301From Benjamin Franklin to [Edward Bancroft], 31 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society When at Bt.— acquaint the People that have a mind to remove to America, that they may do it with great Safety to themselves & Effects.— It is said there are great Numbers in those Parts. Represent the happy Living of Thousands of Families that have already passed from thence. On Occasion, State the Advantages to those that remain, of a free Trade with...
302From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Bancroft, 4 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress You will see by the enclos’d that a Demand is made of replacing the Things belonging to The Serapis which Comme. Jones borrowed from her and took on board the Alliance when he changed ships. I request you to manage this affair with him in your usual Prudence. I am ever, my Dear friend, Yours most affectionately. When Jones, on BF ’s orders, turned over his prize, the...
303From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Nathaniel Bancroft, 26 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have received two Letters from you, and am pleas’d to see that you improve in your Writing and Language, and to read your dutiful Expressions of Respect and Love for your Parents, which is very commendable. My Grandson Benja. Franklin Bache, who is lately return’d from Geneva, answer’d for me your first Letter, and hopes you receiv’d it, tho’ you mention nothing...
304From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 27 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; copy: Library of Congress In this letter, prompted by Banks’s overture of May 28, Franklin rejoices in the peace, muses on the folly of war, and reclaims his place in the British scientific community, as he had long wished to do. Erasing eight years of estrangement, he notes with pleasure the recent discoveries made by “our” Society. By way of reciprocation, he adds a...
305From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, November 22–25, 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; incomplete AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library; press copy of LS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received your friendly Letter of the 7th. Inst. I am glad my Letters respecting the Aerostatic Experiment were not unacceptable. But as more perfect Accounts of the Construction and Management of that Machine have been and will be published before your...
306From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 15 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; ALS (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library You have probably had enough of my Correspondence on the Subject of the Balloons, yet I cannot forbear sending you Mr Charles’s Account of his Voyage, wch contains some Circumstances that are curious & interesting. And perhaps you may, for a Conclusion, have one more Letter from me by him, if he makes the Flight, said to be...
307From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 30 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library; press copy of ALS : Harvard University Library I did myself the honour of writing to you the Beginning of last Week, and I sent you by the Courier, M. Faujas’s Book upon the Balloons, which I hope you have receiv’d. I did hope to have given you to day an Account of Mr Charles’s grand Balloon, which was to have gone up yesterday; but the filling it with inflammable Air...
308From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 9 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : British Library; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I have just received the very kind friendly Letter you were so good as to write to me by Dr. Bonssonnet [Broussonet]. Be assured that I long earnestly for a Return of those peaceful Times, when I could sit down in sweet Society with my English philosophic Friends, communicating to each other new Discoveries, and proposing...
309From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 8 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Society; AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library; press copy of LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress After heavy winds and rain had marred the demonstration of his hotair balloon at the Réveillon manufactory on September 12, Etienne Montgolfier and his collaborators had just one week to prepare a new balloon to be launched before the royal family...
310From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 21 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library I received your kind Letter of the 13th Instant,—acquainting me that the Royal Society have instructed you to present to me in their Name one of the Gold Medals they have struck in honour of Capt. Cook. I am extreamly sensible of this fresh Mark of their favourable Regard for me. They have always been very good to me, and I beg you would be pleased to offer them my...
311From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 1[–2] December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : Harvard University Library In mine of yesterday, I promis’d to give you an Account of Messrs Charles & Robert’s Experiment, which was to have been made on this Day, and at which I intended to be present. Being a little indispos’d, & the Air cool, and the Ground damp, I declin’d going into the Garden of the Tuilleries where the Balloon was...
312From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 30 August[–2 September 1783] (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Society; press copy of LS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Library of Congress During August, while Etienne Montgolfier was conferring with the Académie des sciences, working on his new balloon, and pursuing his business interests as a papermaker, his competitors were scrambling to figure out how they could safely generate the 900...
313From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 30 August 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (Paris, 1773), p. 314. Cette lettre vous sera remise par le Docteur Lettsom, jeune Médecin Amériquain de beaucoup de mérite, qui est de la paisible secte des Trembleurs, et que vous regarderiez conséquemment au moins comme une rareté à contempler, quand même vous auriez épousé toutes les préventions de la plupart de vos...
314From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [early November 1772] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft; incomplete): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] in this Foggy Climate and smoaky City without too much Hazard, I will do my utmost when she comes to promote her Interest. It is true that many English People go to Paris, but I do not often know of their going, and therefore must sometimes make use of the Post, or wait long for an Opportunity of Writing to you....
315From Benjamin Franklin to [Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg], [10 March 1773] (Franklin Papers)
AL (mutilated and incomplete draft): American Philosophical Society; translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 311. [ Torn ] Instant, [ torn ] read carefully [ torn ] much Importance [ torn. ] Page 18. line 14. [ torn ] électrisé en plus [ Torn
316From Benjamin Franklin to [Barbeu-Dubourg], [after 2 October? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress You know, my dear Friend, that I am not capable of refusing you any Thing in my Power, which would be a real Kindness to you or any Friend of yours: But when I am certain that what you request would be directly the contrary, I ought to refuse it. I know that Officers going to America for Employment will probably be disappointed: That our armies are...
