1To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, with Enclosure, 8 May 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote a Letter last Winter acknowledging the Receipt of your Letter of last Sumer July 17, which I received latter End October, and afterwards the Packet of Books you was so obliging as to send me viz. Connoissance des Temps 5 Volumes and Bibliotheque Physico-Economique four Volumes, which at length came to my hand thro’ the hands of Dr. Johnson Member of Congress. They were a Feast to me,...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 30 December 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library I once more attempt to reach you with a Letter, which the Fate of war has I suppose hitherto intirely prevented. We are extremly sorry to know that Mr. Pitt has resigned the Seals: and have scarcely yet learned enough about the Earl of Bute (except from Scotsmen) to form an Idea of him. The only obnoxious Thing in Mr. Pitts Character that any in this Country...
3To George Washington from Ezra Stiles, 26 April 1781 (Washington Papers)
As a Testimony of their most affectionate Respect, the President and Fellows of this University have this day unanimously conferred upon your Excellency the Degree of the Doctorate in Laws; of which I am now in their Name to ask your Acceptance. We cannot add to the Accumulation of Glory which shines around the Name of Washington, and which none but himself thinks unmerited. But we are...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 12 March 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library This accompanies your Letters and Manuscript, which I have perused with very great Pleasure and Admiration. Please to accept my grateful Acknowledgments for them. Must ask your Pardon for not Returning them sooner — but as sundry Gentlemen here were desirous to read them, I hoped your Benevolence and Love of Communicating ingenious Discoveries to Mankind, would...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 28 September 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Yesterdy I received your Favor of 16 May ult with Relandi Analecta Rabbinica you was so obliging as to send me. For which please to accept my Thanks. One of the Tracts I wanted is contained in Relandi Hist. Hebraea. I am sorry to have given you so much Trouble. I could wish for an Answer from Mr. Dow——as I have a very great Thirst after Oriental Antiquities. With...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 5 February 1762 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library Notwithstanding thro the Fate of War I suppose all my Letters to you have been intercepted by the Enemy, I venture again to write. You know Professor Winthrop to be a Gentleman of exellent Abilities and Acquisitions in math[ematical] Learning. And persuade myself that you, Sir, who know his Merits, cannot but think they would do honor to an Enrollment...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, 7 July 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
You was so obliging, when here and in your Letter afterwards, as voluntarily to offer your kind offices in favor of this College. Your connexion with Wm. & Mary College led me at first to receive these expressions only as the civilities of Politeness. But your Repetition of the Offer of your Service, in a Letter, suggested that in your generous Wishes and Readiness to subserve the Emolument of...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, 30 April 1788 (Jefferson Papers)
Last Summer I received two Letters from you, one of Decr. 24. 1786 and another of Sept. 1786, One of them thro’ the Hands of Mr. Trumbull, which passed a long Circuit before it reached me. I immediately wrote an Acknowledgment of the Recipt of these obliging Letters and of the Books which accompanied them, as gave me very particular Pleasure. At the same Time I received a Letter from the...
9Ezra Stiles: List of Franklin’s Honors, 11 July 1763 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Yale University Library During his stay at Newport in July Franklin had an opportunity to renew acquaintance with his old friend Ezra Stiles, now minister of the Congregational Church there, and to engage in conversations with him. On July 11 Franklin showed Stiles some of the papers which reflected the recognition accorded him, in America and abroad, for his scientific achievements....
10To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 23 October 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Four drafts: Yale University Library During 1764 Ezra Stiles had taken a firm public stand against the efforts of some Rhode Islanders to bring about a revocation of the colony’s charter and the establishment of royal government. When news of the passage of the Stamp Act arrived in Newport in April 1765 he was equally firm in his objections to the measure as a matter of political principle,...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 25 June 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft ): Yale University Library This waits on you by Henry Marchant Esqr. Attorney General of this Colony, and its joynt Agent with Jos. Sherwood Esqr. at the Court of Great Britain. I doubt not you will afford him your friendly Advice and Assistance in the Agency. I need not remind you that he is One of the First Fruits of the College in Philada. which rose up greatly thro’ your...
12To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 10 March–25 April 1787 (Adams Papers)
In my Answer to the Letter I had the honor of receive g from you last Fall by D r Wales, I expressed my Apprehension that the Abbe Mably and some other of our European Friends entertained too gloomy despairing & desconsolate Ideas and Fears, least our Amer̃ Republic should tumble to pieces and come to nothing. Even our worthy & ever to be venerated Friend D r Price has his Fears for us; and so...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 27 December 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Yale University Library This acknowledges the Receipt of your Collection of philosophical Letters, and Dissertations in a quarto Volume which with your Letter came safe to hand last Summer. For which please to accept my Thanks. They have given me great Pleasure and Instruction. I have desired Capt. Peck, by whom you receive this, to procure me in London Relands Collection from the...
14Extract from the Diary of Ezra Stiles, [8 June 1784] (Jefferson Papers)
His Excelly. Govr. Jefferson of Virginia visited me with a Letter from Mr. Sherman at Congress. He is appointed by Congress Ambassador from the United States or Minister Plenipotentiary with Dr. Franklin and Dr. Adams, for settling Treaties of Commerce with G. Britain and other foreign Nations. He is on his way with Col. Humprys, Secretary to the Commissioners to Rh. Isld., Bo. and Piscataqua...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 30 March 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library Just before you sailed from New York, you was so kind as to inclose me a Copy of your philosophic Letter to Dr. Lining. I returned you Thanks and Reflexions upon it in a Letter July last too long to copy, by the Brig Prince of Orange Edward Jackson Captain taken on Passage from hence to London and carried into Bayonne. It is thot that Air is absolutely necessary...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 22 September 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your very kind and acceptable Favour by Mr. Allison, with the MSS . accompanying it, for which you have my Thanks. When have perused shall return the MSS . With my Thanks I now return Dr. Knights most ingenious Treatise on Magnetism . I have this Commencement resigned my Imployment in the College: shall this Week set out for Newport, where expect to...
