1From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 3 January 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I ought long before this time to have acknowledg’d the Receipt of your Favour of Nov. 2. Your Lordship was pleas’d kindly to desire to have all my Publications. I had daily Expectations of procuring some of them from a Friend to whom I formerly sent them when I was in America, and postpon’d Writing till I should obtain them; but at length he tells me he cannot find...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 3 May 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office Your obliging Favour of January 24th. found me greatly indispos’d with an obstinate Cold and Cough accompany’d with Feverish Complaints and Headachs, that lasted long and harass’d me greatly, not being subdu’d at length but by the whole Round of Cupping, Bleeding, Blistering, &c. When I had any Intervals of Ease and Clearness, I endeavour’d to comply with your...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 27 September 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office We are here upon a Journey which when first proposed was to have extended farther than the Season will now permit; we design’d going over to Ireland, and, having made the Tour of that Country, we were to have cross’d from its Northern Part to Dumfries, or some other Port on your Coast, which would have given us the pleasing Opportunity of seeing once more our...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 21 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Scottish Record Office It is long since I have afforded myself the Pleasure of writing to you. As I grow in Years I find I grow more indolent, and more apt to procrastinate. I am indeed a bad Correspondent; but what avails Confession without Amendment! When I come so late with my Thanks for your truly valuable Introduction to the Art of Thinking, can I have any Right to enquire after your...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 27 January 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I was encourag’d by your Favour of the 22d. of November, to hope that the Beginning of the New Year would have brought me the Pleasure and Improvement I expect from the Perusal of your Elements of Criticism. As yet I hear nothing of any Copies being come to London; and I grow a little impatient. I am now so much employ’d in Preparation for my Return to America,...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 17 August 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I am now waiting here only for a Wind to waft me to America, but cannot leave this happy Island and my Friends in it, without extream Regret, tho’ I am going to a Country and a People that I love. I am going from the old World to the new; and I fancy I feel like those who are leaving this World for the next; Grief at the Parting; Fear of the Passage; Hope of the...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 2 June 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I receiv’d with great Pleasure your friendly Letter by Mr. Alexander, which I should have answer’d sooner by some other Conveyance, if I had understood that his Stay here was like to be so long. I value myself extreamly on the Continuance of your Regard, which I hope hereafter better to deserve by more punctual Returns in the Correspondence you honour me with. You...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 25 February 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (marked “Copy” and dated Feb. 25, 1767); LS (dated April 11, 1767): both Scottish Record Office This letter appears in two forms and offers a puzzle that the editors are unable wholly to solve. One manuscript, dated Feb. 25, 1767, and marked at the top “Copy,” is entirely in Franklin’s hand except for two of its three endorsements on the final page. The other manuscript, dated April 11,...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 28 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Abercairny Collection, Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh It gave me great Pleasure to see my dear good Friend’s Name at the Foot of a Letter I received the other day, having been often uneasy at his long Silence, blaming myself as the Cause by my own previous Backwardness and Want of Punctuality as a Correspondent. I now suppose (as in this he mentions nothing of it) that a long Letter I...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 1–16 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office It is always a great Pleasure to me to hear from you, and would be a much greater to be with you, to converse with you on the Subjects you mention, or any other. Possibly I may yet one day enjoy that Pleasure. In the meantime we may use the Privilege that the Knowledge of Letters affords us, of conversing at a distance by the Pen. I am glad to find you are turning...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 21 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I received your excellent Paper on the preferable Use of Oxen in Agriculture, and have put it in the way of being communicated to the Public here. I have observed in America that the Farmers are more thriving in those Parts of the Country where Cattle are used, than in those where the Labour is done by Horses. The latter are said to require twice the Quantity of...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 14 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh Purposing to embark for America in a few Days, I cannot depart without taking Leave of my dear Lord Kaims, to whose Civilities and Friendship I have been so much oblig’d, and for whom I shall ever retain the sincerest Esteem and Affection. I congratulate you cordially on the Success of your last Work. It does you great Honour. I hear it every where well...