1To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 27 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The interruption of our correspondence is truly mortifying to me. I wrote to you some time in march, and as I have received no answer I think either your letter or mine has been stopt. Why our letters should be detained I cannot see, for I am sure I can give you no political intelligence, and as no purpose would be answered by your giving it to me, I am...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 6 June 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society The Happiness I enjoy’d last friday has afforded me pleasing reflections for the week past. I attended with delight to your kind Instructions, and my highest Amusement ever since has been to recollect them. You obligingly condescended to satisfy my Curiosity about the Barometer, and by your explanation I clearly conceived the cause of the rise and fall of...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 11 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My mother had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 11th. of Decr. but never could learn who the Bearer was, therefore could not comply with your request of returning an answer by him: A porter brought it to Mr. Barrows, and demanded a groat without saying whence he came. Immediately upon the receipt of that letter my mother went to Mr. Collinson’s, where...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 22 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Addinell S. Hewson, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (1957) I received your packets of the 26th. of April and 14th of June, with the two little books, for which I thank you. They came to me very safe by the post and I do not grudge the postage. The Sepr. Vol. of l’ami des enfans, which completed the set, I also received, but I know not by what conveyance it came to Sutton, whence it was brought...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, [late October? 1771] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Mother desires me to tell you that there are two Letters from New York and one from Philadelphia and three Packets of News Papers but she is afraid to send them as you have not receiv’d that Mr. Hewson sent you. I write in great Haste. We are all well. Yours affectionately The note might at first glance be dated at any time when BF was away from London...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 11 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society It was with great pleasure I h[eard of] your safe and happy arrival at Philadelphia; and [hearti]ly congratulate you and the dear Partakers of y[our Socie]ty, but you must all forgive me if I repine [that] you are oblig’d to enjoy it at so great a d[istance] from me. My Mother receiv’d yours of [ ? ] November and another a few days ago, of a...
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library <March 22, [1771–74 ]: a note in the third person, in Polly Hewson’s hand. Reminds Franklin that he has promised to dine with them next Thursday.> The Hewsons were married in July, 1770, and he died suddenly in May, 1774. The invitation could have been in any March between those dates, and according to our practice we are assigning it to the earliest...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 5 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having a chance of sending a letter to you I would not neglect it. The Atlantic is now the great gulph , indeed; for there seems no possibility of passing over it to each other. However I hope you spoke in the spirit of prophecy when you said your public affairs might be settled by the time my private ones were finished. Both those events are yet only in...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 10 September 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I don’t know whether to say I fear or I hope this won’t reach you before you leave Holland, for I don’t care how soon we have you in our Island again, and I wish you had no Attachment ever to draw you from it again, that is I wish your Attachments were all here. My Mother wanted me to write another Letter to you while I was with her, but my Time was so...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 23 June 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You who are no Stranger to the Feelings of Humanity will readily conceive the anxiety of my Mind while I thought my Friend in Danger: It is only such a Situation as I was then in that can make me neglect your Favours. Upon examining the Barometer after I receiv’d your Letter, I found a small Crevice where the piece of hollow wood which covers the Mercury is...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 28 July 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the short stay my mother made here I could not find time to write a letter, therefore I hop’d my verbal acknowledgments would be accepted, yet I did not intend my pen should neglect it’s duty. I really am much oblig’d to you for the trouble you took to gratify me, and notwithstanding the frequency of my obligations to you I always have great pleasure...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 17 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You express’d an intention to pay us a visit the latter end of this week, and as I should be sorry to be disappointed of the pleasure of your company when you come, I write this to inform that we have an engagement of a long standing for to-morrow, and the next day we expect company to dine with us, which makes me wish you to defer coming till the beginning...
