1From 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...
2From 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...
3Accounts 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...
4From 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...
5From 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...
6From 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...
7From 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...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 19 November 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society This is just to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favours of August 24 and 27. with the Bill for £100 on Messrs. Thomlinson &c. No. 1876, and to acquaint you, that I have at length receiv’d the Money from the Exchequer and lodg’d it in the Bank as nearly agreeable to the Directions of the Act as I possibly could; for they would not, as I acquainted you...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 22 November 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: American Philosophical Society; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Share allotted by the Lords of the Treasury to Pensylvania and the Lower Counties, of the Parliamentary Grant for 1758, was £29,993. The Rule their Lordships follow’d in the Division of the £200,000 was, to proportion the Sums for each Colony according to the Number of effective Men each had in the Field....
10From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, [16] December 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society Agreeable to what I wrote in mine of the 13th. I [have] ventur’d to agree by my Broker for the following [ torn ] Stocks, on Account of the Province, to be deliver’d [ torn ] Week from this Day, viz. £1000 of the 4 per Cent. Annuities 1760, at 92 per Cent. £[920: 0: 0] £1500 Do. at 91⅞ 137[8: 2: