101From Benjamin Franklin to George Morgan, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of May 4. inclosing one for Mr. Wharton. I sent it to him, requesting that he would let me know what I should write to you upon it. He call’d upon me soon after, and assur’d me, that tho’ there had been some Misunderstanding with Regard to the Partners, [the] Aff[ection be]tween him and Mr. Baynton, [ torn ] thinking they could much...
102From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 210–11. I received yours of October 29, and November 2. Your December packet is not yet arrived. No insinuations of the kind you mention, concerning Mr. G—y have reached me, and if they had, it would have been without the least effect; as I have always had...
103From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 27 January 1748 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Sparks, Works , VII , 31–3. I have not yet found the book, but suppose I shall to-morrow. The post goes out to-day, which allows me no time to look for it. We have a particular account from Boston of the guns there. They are in all thirty-nine, Spanish make and new; fifteen of them are twenty-eight pounders, and twenty-four are fourteen pounders. We offer by this...
104From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 28 July 1743 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took your Admonition very kindly, and was far from being offended at you for it. If I say any thing about it to you, ’tis only to rectify some wrong Opinions you seem to have entertain’d of me, and that I do only because they give you some Uneasiness, which I am unwilling to be the Occasion of. You express yourself as if you thought I was against...
105From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 10 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am here in my Way to New England, where I expect to be till towards the End of Summer. I have writ to you lately and have nothing to add. ’Tis against my Conscience to put you to the Charge of a Shilling for a Letter that has nothing in it to any Purpose, but as I have wrote to some of your Acquaintance by this Opportunity, I was afraid you would not forgive me...
106From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy, 17 May 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is long since I have had the Pleasure of hearing from you. I hope your Health continues, and that your valuable Life will be long preserved. This will be presented to you by Mr. Smith, a young American Gentleman, of liberal Education and excellent Character, who is desirous of seeing your fine Country, the first in Europe, before he returns to his own....
107From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas-François Dalibard, 31 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I sent you sometime since, Priestly’s History of Electricity, under the Care of Mr. Molini, Bookseller on the Quay des Augustins; I hope it got safe to Paris, and that you have receiv’d it. [I w]ish the Reading of it may renew your Taste for that Branch of Philosophy, which is already so greatly indebted to you, as being the first of [Man?] kind that had...
108From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is just to acknowledge the Receipt of your kind Letter of Nov. 25. which came to hand last Night, per Capt. Sparks. I had before received those per Capt. Falconer, by whom I shall write fully to you and all my Friends that correspond with me. I am, Thanks to God, as well as ever. My Love to our Children and the Kingbird, as you call him. In haste, I...
109From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 3 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; duplicate: New York Public Library It is a long time since I have been favoured by a Line from you. I suppose you thought me on my Return to America, and that your Letters would probably not reach me here. But I have been advised by our Friends to stay till the Result of your Congress should arrive. The Coolness, Temper, and Firmness of the American...
110From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 June 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Capt. Falkener has just been here to bring me your Letters. I rejoice to hear that you and Sally are well. My dear Love to her. I will write to you and all my Friends per next Packet. Some Things go for you in a Case to Mr. Foxcroft from his Brother. I send you 4 Handkerchiefs, as a little Present, which please to accept. I bought a Piece and keep half of...
111From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 23 September 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Pierpont Morgan Library I enclose three Bills, viz. A second for £50 Sterling, drawn by Thos. Saul on Wm. Baker. A first — £20 — — Mary Steevens—Alexr. Grant. A first — £30 — — Philip Ludwell Wm. Bowden. When paid, please to Credit my Account with them. I am Yours most affectionately P.S. We agree perfectly well with the Governor, but are very angry with the Proprietors and the...
112From Benjamin Franklin to William Hunter, 30 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Royal College of Surgeons The partnership between Dr. William Hunter and Polly Hewson’s husband was dissolved, after much recrimination, during the winter of 1771–72. Dr. Hunter had stipulated that the “preparations,” in other words the demonstration material for the anatomy course that they had been giving jointly, should remain his sole property. But in the summer of 1772 the irascible...
113From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 13 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I am glad the electrical Observations please you. I leave them in your hands another Week. Our Workmen have undertaken the Electrical Apparatus, and I believe will do it extreamly well: It being a new Job they cannot say exactly what their Work will come to, but they will charge reasonably when done, and they find what Time it has taken. I suppose the whole...
