1From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 28 March 1747 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 1–2. This is the earliest surviving letter in which Franklin alludes to his electrical investigations. It introduced the fourth edition of his Experiments and Observations in 1769. That edition, its predecessors and its successor, will be discussed below, under their...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 25 May 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences In my last I informed you that In pursuing our Electrical Enquiries, we had observ’d some particular Phaenomena, which we lookt upon to be new, and of which I promised to give you some Account; tho’ I apprehended they might possibly not be new to you, as so many Hands are daily employed in Electrical Experiments on your Side the Water, some or other...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 1 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I shall be pleased to Hear that Mine per Mesnard and Dowers are come safe to your Hands with the books &c. and 4 Transactions all Committed to the Care of Elias Bland to putt up with his Letters. via N York I advised of your Bill on Oliver for £47 5 s. 5 d. is received and placed to Account. Inclosed are some proposals. Pray send one to J: Logan. I am with...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 28 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences The inclosed is a Copy of my last, which went by the Governour’s Vessel: since which we have received, by Mesnard and Ouchterlony, Hill’s Theophrastus, Pemberton’s Dispensatory, Wilson’s Electricity and some other Pamphlets. The Proprietor’s handsome Present of a complete Electrical Apparatus &c. is also come to Hand in good Order, and is put up in...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 14 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I have lately written two long Letters to you on the Subject of Electricity, one by the Governor’s Vessel, the other per Mesnard. On some further Experiments since, I have observ’d a Phenomenon or two that I cannot at present account for on the Principles laid down in those Letters, and am therefore become a little diffident of my Hypothesis, and asham’d that I...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 12 April 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library Company of Philadelphia I was very fortunate to receive both thy Curious Experiments on Electricity. I have Imparted them to the Royal Society to whome they are very acceptable and they are now in the hands of our Ingenious Friend Mr. Watson Who has promissed as soone as his accounts are printed to send them to Thee with a Letter and hopes for thy further Favours. My Letters and...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 14 June 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library The Bearer Mr. Kalm Is an Ingenious Man and comes over on purpose to Improve himself in all Natural Inquiries. He is a Sweed per Nation and is as I am informed Imployed by the Academy of Upsal to make Observations on your Parts of the World. I recommend Him to thy Favour and Notice—by Him I send the first Vol. of the Voyage to Discover NorWest passage....
8From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 18 October 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I have receiv’d your several Favours of April 1. June 2. June 14 and Augt. 20, and some others, with all the Books and Pamphlets you have sent at sundry Times for the Library Company: We wish it were in our Power to do you or any Friend of yours some Service in Return for your long-continued Kindness to us. I am pleas’d to hear that my Electrical Experiments were...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 29 April 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences I now send you some Further Experiments and Observations in Electricity made in Philadelphia 1748. viz. §1. There will be the same Explosion and Shock if the electrified, Phial is held in one Hand by the Hook, and the Coating touched by the other; as when held by the Coating and touched at the Hook. §2. To take the charged Phial safely by the Hook,...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 14 September 1749 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I was unwilling to loose the Opertunity per Cap. Rice—So in 5 or 6 Days time I ordred all the Books to your Order that Could be gott together. I was so much engaged I could not go to see them before they was packed—but Hope the Bookseller has been carefull to send such as will Meet with your aprobation. What can be gott to the remainder of your Order...