17To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 13 September 1788 (Adams Papers)
Some Men by their Merits call upon themselves the Attention of the whole Republic of Letters; and amidst a Profusion of Honors from the most illustrious & respectable Bodies, they are often sollicited to accept the Tribute of Estimation & Respect from Societies of inferior Consideration. Will you be pleased, Sir, to gratify the humble College of Connecticutt, in accepting as a Mark of her...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 20 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; draft: Yale University Library If I ask too great a favor of you to forward the inclosed Letter to the Sieur Lomonosow at Petersburg, I leave it intirely with you to suppress it. I have taken the Liberty, as you see, of asking an Answer thro’ your hands; if I make too free a use of your name and Friendship, you have it in your power to prevent the Abuse....
19To George Washington from Ezra Stiles, 2 June 1779 (Washington Papers)
In a general Course of Liberal Education, as well as in a particular and very curious Invention, Mr Bushnel has displayed such a singular Genius, and evinced such an Acquaintance with the Pyrotecnical Art, and the mathematical Theory of Projectiles, Artillery and Engineering and other mechanical Branches of Experimental Philosophy, as cannot fail to recommend him to Improvement in those...
20To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, 27 August 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Be pleased to accept my Thanks for the printed Copy of the Report of the Secretary of State upon the Subject of a national Uniformity of Weights, Measures and Coins, which you did me the Honor to send me last Post. I had before read it as published in the Papers; and was so extremely pleased with it as a philosophic Production that I immediately communicated it to the higher Classes of the...
21To George Washington from Ezra Stiles, 8 December 1781 (Washington Papers)
You will receive by Colo. Humphry the Diploma of the Doctorate in Laws , conferred upon you by the Senatus Academius of this University. That this Literary Honour, this Tribute of academic Respect, of which we asked your Excellency’s Acceptance, proved agreeable, we were happy to find by the Letter of Acknowledgment you did me the honor to write upon this occasion. We rejoyce that the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, 8 December 1786 (Jefferson Papers)
At our public Commencement 13th. Septr. last, the Reverend the Corporation of this College conferred upon yourself the Degree of Doctor in Laws. Immediately after, I journeyed to Albany, Ft. Edward, and Lake George, and was absent from home about six Weeks. Before my Departure I wrot a Letter to you advising this Transaction, and left it with my Family to forward by the first Opportunity. But...
23To George Washington from Ezra Stiles, 7 February 1787 (Washington Papers)
As I know by your Letters to Col. Humphreys, that you are sollicitous for the Events of the Tumults in the State of Massachusetts; and as I have authentic Intelligence by two of my Pupils this day arrived here from beyond Northampton, one of whom had been captivated at Petersham by the Insurgts and was there released Ldsdy 4th Instant; I thought it might not be unacceptable to communicate to...
24To Thomas Jefferson from Ezra Stiles, 21 June 1784 (Jefferson Papers)
I am honored with your Letter of the 10th. Inst. which I received by Col. Humphrys three days ago; in which you are pleased to ask some Communications, which may be wrought into an Illustration of your Theory in opposition to the Opinion of M. Buffon. Narratives of the marvellous in natural History, and Reasonings upon them, are apt to subject the Virtuosi to the Imputation of Credulity and...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 12 July 1757 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): Yale University Library Just before you sail’d from New York, you was so good as to inclose to me a Copy of your philosophic Letter to a Friend in Carolina, for which please accept my Thanks. The Philosophy of Light and Fire, Heat and Cold has hitherto been a Mystery to me. Even the luminous Emanations of a burning Candle I never could solve in my own Mind. I am half persuaded...
26To George Washington from Ezra Stiles, 9 November 1786 (Washington Papers)
Permit me to ask your Acceptance of an Election Sermon, which the Reverend Mr Morse a Tutor in this College will have the Honor to present to you. I know you must feel sollicitous for the Tumults in Massachusetts. They are doubtless magnified at a Distance. I confide in it that there is Wisdom in the Legislature of that State sufficient to rectify the public Disorders and recover the public...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 10 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library Mechanical Inventions, and Improvements in every Branch of experimental Philosophy, are at all times so agreeable to you, that it must give you pleasure to be informed of a Grist-mill, newly invented by an American which will soon come into general use, not only in America but in Europe & thro’ the World. There are but 4...
28To John Adams from Ezra Stiles, 28 August 1786 (Adams Papers)
I think you will make no Impression upon the Court of Great Britain. And it is probable little Impression will be made on Algiers, while Britain on one hand may be inciting them to stand on too high Terms for us, & we on the other hand send Characters too trifling for so important a Negotiation. Was the Levant Trade open to America, the Profits to us would soon be very great, as we could...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 26 November 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; draft and letterbook copy: Yale University Library On the 22d Instant I received your Favor of the 5th. of July last, and the Diploma from the University of Edinburgh, with the several Letters relating to it. It is owing to you, Sir, that the University has done me this unmerited Honor, and therefore my Gratitude is due to both. To be enrolled in the...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 30 November 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library The inclosed is the Copy of a Letter I delivered on the 16th. Inst. to be conveyed by a Vessel bound to Falmouth, which is not yet sailed, but continues at Providence. On the 22d. Inst. I received your Letter of 5th July with the Diploma from the University of Edinburgh. I have prepared the Letters in Acknowledgment of this unexpected Honor, and shall...