1Three Letters from Dorothea Blunt, [1770–75?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The letters that follow we have found impossible to date. All of them, presumably, were written after Polly Stevenson’s marriage in 1770, when Dolly began to pay Franklin more attention than before “tho not more than I have always been prompted from affection to Pay.” Prior to the wedding no correspondence exists between them, or at least none that can be...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, 26 July 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Be assur’d that I feel very kindly to you for the favour I receiv’d this Morning. It was not more than I wanted, tho much more than I expected——not because more than you would have given sooner if the state of my Mind had been known to you, but because you gave me unask’d the strongest proof of a tender and disinterested friendship, which tho I had no...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson with a Postscript to Dorothea Blunt, 25 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I came to this Place on Saturday night right well and untir’d with a 70 miles Journey that day. I met with your and my Dolly’s joint Letter which would have refresh’d me with its Kindness if I had been ever so weary. The Account you give of a certain Lady’s having entertain’d a new Gallant in my Absence, did not surprize me: For I have been us’d to Rivals;...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, 1 May [1772?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Three of Dolly Blunt’s letters, of which this is the first, can be dated only by what may be considered extravagant guesswork; others cannot be dated at all, and will be published in a supplement at the end of BF ’s second British mission. His letters to her in this period, to which she occasionally refers, have all disappeared, and with them the clues they...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, 23 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Tho you had never done anything with a design to give me pleasure I shou’d love you for that constant disposition everyone that knows you know you feel to give pleasure to all your fellow creatures. But you have My honour’d friend often given it to me in the very Manner and thing adapted to gratify, and make truly thankful for it. The Piano Forte I ask’d...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, [24 May 1772] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I promis’d you to meet your agreable friend on Tuesday in Craven Street, and myself the pleasure of seeing both you and that Lady, but an express arriv’d this day from Odiham with the disagreable news of My Brother Walters little James being ill of a sore throat and fever. My Brother set out to go to him before I cou’d conquer some scruples that held my...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, 14 August [1772?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When and where this may find you my Dear Sir I know not, but I hope soon, and that you [may be] in good health. I fancy my fears made [me tremble?] more than I believe I ought to have [done. But?] I own I thought you much indispo[sed when last?] I saw you in Craven Street, and I a[llow that] I was conceited enough to think that I cou’d [have] precribd...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, 19 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have not been fortunate enough to be in Craven Street when letters have been forwarding to you and now have reason to fear that it will not be without some difficulty that mine will be of the happy number that will get to you, at least it seems so to me from a note that I have just now read of Sir Huttons. However neither my small hopes, nor my great...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, 18 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our friend Saint Hutton offers me a chance for getting a letter to you, which tho I have long’d a long while for, & have not had, or you w’d have stood a chance for one of my superiour epistles which I know you did not dislike because you always answer’d. Why did you come to my native country? Or continue so long time in it, and then so quarrel with some ,...