at Portsmouth, and hope to be in London on Tuesday Morning. No Father could be tenderer to a Child, than Capt. Robinson has been to me, for which I am greatly oblig’d to Messrs. James and Drinker’s but we have had terrible Weather, and I have often...
2034From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I received but lately the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me in Recommendation of the Marquis de la Fayette. His Modesty detain’d it long in his own Hands. We became acquainted however, from the time of his Arrival at Paris, and his Zeal for the Honour of our Country, his Activity in our Affairs here, and his firm...
2035From Benjamin Franklin to Octavie Guichard Durey de Meinières, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society It is certain that Mr. Franklin has promised Madame Helvetius that he will accompany her on Wednesday next to the Pavillions de Chaillot. He has long desired to pay his Duty there, but was afraid to encounter the keen and fine Reproaches of Made de Meinieres, which he had before experienc’d, and which his Conscience told him he deserved. He resolved,...
2036From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 22 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives, American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives; copy: Harvard University Library I received your Favour of May 15. and was glad to find that mine of Decr. 21. had come to hand. Mr. Deanes Brother writes that it was not signed, which was an accidental Omission. Mr. Deane himself is I hope with you long before this time, and I doubt not but every...
2037From Benjamin Franklin to Anna Maria Shipley, 25 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I received by General Verdiere a few Days since the very obliging Letter my dear and amiable Friend did me the honour of writing to me from Wimbledon, dated April 7. He had it seems been detain’d somewhere by Sickness.— The kind Remembrance & unchang’d Affection of old Friends whose good Opinion I always highly valued, is in these times of publick...
2038From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 6 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library Since my last to you, which went per Capt. Foulger, the Parliament, by a sudden and unexpected Resolution in the Cabinet, has been dissolved. Various are the Conjectures as to the Motives; among which one is, that some Advices from Boston, importing the Impossibility of carrying on Government there under the late Acts of Parliament, have made it appear necessary...
2039From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 1 September 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote to you yesterday, and now I write again. You will say, It can’t rain, but it pours: For I not only send you manuscript but living Letters. The first may be short, but the latter will be longer and yet more agreable. Mr. Bartram I believe you will find to be at least 20 folio Pages, large Paper, well fill’d, on the Subjects of Botany, Fossils, Husbandry,...
2040From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin and Elizabeth West, [before 4 April 1772?]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library <Before April 4, [1772? ], and in the third person. An invitation to dinner next Saturday, April 4.> Between the artist’s marriage and BF ’s return to America, April 4 fell on a Saturday in 1767 and 1772. Our predecessors did not print the invitation under the earlier date, and we are therefore assigning it to the later one.
2041From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 20 July 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from John Bigelow, ed., The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin (New York and London, 1887–88), III , 207–8. I received your very kind letter and invitation to Bath where I am sure I could spend some days very happily with you and Mrs. Strahan, if my time would permit; but the man-of-war, that is to be our convoy, is under sailing orders for the 30th of this month so...
2042From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 19 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours and Mr. Colden’s with the Accounts, and Bills, per Packet, concerning which shall be more particular in my next. This Line is only to inform you, that in my Opinion you are likely to obtain from the Board the Addition you desire to enable you to live at New York; that probably Mr. Finlay will be appointed Riding Surveyor; and that...
2043Intelligence from London, [after 8 March 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in William Duane, ed., The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin … (6 vols., Philadelphia, 1808–18) V , 325–6. No. III. 1. The nation has spent in this war, since 1775 an hundred millions of sterling money. 2. The nation has lost by this war fourteen colonies on the continent of America, several Islands in the West Indies, and Minorca. 3. The nation is at war with three powerful states in...
2044From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that the English Ministry do not agree to any of the Propositions that have been made either by us, or by their Minister here; and they have sent over a Plan for the definitive Treaty, which consists merely of the Preliminaries formerly signed, with a short Introductory Paragraph, & another at the...
2045From Benjamin Franklin to [Noble Wimberly Jones], 25 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Being just about to embark for Europe, I take the Liberty of troubling you with my Acct. and requesting you would be so good as to procure an Adjustment of it from your Government, and remit the Sum you receive to my Son-in-law Richard Bache, Secretary of the General Post Office Residing in this Place, whose Rect. shall be a Discharge. I congratulate you...
2046From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 22 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress My Friend, M. De la Freté, having a considerable Property in the Hands of M. De Rouillac & Co. at Edenton in N. Carolina has sent a Power of attorney to M. Holker to recover the same for him. If you can in any way assist M. Holker in effecting this Business, you will very much oblige Dear Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant....
2047From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 17 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of LS : Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 15th. Instant, inclosing one from a certain Schaffer, who calls himself Lieutenant Colonel of the Continental Militia, requesting that you would cause to be restored to him a Bill of Exchange for 60 Dollars, that has my Name on...
2048From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Ray, 11 September 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and enclosed translation: American Philosophical Society Begone, Business, for an Hour, at least, and let me chat a little with my Katy. I have now before me, my dear Girl, three of your Favours, viz. of March the 3d. March the 30th. and May the 1st. The first I receiv’d just before I set out on a long Journey and the others while I was on that Journey, which held me near Six Weeks. Since...
2049From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Nairne, 13 November 1780[–18 October 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : Library of Congress, Yale University Library; AL (draft) and press copy: Library of Congress The Qualities hitherto sought in a Hygrometer, or Instrument to discover the Degrees of Moisture & Dryness in the Air, seem to have been, an Aptitude to receive Humidity readily from a moist Air, and to part with it as readily to a dry Air. Different Substances have been found to possess more...
2050From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld and the Duchesse d’Enville, 25 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin rejoices to hear that Monsr. le Duc de Rochefoucauld, and Madame la Duchesse d’Enville, in whose Welfare he is much interested, are both on the Recovery. Art. 4. M. F. thinks the Error is in the Number of Districts, which ought to have been 24. Art. 9. Is also misprinted. It should have been that two Members are to be removed at the End of...