114From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 9 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your kind Letter of Dec. 30. and rejoice to find you were well. I may possibly have the greater Pleasure of seeing you before the Year is out[?]. I have desired Cousin Williams to give you the Money he may recover from Hall. I would only mention to you, that when I was in Boston in 1754[?], Brother John then living, an old Man whose Name I...
115From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 20 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Favour of June 30. but no Line by this Pacquet. Things are here as they have been for some time past: Except that the Proprietary Party begin to doubt the Success they promis’d themselves at the next Election. Mr. Allen has exerted himself in the House to persuade a Recall of the Petition, but as far as I can perceive, without the least...
116From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 10 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I am concern’d that I have not for a long time heard any thing of Sister Douse. Pray inform me how she is. Brothers John, Peter and my self, agreed to contribute towards a small Pension for her Support; I should be glad to know whether it is regularly paid. Inclos’d is a Receipt for 30 Reams of Paper. I wrote to you per Morton and refer to that. My Love to...
117From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Foxcroft, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received yours of Dec. 29. with the Account. I wrote by the Packet to my Family to receive no more of those Payments, being now out of the Office. I thank you for your Care in ordering the Six Barrels of Flour, which I hope to receive soon. The Tea Ship arriv’d here safe having a very short Passage. I am ever, with sincere Regard, Dear...
118From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 31 January 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library The preceding are Copies of my late Letters; to which I have little to add, except to request you would send the Magazines mention’d in the enclos’d List, which it seems are still wanting to compleat the Sets in the Library. It may be well enough to forbear sending the Universal Magazine for the future, it contains little of Value I inclose also an Almanack, and...
119From Benjamin Franklin to [William Parsons], 12 December 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Your Favours of Dec. 6. and 9. I have received and laid before the Commissioners. I expect that Mr. Hamilton or myself, or both, maybe with you in a few Days, to establish Ranging or Watching Parties, Blockhouses, &c. for the Defence of your Frontier; in the mean time, we send up by this Waggon, 56 small Arms, ½ Cwt. Gunpowder, 2 Cwt. Lead, 50 Blankets and a Hogshead...
120From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received yours per Capt. All. This is just to let you know I am well, as all our other Friends here are: I have been so hindred to day, that I can only add my Love to our Children, and that I am ever, Dear Debby, Your affectionate Husband The letter was DF ’s of April 28, now lost, which BF mentioned in writing her on July 15. Capt. All in the Richard Penn...
121From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Mather, 4 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your respected Favour of March 18. with the valuable Pamphlets it enclosed for which I thank you: By the next Opportunity I shall do myself the Honour of writing to you fully. At present I can only add that I am, with great Esteem and Respect, Reverend Sir, Your obliged and most obedient humble Servant [ In the margin: ] I send you a...
122From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 16 April 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Historical Society of Pennsylvania While I am writing, the letters by the March packet are come to hand with yours of the 9th and 12th. Amidst all the sickness and misfortunes to our friends what reason have you and I to bless God, that we at these years enjoy with our children so great a Share of health and so much happiness in other respects. Let us be thankful for what is past...
123From Benjamin Franklin to [Susannah?] Jennings, 21 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Immediately on receiving Miss Jennings’ Commands, Dr. F. apply’d to the Box in order to execute them: But to his Surprise found that (thro’ some unaccountable Neglect) only a few of the Parcels contained in it were actually number’d, so that the Numbers in the Catalogue are not of the Use he expected, and it requires a Knowledge of the Seeds...
124From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 10 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have been so full lately in my Letters to the Committee, which you of course must see, that I need not trouble you particularly with a Letter of any Length. I find myself engag’d in an Affair that will take much more time than I expected. God knows when we shall see it finish’d, and our Constitution settled firmly on the Foundations of Equity and English...
125From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 28 August 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dr. William’s Library, London Inclos’d I return your List of Doctors, compleated as far as I can do it with the Help of my Friends here. I hope you continue well and happy, being, with sincere Regard and Esteem, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately [ On the back in Stiles’s hand: ] By Ezra Stiles Episcopalians in America * Revd. Timothy Cutler D D Boston. 1723. Oxon. and Cant. ob....