13To Benjamin Franklin from John Viny, with a Note by Mary Hewson, [after 28 November 1783] (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I am favourd with yours of the third of Octobr, in about ten days, the contents of which, does me the highest Honor as it is demonstrative of your desire to serve me and my Family, from the Impulse of Affection, the Evidence of which is so like your Self, most Indearingly conveyed; but no more, let it Suffice that we love, honor, and Revere you, and wait...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 19 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Dr Shuttleworth informed me that he intended going to Paris in order to consult you upon some American business of his own, and desired an introduction from me. He attended Mr Hewson’s Lectures, and as he has dined several times at our table you probably may have seen him. He was in Maryland with Mr Eden. I am highly delighted with the importance I am...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 27 April 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Had I never known you I could not have read those Writings you were so obliging to put into my Hands without entertaining the highest Esteem for you, but as I have had the Happiness of experiencing your Condescension and Candour Gratitude and Affection are join’d to my Esteem, and together fill my Heart with Sentiments I am not able to express. You assert...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 15 June 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am heartily glad you made up the quarrel without coming to blows; and as we hope to find you peaceable and happy, we all promise ourselves much pleasure in spending this day in Craven street. To my mortal day I shall remain Your dutiful and affectionate
17To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 1 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; incomplete AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; incomplete AL (draft): James S. Bradford, Philadelphia (1956) I yesterday received yours of the 13th April, and as Mr Hodgson, in the note which inclosed it, offers to forward an answer I sit down to write one, tho’ I wrote to you last saturday by Mr W. to acknowledge that which he brought us from...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 8[–11] April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society So few opportunities offer to convey a letter to you that I must seize the present to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you addrest to my mother and me last December. I cannot tell by whom it came as it was put into the post; the rest of the superscription being in an unknown hand. We shall always be happy to hear from you, therefore whenever you...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 2 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind letter of the 19. of March this morning, and thank you most heartily for it, tho; I confess it lowers our spirits, as it seems to take away the hope of seeing you here. The papers tell us you are soon to return to America, and I begin to fear you intend to do so without giving a look at poor Old England. I am much in your debt every...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 10 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My mother promis’d Lord Drummond to send a letter to you by him, she deputed Mr. Williams to write it for her, but as he has already written by this Vessel he desir’d me to do it. I pleaded being very sleepy and stupid, they said writing would rouse and enliven me, I do not find they said true, however, I will write on. I have the pleasure to tell you that...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, [1760–1762] (Franklin Papers)
Draft (incomplete): American Philosophical Society Your last Letter gave me great pleasure though the thoughts of having laid you under a necessity of writing it fill me with Confusion, for it was so unreasonable to draw you in to write a third Letter after you had condescendingly written two, that you ought to have punish’d me for it; but you have us’d the most effectual method to make me...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 25 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I could not fail to take the opportunity of writing a line by Mr. Williams, tho I can give you but a very short letter, just to tell you that I and my little ones are well: I wish I could say the same of my mother. She has had her leg bad again which lowers her spirits. I was obliged to come to town and should have been very uneasy if I had not left my...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 19 May 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and draft: American Philosophical Society In my last I communicated what occurr’d to me upon first reading your Letters. I receive so much Pleasure from what you say or write, and it is with such Facility I comprehend, or fancy I comprehend, what you mean, that attending to you is my Darling Amusement. I have not many Opportunities of conversing personally with you, but I make up that...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 25 November 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the opportunity of writing by a Gentleman whom I wish to recommend to your Notice. His Name is Lyth, he is a Clergyman going to settle in Virginia, where he has the promise of a Living, and I hope he will meet with the Success I believe he deserves. The little I have seen of him has prejudic’d me in his favour, but I do not recommend him upon so...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 25 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We this day received your kind favour by Mr Whitefoord. After a silence of more than a year we hardly expected ever to hear from you again. We are always happy to learn you are well, which Mr W. assures us you were when he saw you. I was much surprised to find you did not know of our removal to this place, as Mr Alexander saw us here in Feby. last. He slipt...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 8 July 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Soon after my Eyes were open this Morning they were blest with a Letter from my dear and honour’d Friend. Mrs. Hawkesworth (for I have not seen the Doctor, but they seem to have both one Soul) bids me tell you they approve all your Scheme except that part of it which relates to me; and they shall expect to see all their Friends, who design them that...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 13 January 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society It is long since I troubled you with a Letter, which I am afraid you will impute to Indolence rather than Modesty. The Subject you are so condescending to enter upon with me would afford frequent matter of inquiry for me and give you too much trouble did I not suppress my inclination. The continual Engagements I am in prevent my spending as much time as I...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 23 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : James S. Bradford (Philadelphia, 1956) A whole year has elapsed since we received one line from you. Perhaps you mean to drop all correspondence with us, but we will not let you off quite so easy as you may think, for whenever an opportunity offers I shall send you a letter. Being this morning informed by an old friend of ours that a young lady would set out in a few days to Paris I take...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 10 March 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and draft: American Philosophical Society I did not think you had been so keen a Satyrist. I have not finish’d my Course of Philosophy , nor do I desire to be at full Leisure to improve myself in Cards . I confess you have just Reason to complain of me, and my Indolence merits your severe Rebuke. Your Letter fill’d me with Confusion, and I assure you it will be a Spur to my Industry. The...
30To Benjamin Franklin from [Mary Hewson], 18 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I called this morning upon Dr. Ingenhousz who told me he had a letter from you lately, and that you were well; this gave me pleasure and will enable me to communicate pleasure to my mother when I return to her tomorrow. We are mortified that we so seldom get a line from you, and cannot help suspecting that our letters are intercepted. I received notice from...
31To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 24 May 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Your Indulgence to me gives you a Claim to as much as you can desire from me, therefore don’t think I am so unreasonable to expect an answer to every Letter I write, I am sufficiently paid by the assurance that you receive mine with Pleasure, and when you have leisure to write me one I hope you are sensible I receive the favour with Gratitude. I was with...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, [December 1769] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society NB Dr Franklin to whom these verses Verses which accompanied her Christmas gift to BF .
