You are to go by the shortest Road to Dieppe, and make all the Dispatch possible. At Dieppe enquire for Mr. Baron, Merchant there, and take his Advice whether to go off to the Ship, or to acquaint the Captain with your Arrival send him the Letters you have for him, and desire him to come and meet you on shore. The last is safest for the Intelligence you may obtain, as well as for you, if the...
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 18 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 5th (just after I had sent away mine of the 2d). It inclosed one from the good Bishop to you. I have since receiv’d yours of the 12th. I am glad to hear that Mrs Hewson resolves to come. My Love to her and her Children. I consent to your Staying till the End of the Month, on Condition however of your making a Visit to Chilbolton and...
3From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 10 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bruce Gimelson, Chalfont, Pa. (1978) It is possible that a Line from Lord Howe may be left for me at your good Mother’s, as I have appointed to be there to morrow Morning, in order to meet a Notice from his Lordship relating to the Time and Place of a proposed Interview. If it should come there to night, or very early in the Morning I could wish you would set out with it on horseback so...
4From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 8 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have receiv’d no Line from you since that from Dover. I continue as well as when you left me. M. le Veillard is much better but still weak and cannot yet go abroad.— The rest of our Friends are well, and often enquire after you. I intended to have sent you some more Letters; but my Time has been all devour’d by Business and Visitors. The inclos’d Pacquet...
5From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 19 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 16th, in which you propose going to your Father, if I have no Objection. I have consider’d the matter, and cannot approve of your taking such a Journey at this time, especially alone, for many reasons which I have not time to write. I am persuaded, that if your Mother should write a sealed Letter to her Husband, and enclose it under...
6From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 26 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d yours last Evening, with the Copies enclos’d, and am now more certain than before that the whole is a piece of Roguery. As when you receive this, it will be 10 Days since his quitting the Road of Dieppe, if he has not return’d in that time, it is probable he will not return at all; so we would have you return hither without waiting longer for...
7The American Commissioners to William Temple Franklin, 27 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library As an acknowledgement for your services as Secretary to us, we desire you will accept one hundred Louis-dores which Mr. Grand will be so good as to pay you on receipt of this. We are, Sir, Your most Obedient Servants In Arthur Lee’s hand. 2,400 l.t. Designating WTF as the commissioners’ secretary, it should be noted, did not secure him the position; the...
8From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 22 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You are mistaken in imagining that I am apprehensive of your carrying dangerous Intelligence to your Father; for while he remains where he is, he could make no use of it were you to know and acquaint him with all that passes. You would have been more in the right if you could have suspected me of a little tender Concern for your Welfare, on Account of the...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 28 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you will return hither immediately, and that your Mother will make no Objection to it, something offering here that will be much to your Advantage if you are not out of the Way. I am so hurried that I can only add Ever your affectionate Grandfather Addressed: To / Mr William Temple Franklin / at Mrs Franklins / Perth Amboy / B Free Franklin Notation:...
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 13 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received last Night yours of the 7th. & am glad to hear you are quit of your Fever. You are well advis’d to continue taking the Bark. There is an English Proverb that says, An Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure. It is particularly true with regard to the Bark and an Intermittent.— I consent to your going with your Father, and to your Stay in...
11From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 29 August] 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Seth Kaller, Inc., White Plains, New York (2006) I received last Night your Letter from Calais, and was glad to hear you were so far safe.— When I liv’d in London, there was a Letter-founder of the Name of Moore who liv’d somewhere near Moorfields. He made Printing-Presses of a new Construction, which I lik’d much, and bought one for Lord le Despencer. I have undertaken to procure one...
12From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 23 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Letter from Orleans, and another since from Chaumont. The Major has got his Pistols. Inclos’d I send you the last Paper from London by which you will see there has been an Action between the French & English Fleets off Chesapeak. It appears even by their own Account that the English have been drubb’d, and oblig’d to leave the French in...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 27 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library Your Letter acquainting us with your safe Arrival was very agreable to us all. But as you are near the Scene of Action, we wish to hear from you by every Post, and to have all the News. It will cost you but little Trouble to write, and will give us much Satisfaction. This Family has been in great Grief, from the Loss of our dear little Girl. She suffer’d much:...
14Enclosure: List of Enquiries, 20 November 1778 (Adams Papers)
1. Force of his Vessel, Number of Men, &c. 2. What time he left America, and from what Port. 3. What Instructions he had from Congress. 4. If he knows the Contents of his Dispatches. 5. Ask for News, and Newspapers. 6. What Account there was of Differences between Count D’Estaign’s People and those of Boston. 7. Whether he was well supply’d with Necessaries there and Provisions. 8. Whether he...
15Franklin and John Adams to William Temple Franklin: Instructions, 20 November and [20–21 November 1778] (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ADS : Cornell University Library; copy: Delaware Historical Society Instructions to W T. Franklin You are to go by the shortest Road to Dieppe, and make all the Dispatch possible. At Dieppe enquire for Mr Baron, Merchant there, and take his Advice whether to go off to the Ship, or to acquaint the Captain with your Arrival send him the Letters you have for him, and desire him to...
16From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 13 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wonder’d it was so long before I heard from you. The Packet it seems was brought down to Philadelphia, and carry’d back to Burlington before it came hither. I am glad to learn by your Letters that you are happy in your new Situation, and that tho’ you ride out sometimes, you do not neglect your Studies. You are now in that time of Life which is the...
17From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 2 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have not receiv’d a Line from you since that of Sept. 7. now near a Month. I have waited with impatience the Arrival of every Post.— But not a Word.— All your Acquaintance are continually enquiring what News from you.— I have none. Judge what I must feel, what they must think, and tell me what I am to think of such Neglect. I must suppose it Neglect: for...
18From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 25 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nothing very material has happen’d since you left us. The D. [Duke] of Dorset call’d yesterday, and enquir’d if I had heard from you, supposing you had been gone a Week. Mr Adams & Family, Made D’andelot and other Friends have visited me, & Made Saurin who is return’d from England. We din’d with her yesterday. She says Made. D’hauteville will be glad to see...
Upon reconsidering Job Prince’s Letter, it is observable, that there is not a single Circumstance mention’d in it by which one may be assured that it is either an honest Letter or a Forgery and a Trick to get into their Power from us some Person of Confidence from whom or from the Letters we might write by him they might pick out some useful Intelligence. The releasing a French Fisherman taken...