126From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 July 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We arrived here well last Night, only a little fatigued with the last Day’s Journey, being 70 Miles. I write only this Line, not knowing of any Opportunity to send it; but Mr. Collinson will enquire for one, as he is going out. If he finds one, I shall write more largely. I have just seen Mr. Strahan, who is well with his Family. Billy is with me here at...
127From Benjamin Franklin to William Johnston, 16 October 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I have settled Col. Hunter’s Account and find a Ballance in my Hands of £835 0 s . 3½ d . Pensilvania Currency, which shall be paid to your Orders, if you find it necessary to draw on me. I enclose you a Copy of a Letter I have just received from General Shirley, with a Copy of his Warrant to you for the Payment of such Sums to me as the Waggon Affair may...
128From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 25 November 1762 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society I received your kind congratulations on my return, and thank you cordially. It gives me great pleasure to hear you are married and live happily. You are a good Girl for complying with so essential a duty, and God will bless you. Make my compliments acceptable to your spouse; and fulfil your promise of writing to me; and let me know everything that has...
129From Benjamin Franklin to Abel James, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I duly received your Favours of Sept. 22 and Oct. 9. and am glad the Purchase proves acceptable. Our Friend Dr. Evans has remitted me the Bill you mention, drawn for the Produce of the Silk. It exceeds what I paid, and I wait Orders for the Disposition of the Overplus, particularly what I am to pay Wheeler...
130From Benjamin Franklin to John Pringle, 1 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 438–40. During our passage to Madeira, the weather being warm, and the cabbin windows constantly open for the benefit of the air, the candles at night flared and run very much, which was an inconvenience. At Madeira we got oil to burn, and with a common glass tumbler or beaker, slung...
131From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society By Capt. Sparks Mrs. Stevenson sent you a large square Case, containing the Things mentioned in the inclos’d Invoice; it was marked Stores for Mrs. Franklin Philadelphia , and carried on board by our Porter, who says he deliver’d it to the Mate, but he brought back no Receipt. The Mate told him he liv’d not far from you, and knew us both. I hope there has...
132From Benjamin Franklin to William Shipley, 15 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Royal Society of Arts The above is a Copy of my Letter sent you last Year, to which having receiv’d no Answer, I imagine it by some means miscarried. I shall write to my good Friend and Correspondent Mr. Collinson to pay the 20 Guineas therein mentioned, to your Treasurer Mr. Goodchild. I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant Endorsed: Benjn. Franklin Esqr. Lre [Letter] Phil: 27. Novr. 1755...
133From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Franklin, 12 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I received your kind Letter of May 17. and rejoice to hear that you and your good Family are well. My Love to them. With this I send you the Print you desire for Mr. Bowen. He does me Honour in accepting it. Sally Franklin presents her Duty to you and Mrs. Franklin. Yesterday a very odd Accident happened, which I must mention to you as it relates to your...
134From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 11 June 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of March 17. The continual Employment of my Time here in other Affairs, together with the Expectation I have had every Year of Returning, have prevented my considering the Accounts between us so as to compleat the Settlement, which indeed can be much better done when we are together with Mr. Parker, who may be able in a Word to...
135From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 17 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your kind Letter of April 29. wherein you complain of your Friends here not writing to you. I had written a Letter to you on the 20th. of the same Month per Osborne, which I hope is long since got to hand; but I confess I ought to have written sooner, to acknowledge the Receipt of the Box of Seeds, whereby I was much obliged. As to your Pension, there...
136From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 17 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Lehigh University Library I receiv’d your Favour per Capt. Walker, which I shall answer fully per Hammet, who sails in about ten Days. I think I am slighted lately per Mr. Becket. Pray enquire and tell me the Reason, that if I have been in fault I may amend. I left some Receipts with you for Subscription Monies to Books. I wish you to enquire about them, particularly Stewart’s Athens. My...
137Franklin and Hall: Account with Benjamin Franklin, 1750–54 (Franklin Papers)
MS Account: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Two sheets have been found of Franklin and Hall’s record of Franklin’s personal purchases from the firm, probably opened soon after the partnership was formed in 1748 (see above, III , 263). The first page, numbered 4, covers the period from Nov. 27, 1750, to Jan. 11, 1752, and starts with an entry of £97 3 s. brought forward from the three...
138From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Wister, 14 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of April 30. Much Business has hitherto prevented my visiting your Creditors, with the Proposal you mention. But in a Week or two I expect a little Leisure, which I shall apply to that purpose. I wish it may prove successful, as I truly compassionate your Situation. I shall soon after let you know what may be expected from them. I...