33To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 30 August 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I have two Letters to thank you for since I wrote to you from Bromley, which tho short gave me pleasure as they assured me of your Welfare and the continuance of your Regard for your Polly. I now have the pleasure of returning your Friend’s Musick with the desir’d supplement. Mr. Stanley begg’d I would present his best Respects to you, and tell you how...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 11 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society About a month ago I received a letter from you without a date, for which accept my thanks. We were happy to hear you were well, but my mother was much mortified that your letter was not addrest to her; it appears to me of no importance which of our names is superscribed, to her it is of great. However, you hurt her, not only by not writing to her...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 22 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Mother hopes you receiv’d a Letter from Mr. Collinson, for she desir’d him to write to you one evening about a Bill which he told her was not accepted. The enclos’d are all that came since you heard last from us. Mr. Strahan presents his Respects to you and begs the Favour of your Company at Dinner next Tuesday to meet Sir John Pringle and some body...
36To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 30 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I left Cheam yesterday morning, my mother and children all well. My mother received your letter the day before, inclosed in one from young Alexander, informing her that his father was returned, and he should join him in a few days at Calais. I brought your milk pot, & lodged it at Mr Lechmere’s and wrote to Mr Alexander desiring him to take charge of it....
37To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 1 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Adinell S. Hewson, Bryn Mawr, Pa. (1957) Welcome to England my dear, my honour’d Friend! Just as I began a Letter to my Mother I receiv’d the News of your Arrival. I have the same Confidence in my Parent that the Iskimaux Woman had in hers, for if my Mother did not know “I always speak Truth” I could not venture to say what she might be apt to doubt. I confess she has some Reason to...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 31 October 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Welcome! my dear and honour’d Friend! Welcome once more to our Island! The Wind may blow now without making our Hearts ake. You were constantly in our Thoughts during the late stormy Weather. I have pray’d for you at Midnight when I have been suckling my little Boy and heard the Window Sashes rattle. I thank God you are safe. The same merciful Being has...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 29 August 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arriv’d here, very opportunely for my Mother and myself, on the day a Letter was to be sent to you, which saves her the Trouble and affords me the Pleasure of writing. I am first to present her Thanks for your two kind Letters, and then I must acknowledge my Obligation for your Remembrance of me in them. No Person has call’d here except Mr. Johnston for...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 11 June 1762 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Whether the Invitation you give me to write to you proceeds from the Pleasure you receive or desire to bestow I shall not enquire; the first would gratify my Vanity most, but I am not less pleas’d with thinking you love to indulge me. When I say I have not Leisure for my favourite Amusements I am as much surpriz’d as you can be, and I wonder how my Time...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 2 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Mother orders me to set down to answer all your Hows . The Hewsons young and old are well and thank you for your kind Enquiry. Your Dolly is well. I had a Letter from her to day from Bromley. Lady Barwell is well. Josiah when we heard of him, and Sally, and Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, I met them last Week at Barwell’s. All well. My Mother herself is grown...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 15 May 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received a letter from Kensington to day by which I learn that my aunt will not come to Bromley to fetch me, therefore I must go home by way of Craven Street next monday. Now if it will be convenient to you to come hither on sunday or monday you will give a great deal of pleasure to several persons by doing it and I shall have a more agreeable journey to...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 13 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received eleven little books for which I thank you. But why was there not one line with them? My poor mother was much disappointed, and I believe imagined that I did not speak truth when I told her there was no letter in the parcel. I know you will pay the tribute of a sigh for the loss of one who loved you with the most ardent affection. She lingered...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 14 January 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to address you with the Compliment of the Season; not merely as a Compliment, but with a fervent sincerity. May this Year give you a happy sight of your Native Country, and of those dear Relations you left in it; and if there is anything else wanting to compleat your Felicity, May that be added! May you enjoy a long succession of Years, fraught...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 8 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I was yesterday informed that my letter of thursday was not then gone I sit down now to make a little addition, fancying that I have not said all I have to say, for I wrote in haste. I think I gave you my family history pretty fully, as to public concerns, I know nothing, nor should I write of them to you if I knew anything, so I will give you some...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 23 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We rejoice in these frequent opportunities of hearing from you. Mr Oswald brought your letter to day; I had not the pleasure of seeing him, but my mother had. As he offered to take an answer, I sit down just to give you a line to tell you we are all well; my mother has been very ill since I wrote last, but is quite recovered. I think she seems to have given...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 6 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter I am bound to answer it. My Mother I must tell you went off last friday week, took our little Boy with her and left Mr. Hewson the care of her House. The first thing he did was pulling down a part of it in order to turn it to his own purpose, and advantage we hope. This Demolition cannot affect you, who ar...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 8 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I got home extremely well last night, and met with nothing to make me uneasy but my own reflections. Before I came to pall mall I repented my acceptance of your obliging offer, for I consider’d myself as the cause of what the poor coachman suffer’d from the cold, which I might have avoided. This reflection destroy’d the tranquility which the fineness of the...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, [1760–1762] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society You find I endeavoured to maintain an opinion which I imperfectly understood but I hope I shall be pardon’d when it is consider’d that the desire of obtaining intelligence and conviction was my motive. I believe I told you before that nothing had fallen under my observation to justify the opinion that men are carried to excellence in the exertion of their...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 12 December 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By not being inform’d in proper time I have miss’d several opportunities of writing to you, which I regret because I wish to live in your memory, and to convince you that you are in mine. Do not sigh at the addition I make to the packet, for I ask no return, you have enough to do without scribbling to me, and my letters you may lay by till you have a few...