317From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 4 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Franklin’s crossing on the Reprisal with his two grandsons, William Temple Franklin and Benjamin Franklin Bache, was imprinted on his memory as long as he lived. He “was badly accommodated,” he wrote years later, “in a miserable vessel, improper for those northern seas, (and which actually foundered in her return,) was badly fed, so...
318From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 28 July 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Extract reprinted from The American Museum, or, Universal Magazine , VIII (July, 1790), 120. I greatly approve the epithet, which you give in your letter of the 8th of June, to the new method of treating the small-pox, which you call the tonic or bracing method. I will take occasion from it, to mention a practice to which I have accustomed myself. You know the cold bath has long been in vogue...
319From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 26 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Last Night I received your Favour of the 19th per Post, which I think is the best Conveyance for our Letters without any direct Address; for I perceive that not only the little Piece which I sent on the 4th Inst. but a long Letter of the 8th. have miscarried. With the first I only thank’d you for the Square of 11000, and made a short Remark of some...
320From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 22 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society With this you will receive some Sheets of the Piece now printing, and which I am promis’d shall be finish’d in a few Days. I am afraid it is not so correct as it should be; But as I have been advis’d not to publish it till next Month, most of our Gentry being yet out of Town, there will be time for you to send me the Errata which may be printed at...
321From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [12–16 November 1772]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 199. Je suis persuadé, comme vous, que le charbon de terre est d’origine végétale, et qu’il a été formé vers la surface de la terre; mais comme de précédentes convulsions l’avoient enterré fort avant en plusieurs endroits, et recouvert de plusieurs couches fort épaisses, nous avons...
322From Benjamin Franklin to Barbeu-Dubourg, 13 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Having begun the affair of our Loan by the Means of our friend M. Ferdinand Grand Banker Rue Monmartre, he is in possession of all the Particulars relating to it, and can fully satisfy the Curiosity of the Person who enquires thro’ you. I need only mention in Answer to your 8th Query, that the Money borrow’d being to be laid out in France for Arms Ammunitions Soldiers...
323From Benjamin Franklin to Barbeu-Dubourg, 19 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress The great Point is to obtain the Consent of this Government to the making such an Equipment as is proposed. We apply’d yesterday for that Consent, and hope to have an Answer today. If favourable, your friend shall be gratified with a Commission immediately, on giving the necessary Security to observe our naval Regulations, and not to commit hostilities against any...
324From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 22 January 1773: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 118. J’ai imaginé depuis quelques tems une nouvelle forme de chauffoir, ou espece de cheminée d’une construction différente, qui donne plus de chaleur, en consumant moins de bois; mais il lui manque quelques-uns des principaux avantages de ma premiere machine, et elle a quelques...
325From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 8 December 1772: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 215. Lorsque les verres sont rangés sur le fuseau horisontal, ou pour me servir de votre expression, enfilés , et que chacun est arrêté à demeure, on voit la totalité du plus grand verre qui est tout à l’extrêmité à main gauche; le suivant entrant dans le premier ne montre...
326From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 10 March 1773: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 277–9. Quant au magnétisme qui semble produit par l’électricité, mon opinion actuelle est que ces deux puissances n’ont aucun rapport l’une à l’autre, et que la production apparente du magnétisme n’est qu’accidentelle. Voici comment on peut l’expliquer. 1º. La terre est un grand...
327From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg and Thomas-François Dalibard, [on or before 25 May 1773] (Franklin Papers)
Translation printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed. Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 332–4. Ma réponse à vos questions sur l’attendrissement des viandes par l’électricité ne peut être fondée que sur des conjectures; car je n’ai pas des expériences suffisantes pour garantir les faits. Tout ce que je puis donc dire pour le présent, c’est que je suppose qu’on peut employer...
328From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 7 February 1770: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: translated and printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (Paris, 1773), II , 314. Il est bien vrai, comme on vous l’a mandé d’Amérique, que les Trembleurs y ont donné la liberté à tous leurs esclaves, mais il est à remarquer qu’ils n’en avoient pas beaucoup. Cependant si l’effort en est moins surprenant de leur part, l’action n’en est pas moins belle en elle-même.
329From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 5 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library With this I send you a new Pamphlet just published here, written by a Friend of mine. The Subject of it grows every hour more and more serious. No Advice is yet received of the Result of the Congress, which during its whole Sitting has kept all its Deliberations a profound Secret. Mr. Bennet, who will deliver this to you, is a Gentleman of Distinction here, and my...
330From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 23 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 313. Vous verrez par le papier ci-joint du Docteur Solander, que cette herbe (Poke-Weed) dans laquelle on a trouvé un remede spécifique du cancer, est précisément l’espece la plus commune de Phytolacca ( Phytolacca decandra. L. ). An English retranslation may be found in Sparks,...