301From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I duly receiv’d your Favour of [Nov. 17 ] and have after a long Delay got the S[ilk f]rom the Custom House. The Throwsters appointed to inspect it there, in order to ascertain the Bounty, valued it at 15 s. the small pound the whole taken together, and afterwards wanted to buy it of me at that Price. But suspecting their Offer to be too low, I have...
302From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress The Account of your Illness gave me great Concern, and I was glad to learn by yours of Nov 16. that you were mending. I hope by this time you are perfectly recovered. I have given you Credit for the Silk Committee’s Bill of £152 2 s. 9 d. and have paid Wheeler the 20 Guineas you ordered. I was in the Country when the Truss was sent by Mr. Hewson, to...
303From Benjamin Franklin to James Hunter, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I duly received your Letter of Nov. 16. and in Answer acquaint you, that you may draw on me for Eighty-seven Pounds ten Shillings Sterling at 30 Days Sight, and the Bill shall be punctually paid. I am glad your Daughter is arrived at an Age when the Money may be of Use to her, and I wish her and you good Luck with it. When you draw send me a Letter...
304From Benjamin Franklin to James Johnston, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your Letter, with the Sample of N. American Senna, which I put into the Hands of a Friend who is a great Botanist as well as a Physician, and has made some Trial of it. He tells me that to render it merchantable here, the Stalks should be pick’d out, and the Leaves pack’d up neatly, as that is which comes from the Levant. Perhaps among...
305From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 3 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Nov. 3. with the Extracts from Mr. Hooper’s Letter, and Remarks of Mr. Morgan which will come under Consideration in due time. As yet the Grant has not pass’d the Seals, tho’ we are kept in continual Expectation. I am oblig’d to Mr. Baynton and you for the Communication. The Demolishing Fort Pitt was a strange Measure. It might...
306From Benjamin Franklin to Theophylact Bache, 3 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am much oblig’d by your Favour of Dec. 10. with the 2 Barrels of Apples which prove excellent, and are a great Refreshment to me. Please to accept my Thanks, and best Wishes for your Prosperity. I thank you for your Kind Attention to Mr. Chysholme. I hope he will at last be fix’d to his Mind. Enclos’d is a Letter from your good Mother, which will...
307From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I send you herewith some Seeds, and shall send more for your Friends, by the Philad. Ships, by whom I shall write more fully. They are Peas of a valuable Sort, and the Turnip Cabbage which abides the Frost of Winter, and therefore of great Use as Feed in the Spring before any other appears. They were given me by our good Friend Mr. Todd. Yours of Oct....
308From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 2 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I receiv’d yours of Dec. 2. enclosing a Bill Hancock on Haley & Hopkins for £150 for Account of the Gen. Post-Office. Inclos’d I return you the Bill, Dunn on Long, Drake and Long, for £100 Sterling, with the Protest which costs 5 s. 9 d. I hope you are careful to give me Credit for these Protested Bills. I sent you two per last Packet, and one by...
309From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Since my last I have got the Apples on shore, and they come out very good. Accept my best Thanks. Mr. Bache of NYork has also kindly sent me two Barrels, Capt. Winn one, and Capt. Falconer One. I told you before that Capt. All gave me one, so that I am now plentifully supply’d. I know you love to have a Line from me by every Packet; so I write tho’ I...
310Franklin’s Conjecture on the Foregoing, [after 12 August 1772] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: the Royal Society The Aurora Boreales , tho’ visible almost every Night of clear Weather in the more Northern Regions, and very high in the Atmosphere, can scarce be visible in England but when the Atmosphere is pretty clear of Clouds for the whole Space between us and those Regions, and therefore are seldom visible here. This extensive Clearness may have been produced by a long...
311From 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...
312From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 6 January 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress <London, January 6, 1773. Returns two protested bills, Zeph[aniah] Turner on Barnes & Ridgate for £72 7 s. 5 d. and William Taylor on Perkins, Buchanan & Brown for £15; the charges on each are 5 s. 9 d. Asks to have the bills acknowledged and to be credited with £87 18 s. 11 d. > See above, XIX , 398.
313From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature, 6 January 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress <London, January 6, 1773. Has paid Mr. Wheeler twenty guineas, pursuant to the instructions of November 16, and encloses his receipt. > Richard Wheeler had been the agent for Evans and James in their land purchase the year before; see above, XIX , 97–9, 168–9, 413, 421.
314From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I feel still some Regard for this Sixth of January, as my old nominal Birth-day, tho’ the Change of Stile has carried the real Day forward to the 17th, when I shall be, if I live till then, 67 Years of Age. It seems but t’other Day since you and I were rank’d among the Boys and Girls, so swiftly does Time fly! We have...
315From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 6 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I have received your Favours of Oct. 18 and 30. I am oblig’d greatly to you and Mr. Rhoads for your friendly Interposition in the Affair of my Salary. As I made never any Bargain with the House, I accept thankfully whatever they please to give me; and shall continue to serve them as long as I can afford to stay here: Perhaps it may be thought, that...