139From Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, [before 2 September 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Joseph Belcher, George Whitefield: a Biography, with Special Reference to His Labors in America (New York, [1857]), pp. 414–15. I am under continued apprehensions that we may have bad news from America. The sending soldiers to Boston always appeared to me a dangerous step; they could do no good, they might occasion mischief. When I consider the warm resentment of a people who...
140From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 4 November 1743 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; also transcript: Library of Congress I received the Favour of yours, with the Proposal for a new Method of Printing, which I am much pleased with: and since you express some Confidence in my Opinion, I shall consider it very attentively and particularly, and in a Post or two send you some Observations on every Article. My long Absence from home in the Summer,...
141From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 18 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: New-York Historical Society Since September last, having been abroad on two long Journeys, and otherwise much engag’d, I have made but few Observations on the positive and negative State of Electricity in the Clouds. But Mr. Kinnersley kept his Rod and Bells in good Order, and has made many. Once this Winter the Bells rang a long time during a fall of Snow, tho’ no Thunder was heard nor...
142From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 17 November 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have this minute receiv’d Letters by the Packet of October, from Billy and some other Friends, but not a Line from you. I suppose therefore you have written by some other Vessel: I long to hear of your and Sally’s Welfare from your own Hands. I purpose writing to you fully to-morrow; but as I may be interrupted, I would not miss this Post, in hope it may...
143From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 13 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter per Capt. Story, of Nov. 19, and a subsequent one per Capt. Falkner without date. I have received also the Indian and Buckwheat Meal that they brought from you, with the Apples, Cranberries and Nuts, for all which I thank you. They all prove good, and the Apples were particularly welcome to me and my Friends, as there happens to...
144From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 7–9 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of July 6. and was glad to hear (since you chose to return) that you were got so well home. I hope the Hurt you receiv’d will be attended with no bad Consequences. My Arm, that had given me no Uneasiness for several Years, has lately began again to pain me, from a slight Strain, and I am now afraid will continue to do so as long...
145From Benjamin Franklin to John Waring, 3 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send you herewith the Extract of Mr. Sturgeon’s Letter, which I mentioned to you. He is, among us, esteemed a good Man, one that makes a Conscience of the Duties of his Office, in which he is very diligent; and has behaved with so much Discretion, as to gain the general Respect and Good-will of the People. If the Associates of Dr. Bray should think fit to...
146From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Morton, [19–25 November 1767] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society In Obedience to your Lordship’s Commands I have look’d over that Part of Dr. Priestly’s Work that contains an Account of the Experiments made by him. I find There are a great Number of them, mostly quite new, and some I think very curious and important, well deserving for that Reason and for the great Pains and Expence he has been at in making them, the...
147From Benjamin Franklin to John Nourse, 13 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 965 (June 7–8, 1907), p. 15. Please to send by the Bearer, Pere Charlevoix’s History of the French Settlement in America. Yours &c. John Nourse (d. 1780), dealer in French and scientific books, and “for many years bookseller to his Majesty.” H. R. Plomer, G. H. Bushnell, E. R. McDix, A Dictionary of Printers and Booksellers Who Were at Work in...
148From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 6 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; draft: American Philosophical Society The Observations I sent you on Baxter’s Book were wrote on a Sheet or two of Paper in Folio. He builds his whole argument on the Vis Inertiae of Matter: I boldly deny’d the Being of such a Property, and endeavour’d to demonstrate the contrary. If I succeeded, all his Edifice falls of course, unless some other way...
149From Benjamin Franklin to the New Jersey Assembly Committees of Correspondence, 7 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have just received two of your Favours of July 26. requiring my Attention to the several Acts of your Assembly passed the last Session, and Endeavours to obtain the Royal Approbation of them. This Instruction I shall most certainly observe, and it will be a great pleasure to me if I meet with the Success you wish. I hope to receive by...
150From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 17 May 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Feehan Memorial Library, St. Mary of the Lake Seminary; transcript (part MS , part printed): Library of Congress. I send my dear good Girl the Books I mention’d to her last Night. I beg her to accept them as a small Mark of my Esteem and Friendship. They are written in the familiar easy Manner for which the French are so remarkable, and afford a good deal of philosophic and practical...