1Treaty of Carlisle, 1 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
A Treaty held with the Ohio Indians, at Carlisle, In October, 1753. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall, at the New-Printing-Office, near the Market. MDCCLIII . (Yale University Library) November 1, 1753. A Treaty , &c. To the Honourable James Hamilton , Esq; Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in Chief, of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New-Castle, Kent...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 4 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The interfering in those Weighty matters you are charged with, either by an Attempt to explain what you are fully Master of or to add any thing of my own not already contained in the Report of the committee or the Instructions of the House to yourself, would subject me justly to a censure I hope to avoid for if I had any thing material beyond...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 7 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Clerk calls upon me to sign the Indian Trade Bill now sent down by the Governor who adheres to his Amendments and as the House after agreeing to some of the Amendments now adhere to the Bill there is an End of that salutary provision to induce the Indians to come heartily into our Interest by making it their Own. We think it a Strange...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 30 May 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society After waiting here above Seven Weeks for the Sailing of the Pacquet, the Time of her Departure is no more ascertain’d now than it was the Day of our Arrival. The Pacquets it is now said are all three to sail with the Fleet; the two first to be dismiss’d soon after the Fleet is at Sea; the third to go with the Fleet to the Place of Rendezvous, and not to be...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 17 October 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; also letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I was pleased to hear of your safe arrival by a short agreeable Letter from Exeter, which I had the pleasure of receiving about a Month ago. The small but violent Party continues the same political Systems here expecting, I suppose, to be supported by Power and Influence at Home, where you will have...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 24 November 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The above is a Copy of my last. I have Since received two letters of the 23d (a Copy, the Original not Come To Hand) and 30th August. We are all extreamly well pleas’d With your Safe arrival there and the Continuence of your Health. Your Conduct I never doubted, but if it is necessary To Say any thing upon it I think you have acted With great...
7From Benjamin Franklin to [Isaac Norris], 14 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Extract from Mr. Franklin’s Letter. Benjamin Franklin insisted in a Conference with the Proprietaries, that if, when Commissioners were named in a Bill, the Governor might not strike out or change them at his Pleasure, as none but his own Creatures might be admitted, and the Assembly might as well trust him with the whole, and that it was an...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 21 February 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Our old Inviterate Scribler has at length wrote himself into a Jail. How far this was good Policy to do him that Honour, I will not undertake to say; I know the Comittee have wrote largely upon this head, and it has cost the House a Great deal of Time in going Thro’ a formal Trial for Libelling, which is, for any thing I know, the first...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 29 April 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Assembly being fully Convinced by the Experence of the last year; that our forces, were, at a Great Expence Suffered to lye Ide [Idle] on the frontiers, and managed in such manner as to be of very little Service had Resolved to reduce Their Numbers to Seven Hundred Men; Till Lord Loudoun made his Requisition from This Province and the...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 26 May 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Comming into town I hear by Accident that a Vessel is to sail for Liverpoole either this Evning or to Morrow, as this is the first Notice I have had of it I can only acknowledge the Receipt of your Letters by Budden and the rest of the Books the Day after by Captain—I forget his Name. Baskerville’s Virgil is certainly a curious performance of...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 15 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Repeatd Exemptions of the Proprietary Estate, from Bearing a part in our Present Heavy Taxes, Apears so unreasonable That I Think They Cannot long Support That Cause to the Nation, Who Bear the Burthen of An American War, (where our Proprietarys have so large an Interest to Defend) as well as for the more Immediate Defence of their own...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 25 July 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania If I Could hear the News by this Days post, I might Possibly Send Some Intellegence from our Westren Expedition and Ticonderoga, but there is no probability of transmitting from hence, any thing Relateing to Cape Breton, which will not be Sooner known by A direct Conveyance from thence. The Politicians in Town are in full Expectation of...
13Accounts with Isaac Norris, 15 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS account: American Philosophical Society; MS account book: Library Company of Philadelphia During Franklin’s first English residence he carried out numerous financial transactions for Isaac Norris. At his friend’s request he bought and sent to Philadelphia a telescope, several books and pamphlets, medicines, and a surprising number of decanters and other forms of glassware; he advanced money...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris: “Separate Notes,” 16 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress Baskerville is printing Newton’s Milton in two Volumes, 8vo. I have inserted your Name in his List of Subscribers, as you mention your Inclination to encourage so deserving an Artist. It is certain that the Government here are inclin’d to resume all the Proprietary Powers, and I make no doubt but upon the first Handle they will do so. I only think they wish for some...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 21 November 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania It is easy to perceive the Disposition of the People by the last Election under the Burthen of their heavy Taxes and several severe Losses upon particulars from the Conduct of some of the Military Gentlemen towards such as have supplied Our Western Army with Carriages, they are yet willing to bear these and every Thing else in their Power in...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 23 November 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Be pleased to receive the inclosed Bill of Exchange John Hunter on Messrs. Thomlinson, Hanbury, Colebrooke & Nisbitt Merchants in London No. 732 for Three Hundred Pounds Sterling. for my Account till further Order from Your Assured Friend Wrote [a Seperate Letter] at W Griffitts’s and Sent by his Young Man who went down after the Vessels....