316From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 6 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I have received your respected Favour of Oct. 16. with the enclos’d Resolve of the House appointing you the Committee of Correspondence for the current Year. And you may rely on my faithful Observance of the Instructions transmitted to me by you, in opposing strenuously every thing that I apprehend may prejudice the Commerce or Rights of America, and...
317From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 5 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I did myself the Honour of Writing to you on the 2d of December past inclosing some news papers to 30th november last which I hope got safe to hand. I have since received your Favour of Oct. 27. which containing in a small Compass so full an Enumeration of our Grievances, the Steps necessary to a Removal of them, and the...
318From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, [1757–1772] (Franklin Papers)
AL : The Royal Society Mr. Franklin’s Compliments to Mr. Canton, and requests he would procure for him two more of the long Glass Tubes such as he formerly did him the favour to procure for him. On John Canton, electrical experimenter, see above, IV , 390 n. This note might have been written at virtually any time before Canton’s death, March 22, 1772, except, of course, during one of BF ’s...
319The Mother Country. A Song, [1765–1772?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Cornell University Library This song occupies one side of a single sheet, at the bottom of which Jared Sparks wrote “(Franklin’s hand-writing) J. S.” The present editors agree with his identification. Nothing has been found to indicate whether Franklin composed these verses himself or merely copied them from another source because they amused and pleased him. They probably date from the...
320Memorandum about Lord Hillsborough, [January 1772?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress When the Petition first came over, an Accident had happen’d to the Paper that made it unfit to be presented, Therefore a Duplicate was waited for, being expected in some other Ship. Before that arriv’d Lord Hillsborough was gone to Ireland. On his Return B.F. waited on him 5 several times, or rather endeavoured to wait on him, but was always refus’d Admittance,...
321From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Priestley, [July 1772]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: printed in Joseph Priestley, “Observations on Different Kinds of Air,” the Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LXII (1772), 199–200. Priestley’s growing sprigs of mint in foul air might not seem like serious science, but it led to one of his major discoveries. A question had long plagued eighteenth-century scientists: how is the atmosphere repurified after being rendered...
322From Benjamin Franklin to Sir William Browne, [1772] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society This blast shows Franklin at his most abusive and least witty. His anger had been aroused by the vagaries of Sir William Browne, an old and wealthy physician and former President of the Royal College of Physicians, and an F.R.S. since 1739. Sir William had strongly opposed the election of Sir John Pringle, as noted above, to the presidency of the...
323Reply to a Defender of Lord Hillsborough, [after 7 September 1772] (Franklin Papers)
AD (incomplete draft): American Philosophical Society In your Paper of the 7th Instant, one M.S. attempts to defend Lord Hillsborough’s Conduct, attack’d it seems, by some preceding Piece which I have not seen. To defend a Friend is honourable but could not M.S. do this without abusing the New Englanders? If Calumny is so bad a thing when level’d at a single Man, that he ranks the Writer of it...
324From 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...
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 Lord Dartmouth, 8 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Dartmouth College Library Dr. Franklin presents his best Respects to Lord Dartmouth, and believing it may be agreable as well as useful to him, to receive other Information of the Sentiments and Disposition of Leading People in America, besides what Ministers are usually furnish’d with from the Officers of the Crown residing there, takes the Liberty of communicating to his Lordship...
327From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I duly received yours of Oct. 10. with the Accounts, accompanied by Bills of Exchange as follows, Walker on Cunningham for £82 11 s. 5½ d. R N. Colden on Meyrick for 400 0 s. 0 d. These from you as your Ballance 482 11 s. 5½
328From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and incomplete copy: Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress The interview described in the first part of this letter involved Franklin further in the developing crisis in Massachusetts, and the enclosure he described in the second part inflamed that crisis and deeply affected the remainder of his English mission. The importance of the letter is obvious, and so are the...
329From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I am much concern’d to hear of your Illness, and hope that long before this time you have been able to execute your Intentions of Riding, and have recovered your usual Health and Vigour. I received your Favour of Oct 21. with the Bill enclos’d drawn by Order of the Managers for promoting the Culture of Silk, on me, for £152 0 s. 9 d. in...
330From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am sorry to acquaint you that the Account Mr. Colden sent over from New York by the Octr Packet is look’d upon at the Office as no Account at all, the Receipts being lump’d in one Article of £5649 2 s. 3½ d. without any State of the Accounts of the several Offices to support that Article. It is therefore rejected, and I can make no Settlement till...
331From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Foxcroft, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook copy): Library of Congress I received yours of Oct. 23. with Invoice and Bill of Lading for the Bread and Flour you shipt per Osborne, and am much oblig’d by your Care in procuring and sending it so readily. I hope you have recovered your Health. Present my best Respects to your good Brother and Sister, and believe me with sincere Regard, Your most obedient humble Servant These...
332From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I have received yours of Oct. 4. 8. and 13. I cannot imagine what became of my Letter of Augt. 3. from May Place. It was however of no great Importance. Mr. Denormandie is gone this Day to Geneva. I gave him a Letter of Recommendation to a Friend there. I am persuaded that your Packets were not open’d at the Office; for tho’ a Secretary of State has...
