1From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 22 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library When I am long without hearing from you, I please my self with re-perusing some of your former Letters. In your last of April 24. 83. you mention the Departure of Anna Maria with her Husband for Bengal. I hope you have since heard often of their Welfare there. When you next favour me with a Line, please to be particular in letting me know how they do. My Grandson,...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 15 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I arrived here well the 5th. after a pleasant Passage of 6 Weeks. I met with a most cordial Reception, I should say from all Parties, but that all Parties are now extinguish’d here. Britain has found means to unite us. I had not been here a Day before I was unanimously elected by our Assembly a Delegate to the Congress, which met the 10th and is now sitting. All...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 25 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I should have been happy in accompanying your Lordship on that agreable Party, or in being at Twyford instead of this dusty Town; but Business kept me here longer than I expected. I now purpose to set out on Tuesday next, if nothing at present unforeseen does not happen to prevent me. I hope to find the good Family well, which will add greatly to the...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 15 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Many Thanks for your Letters to the Primate and Mr. Jackson; which I shall take care to forward if I should happen not to have an Opportunity of delivering them personally. Your repeated kind Invitations are extreamly obliging. The Enjoyment of your Lordship’s Conversation, good Mrs. Shipley’s kind Care of me sick and well, and the ever-pleasing Countenances of...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 9 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I flatter myself that notwithstanding Distance Absence, and the Interruption of friendly Correspondence which the Circumstances of the Times occasion you may still be pleas’d to hear (what I wish to hear of you and your truly amiable Family) that Health continues, and as much Happiness as public Calamities will permit to sensible Minds. We both of us have the...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 21 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; draft: American Philosophical Society Inclos’d I send a Boston Newspaper in which the Sermon is advertis’d. The Speaker of the Assembly of the Massachusets, in his Letter to me says, “The Bishop’s Sermon is much liked, as it discovers a catholick Spirit, and Sentiments very favourable with regard to America.” Dr. Chauncey, an ancient Dissenting Minister of...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 7 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received with great Pleasure my dear Friends very kind Letter of April 19, as it informed me of his Welfare, and that of the amiable Family in Jermyn Street. I am much obliged by the Information of what pass’d in Parliament after my departure; in return I will endeavor to give you a short Sketch of the State of Affairs here. I found at my arrival all America...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 17 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress I received with great Pleasure my dear & respected Friend’s Letter of the 5th Instt. as it inform’d me of the Welfare of a Family I so much esteem & love. The Clamor against the Peace in your Parliament would alarm me for its Duration, if I were not of Opinion with you, that the Attack is rather against the Minister. I am confident none...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 10 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received and read the Letter from my dear and much respected Friend with infinite Pleasure. After so long a silence, and the long Continuance of its unfortunate Causes, a Line from you was a Prognostic of happier Times approaching, when we might converse and communicate freely, without Danger from the malevolence of Men...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 7 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I find it impossible to visit my dear Friend at Twyford as I promis’d myself. My Time is totally engross’d by Business. The Petition from the Congress has been presented to the King by Lord Dartmouth to whom we delivered it for that purpose. The Answer we receiv’d was, that his Majesty had been pleased to receive it very graciously, and had commanded him to tell...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 24 June 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This letter is the first that survives in a correspondence that continued for the rest of Franklin’s life. The acquaintance had in all likelihood originated through Shipley’s brother William, whom Franklin had known for more than fifteen years. By 1771 it embraced the Bishop’s whole family, and was thriving as the green bay tree. Jonathan Shipley (1714–88) was...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 10 March 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library In Page 26 and seq. of the oldest of these Pamphlets, and Page 64 and seq. of the newest, your Lordship will find the Subject of Communication with Settlements on the Ohio pretty fully handled. The Rarity of Goods brought from distant Countries makes People willing to give such an additional Price for them as more than compensates the Charge of Carriage. A...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, [June? 1773] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Extract from Kalm’s Travels into America. “It has been found repeatedly that these Trees [Peach Trees] can stand the Frost much better on Hills than in the Vallies; insomuch that when those in a Valley were killed by the Frost, those on a Hill were not hurt at all. It is remarkable that in cold Nights, all the Leaves to the height of 7 and even of 10 feet from the...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 28 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received my dear Friend’s Letter of the 8th past, and should have written sooner, but that I have been in continual Expectation of being able to visit you. A Succession of thwarting Businesses has prevented my giving my self that Pleasure hitherto. And writing by Post is now attended with such Inconvenience, that I am apt to postpone it. I am glad the Conduct of...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 19 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library By the Southampton Coach, I have sent your Lordship the Book of State Trials, which would have been sent sooner but that I hoped to send the Northumberland Book with it. I have search’d and enquir’d among my Friends for that Book, and cannot find it. I suppose I have lent it, and do not yet recollect to whom. I din’d on Sunday last at Sir John Pringle’s with...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 13 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I write but seldom to you, because at this time the most innocent Correspondence with me may be suspected, and attended with Inconvenience to yourself. Our united Wishes for a Reconciliation of the two Countries, are not I fear soon to be accomplished; for I hear your Ministry are determin’d to persevere in their mad Measures, and here I find the firmest...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 14 December 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Hearing that your Lordship had called in Cravenstreet during my Absence, I went next Day to your House hoping to find the Family there, but was mortified with the Information of your being still at Twyford. I should have thank’d you before for your kind Letters in my favour to the Primate and Mr. Jackson. The Primate was at Armagh, and did not come to Dublin ’till...