17From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate Yale University Library When I first began to treat with the Proprietors, they desired I would put down in Writing the principal Points of Complaint which were to be the Subjects of Conference between us, that they might previously consider them. I accordingly deliver’d them the Paper herewith enclos’d, called Heads of Complaint , in which I confin’d myself to those that related...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 15 January 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I refer to the above Copies and enclose Duplicates of the Bill and Order for £500 0 s. that is to say An Order on Giles Bailey and Archibald Drummond for £200 and a Bill as above No. 732 for £300 and having dispatched these Mony Matters I am to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 16th of 7ber last by Captain Duncan a few Days ago, for...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 17 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I now enclose Second Bills of Exchange amounting to £362 5 s. 2 d. Sterling which I request you would be pleased to receive for my Account. This goes by way of Ireland which is One Reason of my sending the Second instead of the First, but the cheif Reason is to get one of the first Bills endorsed which was omitted by oversight and I have not...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 19 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library This unusually full and explicit letter describes more clearly than virtually any other contemporary document the attitude of leading members of the ministry on some of the constitutional questions which were to become increasingly important in the relations between the colonies and the mother country during the next fifteen or sixteen years. In the light of what...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 28 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania This serves to cover Bills of Exchange as per List hereunder and to inform you that our Supply Bill lyes with the Governor now the 24 Inst including the Proprietary Estates and granting £100,000 for the Raising &c. of 2,700 Men but I shall refer to another Letter for further Particulars on that Head and propose this as a seperate Cover to the...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 5 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Two Letterbook copies: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have already wrote by Captain Cuzzins inclosing Bills of Exchange. So that I now only inclose a First Bill which I have since purchased drawn by John Hunter on Messrs. Thomlinson Hanbury Colebrooke and Nesbit Merchants in London No. 1049 for £200. Sterling which I have ordered payable to your Self or Order which please to reserve for...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 12 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The above is Copy of a Message sent down by the Governor a few hours ago to which the House returned a Verbal Message “that they unanimously adhered to their Bill and were of Opinion that if the Bill should not receive the Governors Assent the ill Consequences he had pointed out must lye upon him.” Soon after I came from the House I received...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 4 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bills of Exchange I have remitted are as follows—to wit— +1 My Bill or Order on the Executors of Doctor Logan for } £200. 0. 0 Sterling +2 John Hunter on Messrs. Tomlinson Hanbury &c. No 732 I have your Letter of the 18th of January acknowledging the Receipt of these } 300. 0. 0 +3 Anthony Stoker on Geo. Campbell payable in London...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 9 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Yale University Library It gives me great Pleasure to learn by yours of the 12th. of April, that the Bill taxing the Proprietary Estate would pass. I believe he will not dare to oppose it here; but if he does, I think it will bring the Point to a Decision the shortest Way, and that it must in all Probability be decided against him. The Firmness of the Assembly on this Occasion...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 31 July 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: American Philosophical Society Just on closing my last Letter which was on the 14th of June last I added a figure 1 before the 4 though it was actually wrote on the 4th of that Month and being called off from adding a few lines to explain the difference Situation between those Dates it will be...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 11 August 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: American Philosophical Society My Brother just now brought me up your Letters of the 9th of June by the Packet and promises to enquire whether any Passengers are yet to be met with by whom I might send this in addition to what I have already wrote so that in this uncertainty I shall only...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 22 August 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy (first part only): American Philosophical Society I have already wrote and had sent my Letters by the Chippenham Captain Spain but the Ship sprung a Leak at Sea and my Brother informs me is again returned to Port so that these Letters will be forwarded by Captain Hamet who is to sail to morrow Morning: This little Interval will give me...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 25 September 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I was Unwell with a lurking fever all the While I was writing the above letters, but they were no sooner Dispatched, than I was laid up with a very severe attack, which has Confind me almost ever since, and hinderd me from attending the Assembly, both as it was Calld by the Governor, and as it is now seting. This is the first Time I have been...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 8 October 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have been recovering slowly from a Tedious lurking Fever for some Time tho I do not venture to go much abroad. The frequent bile I have lately been subject to made me think it my Duty to request the Electors of this County to chuse some other person in my stead but tho’ I thot it very reasonable under my present Circumstances I have not...