4201From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 25 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have received your Favour of the 11th. Instant. I have only time by this Oportunity to enclose and send you the Receipts of the Capt. of the Cartel, for some English Prisoners I have lately releas’d. There were a Number sent before, of which I can not find at present the Receipt. I shall continue sending as they may arrive, in order to settle my particular Account...
4202From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, [June 1748?] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 10–15. I received your letter, with one for Benny, and one for Mr. Parker, and also two of Benny’s letters of complaint, which, as you observe, do not amount to much. I should have had a very bad opinion of him, if he had written to you those...
4203Franklin: 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...
4204From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, Sr., 1 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; LS : Massachusetts Historical Society I thank you for your kind Congratulations on my Arrival here, and shall be happy in finding that our Negociations on this side the Water are of effectual Service to our Country. The general News here is, that all Europe is arming and preparing for War, as if it were soon expected. Many of the Powers however, have their...
4205From Benjamin Franklin to Elias Boudinot, 27 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your two Letters to the Commissioners, dated at Princeton the 27th of October & 1st of November, and one to me of the first of November, came duly to Hand; Mr Adams saw the public Letters in England, Capt. Jones having landed with them at Plymouth. We thank you much for the Intelligence they contain. I am now alone here, Mr. Jay being at Bath, with Mr Laurens, and...
4206From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand, 17 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Mr. Franklin delivered the Proposition in Writing to Mr. Vergennes, who read it and said, Je tacherai d’arranger tout cela pour vous . Mr. F. mentioned it afterwards to Mr. de Chaumont, who said it was not necessary, for that M. Cotin had now the means of making the Affair easy. Mr. F. is ready always to give the Promisses in gross, and desires to do that till the...
4207From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Dawson, 29 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum; French translation by Barbeu-Dubourg: American Philosophical Society This letter marked the start of an investigation that engaged Franklin’s attention intermittently for months to come, and embroiled him in one more dispute about the behavior of electricity. The problem was how best to protect the royal powder magazine at Purfleet against lightning. The magazine was new,...
4208From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 8 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your Favour of the 1st Instant. My Sentiments of Esteem for you have been always uniform, ever since I had the pleasure of knowing you. I never had the least doubt of your Integrity, and Zeal for our Cause, in which I know you have been HIGHLY serviceable. My intrusting the enclos’d important Letter to your Care, is an additional Proof of the Confidence I...
4209From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 16 February 1779 [i.e., 17] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your favor of the 11th inst. is before me. There are so many Difficulties about the Saltpetre, and as I do not learn that it is at Present much wanted in America, I am half inclin’d to dispose of it where it lies. Be so good as to inquire what it will fetch, & send me word. You will be so good as to comply with the Orders of the Navy Board, respecting the fitting of...
4210Franklin’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...