1From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 16 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library When Benjamin Franklin decided to reestablish communication with his estranged Loyalist son, with whom he had had no contact since 1775, he did so by planting a hint in the ear of a Connecticut merchant who, being about to leave Paris for London, was sure to see William. The message, duly communicated, was that Franklin did not understand why his son had not “made any...
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin: Journal of Negotiations in London, 22 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress When Franklin at long last set sail for home, memories of the past months were churning inside him. He spent much of the voyage recounting, in the guise of a letter to his son, the events that had crowded upon him since the previous summer and particularly since early December. He had with him a mass of papers with which he documented his journal; the bulk of...
3From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 7 May [1774?]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: British Museum Both Bigelow and Smyth accept the date that appears on the copy, but we suggest that the copyist was wrong by a year. The point is of some importance because, if the letter was written in 1775, even this small fragment bears on the relationship between father and son when the former returned from England. Although the language is open to various interpretations, the...
4From Benjamin Franklin to [William Franklin, 12 October 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society [ Page or pages missing ] on their Virtue, Wisdom and Magnanimity: Lord C——n says he would give half his Worth in the World to be present at the Debates of such an uncorrupted Body on so important an Occasion; and I often regret that I did not leave this Country in time to have been there myself. Your Omission of Remittances to...
5From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 7 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum; letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I received yours of July 3. from New York, with the Bill of Exchange for Forty Pounds, Cobham on Bond & Ryland, which is carried to the Credit of your Account. I have spoken in Mr. Antill’s Favour, but there seems to have been a previous Disposition of those Places. At the Time of making up the Mail for the August Packet, I...
6From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 1 August 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum I have been here with Lord Le Despencer about a Week, for a little Country Air and Exercise. I wrote to you per Capt. Falconer, and have nothing to add; but to let you know that I continue very well and hearty. Methinks ’tis time to think of a Profession for Temple, (who is now upwards of 14 ) that the remainder of his Education may have some Relation to it. I have thought...
7From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 30 June 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from George T. Keppel, Earl of Albemarle, Memoirs of the Marquis of Rockingham and His Contemporaries … (2 vols., London, 1852), II , 299–300. I hear a non-importation agreement is intended. If it is general, and the Americans agree in it, the present Ministry will certainly be knocked up, and their Act repealed; otherwise they and their measures will be continued, and the Stamp Act...
8From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 18 February 1774: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: British Museum Some tell me that it is determined to displace you likewise, but I do not know it as certain. I only give you the hint, as an Inducement to you to delay awhile your Removal to Amboy, which in that Case woud be an expence and Trouble to no purpose. Perhaps they may expect that your Resentment of their Treatment of me, may induce you to resign, and save them the shame of...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 2 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum This Line is just to acquaint you that I am well, and that my Office of Deputy-Postmaster is taken from me. As there is no Prospect of your being ever promoted to a better Government, and That you hold has never defray’d its Expences, I wish you were well settled in your Farm. ’Tis an honester and a more honourable because a more independent Employment. You will hear from...
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 210–11. I received yours of October 29, and November 2. Your December packet is not yet arrived. No insinuations of the kind you mention, concerning Mr. G—y have reached me, and if they had, it would have been without the least effect; as I have always had...
11From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 November 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Duane, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (6 vols., Philadelphia, 1808–18), VI , 337–8. I wrote you pretty fully by the last packet, and having had no line from you of later date than the beginning of August, and little stirring here lately, I have now little to write. In that letter I mentioned my having written two papers, of which I preferred the first, but the...
12From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 6 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Duane, ed., The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin … (6 vols., Philadelphia, 1808–18), VI , 332–4. I wrote to you on the 1st of last month, since which I have received yours of July 29, from New York. I know not what letters of mine governor H. could mean, as advising the people to insist on their independency. But whatever they were, I suppose he has sent copies of them...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 1 September 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete letterbook draft): Library of Congress; remainder, except a brief passage, reprinted from William Duane, ed., The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin … (6 vols., Philadelphia, 1808–18), VI , 329–31; three final sentences quoted in William Franklin to Joseph Galloway, November 25, 1773: American Philosophical Society I have now before me yours of July 5. and 6. The August Packet is...
14From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am com hither to spend a few Days and breathe a little fresh Air. Nothing material has occurr’d since mine per sutton, except the final Hearing at the Cockpit relating to Gov. Wentworth, against whose Conduct the Board of Trade had reported, and the Hearing was at the Instance of his Friends against the Report. Their Lordships have not yet given...