333From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am favoured by your kind Letter of October 12. inclosing three Bills of Exchange, viz. Wilcocks on Baillie for £142 9 s. 6½ d. Do. on Col. Johnstone for 166 15 s. 3½ d. Roberdeau on Trevanion for 190 15
334From Benjamin Franklin to Abel James, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I duly received your Favours of Sept. 22 and Oct. 9. and am glad the Purchase proves acceptable. Our Friend Dr. Evans has remitted me the Bill you mention, drawn for the Produce of the Silk. It exceeds what I paid, and I wait Orders for the Disposition of the Overplus, particularly what I am to pay Wheeler...
335From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 1 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I have received yours of Oct. 6 and 13. and Sally’s of Oct. 25. It rejoices me to hear that you are all well, and that Benja. is recovered of the Measles. I will write him a little print Letter, as soon as I hear that he can read Print. Thanks to God, I am perfectly well at present, but being so far advanced in Life, I cannot expect a long...
336From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received yours of Oct. 14. and one without Date, which I suppose to be written since. Capts. All, Osborne, and Sparkes, are arrived; and a Barrel of Apples with another of Cranberries are come, I know not yet by which of them. I am glad to hear you continue so well, and that the Pain in your Side and Head have left you. Eat light Foods,...
337From Benjamin Franklin to John Hughes, Jr., 1 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Oct. 12. and in answer to your Enquiries acquaint you, that when I was in Ireland I went to the proper Office, and received the Information noted in red Ink on a Paper enclos’d; I then wrote the Letter of which I now send you the rough Draft, together with the Answer I received. I wrote also to the other Gentleman, but received no...
338From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, [November? 1772]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: minutes of the American Philosophical Society I must now beg Leave to recommend to your Society Baron de Kliengstadt of Petersburg who has lately travelled thro’ England to collect Improvements in Husbandry &c. Being acquainted with him I took the Liberty of requesting his Care of our Book directed to the Academy of Sciences at Petersburg and I gave it to him open as he expressed a...
339From Benjamin Franklin to a Member of the Royal Society, 26 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Council of the Royal Society having put Sir John Pringle, Bart. in nomination for President; and being myself persuaded from what I know of his Learning in general, his thorough Acquaintance with Experimental Philosophy, his constant Attendance at our Meetings, and his extensive Reputation in the Republick of Letters throughout Europe, that he would...
340From 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...
341From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I had no Line from you per last Packet, but hope to receive Letters of yours per Capt. All when he arrives. Thanks to God I am at present in very good Health and Spirits; which however I must not flatter myself will continue much longer, as the Course of Nature usually brings on with Age many Infirmities. As this Ship goes in a hazardous...
342From 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...
343From Benjamin Franklin to the Académie Royale des Sciences, 16 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Photograph of ALS : Académie des sciences, Paris A Place among your foreign Members is justly esteemed, by all Europe, the greatest Honour a Man can arrive at in the Republick of Letters: It was therefore with equal Surprize and Satisfaction that I learnt you had condescended to confer that Honour upon me. Be pleased to accept my grateful Acknowledgements, and believe me with the greatest...
344From 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....
345From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3–4 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you per the October Packet, and have not since had any Line from you. I spent 16 Days at Lord Le Despencer’s most agreably, and return’d in good Health and Spirits. Lord Dartmouth came to town last Week, and had his first Levee on Wednesday, at which I attended. He receiv’d me very politely in his Room, only Secy. Pownal present;...
346From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 4 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress; AL (copy): Public Record Office Lord Dartmouth our new American Minister came to Town last Week, and held his first Levee on Wednesday, when I paid my Respects, acquainting him at the same time that I should in a few Days wait upon him on Business from Boston, which I have accordingly since done and have put your Petition to the King into his Hands,...
347From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 4 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have been much in the Country this Summer, at the Houses of different Friends, and am now returned in good Health, Thanks to God. We are removed to a more convenient House in the same Street, Mrs. Stevenson having accommodated her Son-in-Law with that we lived in. The Removing has been a troublesome Affair, but is now over. My Love to...
348From Benjamin Franklin to William Alexander, 3 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress On my Return to Town I found your Favour, with the Schemes of your Lottery, to which I wish Success, and besides ordering some Tickets for my self, I have spoken well of it on every Occasion; but I find little Inclination among my Acquaintance to engage in Lotteries at such a Distance, and one cannot be very open in promoting them, it being contrary...
349From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 3 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Inclos’d I return to you Mackie’s Bill on Molleson for £294. 5 s. 2 d. with a Protest; the same being refus’d Payment for want of Effects. The Packet of last Month is not yet arriv’d. I hope she will bring the Accounts so long expected. I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant See above, BF to Colden, Oct. 7; Mary Hewson to BF , Oct. 22. BF...
350From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 3 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your Favour of June 22d per Mr. Finlay, and shall be glad of an Opportunity of rendring him any Service on your Recommendation. There does not at present seem to be any Disposition of the Board to appoint a Riding Surveyor, nor does Mr. Finlay seem desirous of such an Employment. Every thing at the Office remains as when I last wrote, only...