1From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, [1757–1772] (Franklin Papers)
AL : The Royal Society Mr. Franklin’s Compliments to Mr. Canton, and requests he would procure for him two more of the long Glass Tubes such as he formerly did him the favour to procure for him. On John Canton, electrical experimenter, see above, IV , 390 n. This note might have been written at virtually any time before Canton’s death, March 22, 1772, except, of course, during one of BF ’s...
2From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 12 November 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society What pass’d at the Society last Thursday night, was chiefly, a Motion for an Address to the King, which was agreed to, and a Committee appointed to make a Draft. The Society adjourn’d to Monday night, to hear the Address and agree upon it, which was also done. On Thursday next at the Meeting we are to be inform’d when it is to be presented. I hope I shall have the...
3From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 24 November 1760 (Franklin Papers)
AL : The Royal Society Mr. Franklin’s Compliments to Mr. Canton, and is sorry to find that he cannot have the Pleasure of waiting on him this Evening, being oblig’d to attend a Committee at the Society of Arts; but as he expects to see Mr. Canton on Thursday at the Royal Society; some other Evening convenient to Mr. Canton may then be agreed on. The Minute Book of the Society of Arts shows...
4From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 14 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society When I left London, I promis’d myself the pleasure of a regular Correspondence with you and some others of the ingenious Gentlemen that compos’d our Club. But after so long an Absence from my Family and Affairs, I found, as you will easily conceive, so much Occupation, that philosophical Matters could not be attended to; and my last Summer was almost wholly taken up in...
5From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 29 May 1765 (Franklin Papers)
MS not available: facsimile of ALS : The Royal Society Franklin’s interest in magic squares and circles, which began in the 1730s when he was clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly, has been demonstrated in earlier volumes; see above, III , 458–9; IV , 392–403. In 1752 he sent Peter Collinson, among other examples of his constructions, the first version of his complicated magic circle, for which...
6From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 27 November 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society After the Society was gone, my Lord Moreton said, (when I offer’d him the Paper) that it ought to have been deliver’d before and read to the Society: he however desir’d me to produce it to the Council. There the Reading of it was oppos’d as not being referr’d to them by the Society. But this was at last got over by Dr. Moreton’s proposing that the giving a Medal to Dr....
7From Benjamin Franklin to [John Canton], 9 March 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society Dr. Priestly left these Specimens of the Circles with me to be produc’d to the Society. As I cannot be there this Evening, when I understand the Paper is to be read, I inclose them to you. Those that look at them should be caution’d not to rub them, lest they should be defac’d before the Company have all had a Sight of them. I am, Yours &c. The letter is among the...
8From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 25 August 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society When I was at Paris about 10 Days since, I was told that a Comet was then visible with a Tail of considerable Length. If it has not been yet observed or heard of here, perhaps this little Notice may be agreable to you. I return’d but last Night, I hope you and yours are well; being very sincerely Your affectionate Friend and Servant I think it was said to be in some...
9From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 12 May 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Dr. Ingenhauss and myself purpose to set out on Friday next to visit Birmingham and some other manufacturing Towns, intending to be absent about 10 Days; a young Kinsman of mine accompanies us. Will you make a fourth, and so reduce our Triangle to a Square? The Dr. has just been here, and requested me to write to you immediately, as he is equally desirous with me...
10From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 15 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : the Royal Society I have just received the enclos’d from Dr. Priestly. And as it contains an Account of a new Discovery of his, which is very curious, and, if it holds, will open a new Field of Knowledge, I send it to you immediately. Please to communicate it to Dr. Price when he returns. I am just about taking a Trip for a few Weeks to Ireland. I hope I shall find you well at my Return....