1To Benjamin Franklin from John Walsh: Two Notes, [before June 1772?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : (1) University of Pennsylvania Library; (2) Historical Society of Pennsylvania The two brief notes below appear insignificant, but they belong to a scientific correspondence that continued intermittently for at least a year, and that chronicled a major advance in the knowledge of animal electricity. The writer, John Walsh (1726–95), was a man who developed his experimental bent late in...
2To Benjamin Franklin from John Walsh, 21 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society After some enquiry I procured the two Copies of Gennete’s Book and shall deliver them to Sir John Lambert to forward to you by some one of our returning Countrymen. Your friend M. Le Roy, who presents you his Compliments, has shewn us many Civilities; as has M. Trudaine, the Abbé Morillet’s friend for which I must beseech you to make my...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Walsh, 12 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is with particular Satisfaction I make to You my first Communication that the Effect of the Torpedo appears to be absolutely electrical, by forming it’s Circuit thro’ the same Conductors with Electricity, for instance Metals, Animals, and moist Substances; and by being intercepted by the same non-conductors, for instance Glass and Sealing Wax. I will not...
4To Benjamin Franklin from John Walsh, 27 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I will not let this Post slip without making to You my hearty congratulations on your being elected by the French Academy of Sciences to be one of it’s eight foreign Members, a truely illustrious Society; and I will freely say it, even to You, because I think it, that Your Election does honour to the Judgement of the Academy. On my Arrival here the 21st. I...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Walsh, 1 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in the Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions …, LXIII (1773–74), part 2, 461–77. I am concerned that other engagements have prevented me from giving to the Royal Society, before their recess, a complete account of my experiments on the electricity of the Torpedo; a subject not only curious in itself, but opening a large field for interesting inquiry, both to the electrician in his...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Walsh et al., 16 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society To His Excellency the Honorable Bengimin Franklin Ambassador to the united States of america at Paris The Memorial of the prisoners on board the patience brig. who were taken by the american Ship of War Ranger commanded by John Paul Jones Esqr. and Brought in to Brest the 7th day of May last Sheweth that your Excellency’s Memoriallists. whilst they were...
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Walsh, 28 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With greatest Respect, I take the present Liberty to acquaint you that the prisoners late on board the patience Brig at Brest road, Receiv’d the Honour of your kind and oblidging answer to our Memorial of the 16 March past, attended with the desired Effect, and in consequence, I did Myself the honour (agreable to your desire) to send you an account of the...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Walsh, 5 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Sience the prisoners, who were detain’d on board the patience brig in Brest road, receiv’d the honour of your oblidging Answer to their Memorial. persuant to your Excellency’s desire I did meself the honour of sending you an account of the provisions which were served us, and have not been so happy, as to know whether you receiv’d said account.—or a letter...