1Journal, 1764–1776; Ledger, 1764–1776 (Franklin Papers)
MS account books: American Philosophical Society December 10, 1764 As Franklin had done when he went to England in 1757, he began a new record of his financial transactions when he started his second mission in 1764. Probably the new record consisted at first of a series of rather informal entries such as those in his “Account of Expences,” 1757–1762, described above, VII , 164–5, and cited...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., [13 December? 1771] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer hereof Mr. John Milliquet, is my esteemed Friend and Intimate, and being particularly acquainted with Josiah, he will be happy to see him in London. Therefore hope you will pardon the Liberty I take of introducing him to You. Any Civilities shewn him will be esteemed a great Addition to the Obligation I am already under. I am Your dutifull and...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 10 April 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am highly obliged by your Favours of the 13th and 14th Janry, with which I received the Gum, with the Amount of which please to charge my Father and I will pay him here, as it will be needless to keep open 2 Accounts when one will be sufficient. After I have made the Rubbers I will take the liberty to inform you of their Success. I am obliged by your...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 29 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have but just Time to acknowledge the Receipt of yours per my Brother, whose Arival we had been long wishing for, but our pleasure was greatly damped by seeing him in such a state of Health; he has not been out since he first entered the House, and is at present very low, we are all fearfull he is consuming fast. I received per him only three 2d Volumes...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 13 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer hereof Mr. Adam Winthrop is son to Doctr Winthrop of Cambridge, who you are so well acquainted with, that I need say nothing of the Connection. But with regard to this Gentleman, he is an intimate acquaintance of mine, and a person for whom I have a very great Esteem, therefore beg leave to reccomend him to your Civilities. Mr. Bancroft’s Stay...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Letter of the 14th. April merits my best Acknowledgments, for the kind and affectionate Manner in which you express your Fears of my having appropriated Mr. Warrens Money to other purposes: In the manner this Matter may have appeared to you, those Fears were Just, and I think myself happy in having so good a Friend to forewarn me of even supposed...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 13 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your favour dated July 22 and am very happy that my Letter gave you satisfaction: I am only concern’d that the length and frequency of them, will be tedious and troublesome to You. I am glad to find by your Letter just received for my Father, that you are well enough recovered from the Gout to be in the N England Coffee House. In my last I...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This being the last month in the Year, I have been ’till now busily employed in casting up and settling my affairs, and as I never form’d very great Expectations, I find myself very content with the result. It appears that I have good enough to pay all I owe, and £300 Sterling left being the clear profits of last years Business. In the last Account I gave...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 20 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you several Letters, but have not as yet been honor’d with an answer, which I impute to the want of Time, occasioned by your more important Engagements: tho’ should have been glad if you had mentioned your opinion of my conduct with regard to Henry, as I wish to see the Boy settled; his Master still likes him and he behaves very well. I had the...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 22 April 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Boston, April 22, 1773: Sends a letter from Henry that came too late to be enclosed with his. > Jonathan’s letter was that of two days before. For Henry Walker’s letter to his mother see hers to BF below, June 20.
11To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 6 May 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mrs. Walker wrote me a Letter and expressed great uneasiness about the welfare of her Son, which I have endeavoured to remove by the inclosed Answer, and as I dont know of any other way to convey it to her hands, must beg you will be so kind as to forward it. With best Respects to Mrs. Stevenson Love to Sally Franklin and all Freinds I remain as ever Your...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 28 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Father received your Favour the Evening before last, and accordingly delivered your Letter to the Speaker. Altho’ you will no doubt receive from him the Resolves and proceedings of our Council relative to the Governors conduct &c &c, I inclose the Gazette, having it in my hand, as the more ways a thing is sent, the more likely it is to arive Safe. I...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 29 July-4 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was desired to send Mrs. Stevenson 6 Boxes of Sperma Ceti Candles, but as they will not admit a less quantity than 22 lbs. [?] to be shipt, was obliged to send her 9: which I have shipped on board the Lydia Capt. Hood directed to you as per the inclosed Bill of Lading. Mrs. S will appropriate the amount to the Payment of an Organ I desired you to procure...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., [before 21 September 1773] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives I received your kind Letter inclosing one for Mr. Cowan purser of the Glasgow, who is now at Hallifax, but as the Ship is ordered here in about 3 Weeks, shall keep ’till that time as the most certain way of getting it speedily to his hands. I am sorry to find that the East India Company do not intend to send a Ship to America, but am not the less obliged by your and...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 11 December 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed is a Letter from the Revd. Doctr Mather which he desired me to send to you. I am much obliged by your kindness in procuring the Organ as desired which came out in good order, except the omission of one Pipe the 11th from the lef side in the second (leaden) Stop, which I suppose the [maker?] forgot: I shall be obliged if you will please to send me...