15From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you pretty fully per Osborne, since which I attended the Hearing at the Council Board against the Report of the Board of Trade on the Complaint of Mr. Livius. I think I sent you a Copy of the Complaint and Answer among the Pamphlets, containing also the Report. The Time was only sufficient to hear the Counsel for Govr. Wentworth and...
16From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress This letter has hitherto been published only in an extract, which omitted a long section at the beginning and a somewhat shorter one at the end. The beginning is of particular interest, because in it Franklin discussed his view of settlers’ rights, as opposed to the rights of the crown, in land acquired from the Indians. That view came extremely...
17From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 6–9 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Feb. 2. with the Papers of Information that accompany it. I know nothing of Col. Mercer’s being appointed Surveyor of the new Colony: Indeed the Proprietors, if they ever are to be such, are not yet in a Situation to appoint or promise any Places, the Grant not being compleated. I never heard of Jones; or his Chief Justiceship in...
18From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 15 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote you pretty largely by Capt. All, and sent you sundry things, particularly the plated Boiler you wrote for. I have nothing to add, but to let you know I continue well. Enclos’d I send you the Boston Pamphlet with my Preface. I grow tired of my Situation here, and really think of Returning in the Fall. My Love to Betsey. I am ever Your...
19From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you largely by Capt. All, and sent you several Books, some Seeds, &c mentioned in my Letter, and one thing more, viz. a plated Tea Boiler, of Bolton’s make, which I hope will prove good and please. I have not yet got the Bill. I have since receiv’d yours of Jan. 5. which I shall answer largely by next Opportunity, which I suppose will be...
20From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Your late Letters of Oct. 13, 29, Nov. 3, Dec. 1. and 4. lying all before me, I shall answer the Particulars in order; such I mean as I have not answered by other Opportunities. I have written to Mr. Bolton of Birmingham for a Plated Tea Urn, he being by far the best Maker, and his Work of the newest Fashion. If it does not come in time to go by this...
21From 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....
22From 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...
23From 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;...
24From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 7 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Sept. 1. with one enclos’d for Mrs. Clarke, which I immediately forwarded to Bristol; but she call’d on me two Days after to enquire how you did. She returns into Oxfordshire for the present, and after some time to Bristol again. I am glad you have satisfied Hayne that he went on a Fools Errand. There is no convincing those People...
25From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 19–22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18) II , 171–3. I received yours of June 30. I am vexed that my letter to you, written at Glasgow, miscarried; not so much that you did not receive it, as that it is probably in other hands. It contained some accounts of what passed in Ireland, which were for you...
26From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 19 August 1772: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Library of Congress In yours of May 14th, you acquaint me with your indisposition, which gave me great concern. The resolution you have taken to use more exercise is extremely proper, and I hope you will steadily perform it. It is of the greatest importance to prevent diseases; since the cure of them by physic is so very precarious. In considering the different kinds of exercise, I...
27From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 17 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 171. At length we have got rid of Lord Hillsborough, and Lord Dartmouth takes his place, to the great satisfaction of all the friends of America. You will hear it said among you (I suppose) that the interest of the Ohio planters has ousted him, but the...
28From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 5 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society [I have rec]eived yours of Mar. 2, with the Bill in[closed] [ torn ] on the Society for £25 Sterling, which is [entered to your?] Credit. I have paid for you lately a [bill in the amount of?] £4 10 s. 6 d. to one Main’s a Shoemaker, [ torn ] by Order of Mrs. Clarke. And on [ torn ] several Sums of which I cannot [now recollect the full?]...
29From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 February 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society This will be delivered to you by the Revd. Mr. Coombe, whom I recommend to your Friendship as a young Gentleman of great Merit, Integrity, and Abilities. He has acquir’d the Esteem of all that knew him here, not as an excellent Preacher only, but as practising the Morality he preaches. I wish him a good Settlement in his Native Country,...
30From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 30 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have now before me yours of July 3. Aug. 3. Sept. 3. and Nov. 5. All but the last came in my Absence, which is the Reason they were not immediately answer’d. In yours of July 3. you mention some Complaisance of Lord H’s towards you, that show’d a Disposition of being upon better Terms. His Behaviour to me in Ireland corresponds exactly....