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 24 January–30 March 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I received your much esteemed favour of November 1st 1773, and immediately delivered the Letters that were inclosed to the Gentlemen to whom they were directed. I thank you for your readiness in procuring the organ I recieved per Hall, which was much admired. I shall ever think myself happy when in my power to render you any services on this side; as far as...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am thus far arrived on my Journey, and have met with every success I could possibly have expected. I have been introduced to the first Houses in Liverpool, and this place, and am likely to make very valuable connections. I do not mean to make any sudden engagements, but to establish a correspondence in every place, and in every manufacturing branch, which...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 20 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arrived here last Evening just in time to see the last of the Races, and to go to a brilliant Assembly. This is not the Business of my Journey, but it may not be amiss to mix a little. We sett of this afternoon, and shall not stop ’till we arrive at Glasgow, from thence we shall go to Edinburgh and come home through Yorkshire. That you may not think I am...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am fearfull you will be tired with my scribblings but I am so fond of writing, (especially to you) that I venture to intrude on your patience, tho’ I am sensible my letters are of no importance. You I hope will excuse me. I endeavour to gain as much advantage from my travels as I can, and if I should reap no pecuniary benifit, I think I shall gain...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 10–11 August 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just arrived, and this instant favoured with yours of 25th July. I can’t express my obligations for the obliging Letter enclosed, and you may depend Sir that as far as my abilities extend, I will never do wrong to your reccommendation. I am determined that all my undertakings shall be honest ones, for but upon that principle I will undertake nothing. I...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 28 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Although you will be but a very little Time absent, I can’t refrain from communicating the News I have just received from America, as it discovers a Firmness, and Resolution, which I think do honour to our Countrymen; therefore must give you Pleasure. In a Philadelphia Paper of the 21st of September, which comes via Liverpool, is an Account of the...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 20 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last I have recvd from La Duchesse de Villroy the Plan of your Armonica improved, which you will receive by this Ship. The Newspapers will give you all in the political Way. I have been several Days shut up in your Room, so have not been able to gather any thing more than the Public Prints contain. You will see by the Fate of the N York and Quebec...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 7 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Agreeable to a Message from Lord Shelburn, I waited on the Prince de Masserano spanish ambassador, for a Book which his Lordship informed me was for You. After my Name was sent up, his Secretary came and asked if I spoke French, and answering in the affirmative I was immediately admitted into the Princes Chamber, where he was dressing. He then told me that the...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 19 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete) and draft: American Philosophical Society Yesterday being the Day appointed by Lord Dartmouth I waited on him, but he having a greater Number of Gentlemen at Levee than he could attend to, I was desired to call again to day: which I accordingly did. On my entring he said, Mr. Williams I have only to tell you, I have delivered your Petition into the Kings hands, but Things are...
25To Benjamin Franklin from [Jonathan Williams, Jr.], 23 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Public Record Office I have already written to you by this Ship, since which I have come to a Conclusion with Mr. Blunt and shall engage in my new Business next Week. The Terms are to be as follows. I am to be ’till next July on probation; at the End of that Time I shall be able to judge of the Advantages and Disadvantages of the Connection. We are then to begin our Partnership, my share...
26To Benjamin Franklin from [Jonathan Williams, Jr.], 23 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Public Record Office Since writing the Inclosed, I have had some Conversation with a Gentleman relative to the proposed Bill, which he assures me is to look Back to all the Seizures made by the Kings Ships in America, and make them as well as all future ones legal Prises. The Bills proposed to be repealed are only the two fis[hing?] ones, and they intend to have as large a F[leet?] in...
27To Benjamin Franklin from [Jonathan Williams, Jr.], 3 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have just heard of an Opportunity by which a Letter may possibly reach you, therefore sit down to acknowledge the Receipt of yours of the 29th March. We are constantly wishing to hear from you again, all your Friends are extreemly anxious to know where you are and how you do: they are all well. You ask me if I am married, I am sorry to say I am not, nor am...
28To Benjamin Franklin from [Jonathan Williams, Jr.], 19 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am happy to convey to you two Letters which I think must give you pleasure because they come from your old Friends. I wish I could convey to you as many more as (if it was thought they would arrive safe) your other Friends wish to write. I know of no material alteration among them, all I have lately seen are well. The good Bishop with his amiable Family...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 14 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is the first letter in Williams’ extensive correspondence from Nantes. He went at Deane’s suggestion, and expected to return as soon as he had inspected the stores that Peltier, the agent of Hortalez & Cie., was loading on the Mercure . But he also had other tasks assigned him. One, to judge by this and the following letter, was to investigate Penet,...
30Jonathan Williams, Jr., to the American Commissioners, 14 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library Since writing this morning by Capt. Nicholson I have been with Monsr. Peltrier, who informs me that the Vessell is at the mouth of the River, where it seems all Vessells of Burden are obliged to load. She is not yet loaded but there are several Cases of Fusils gone from hence to the Ship, and Monsr. Peltrier expects a Barge loaded with Bales to come down...