1To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 6 June 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society The Happiness I enjoy’d last friday has afforded me pleasing reflections for the week past. I attended with delight to your kind Instructions, and my highest Amusement ever since has been to recollect them. You obligingly condescended to satisfy my Curiosity about the Barometer, and by your explanation I clearly conceived the cause of the rise and fall of...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, [late October? 1771] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Mother desires me to tell you that there are two Letters from New York and one from Philadelphia and three Packets of News Papers but she is afraid to send them as you have not receiv’d that Mr. Hewson sent you. I write in great Haste. We are all well. Yours affectionately The note might at first glance be dated at any time when BF was away from London...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 11 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society It was with great pleasure I h[eard of] your safe and happy arrival at Philadelphia; and [hearti]ly congratulate you and the dear Partakers of y[our Socie]ty, but you must all forgive me if I repine [that] you are oblig’d to enjoy it at so great a d[istance] from me. My Mother receiv’d yours of [ ? ] November and another a few days ago, of a...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 10 September 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I don’t know whether to say I fear or I hope this won’t reach you before you leave Holland, for I don’t care how soon we have you in our Island again, and I wish you had no Attachment ever to draw you from it again, that is I wish your Attachments were all here. My Mother wanted me to write another Letter to you while I was with her, but my Time was so...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 23 June 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You who are no Stranger to the Feelings of Humanity will readily conceive the anxiety of my Mind while I thought my Friend in Danger: It is only such a Situation as I was then in that can make me neglect your Favours. Upon examining the Barometer after I receiv’d your Letter, I found a small Crevice where the piece of hollow wood which covers the Mercury is...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 28 July 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the short stay my mother made here I could not find time to write a letter, therefore I hop’d my verbal acknowledgments would be accepted, yet I did not intend my pen should neglect it’s duty. I really am much oblig’d to you for the trouble you took to gratify me, and notwithstanding the frequency of my obligations to you I always have great pleasure...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 17 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You express’d an intention to pay us a visit the latter end of this week, and as I should be sorry to be disappointed of the pleasure of your company when you come, I write this to inform that we have an engagement of a long standing for to-morrow, and the next day we expect company to dine with us, which makes me wish you to defer coming till the beginning...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 27 April 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Had I never known you I could not have read those Writings you were so obliging to put into my Hands without entertaining the highest Esteem for you, but as I have had the Happiness of experiencing your Condescension and Candour Gratitude and Affection are join’d to my Esteem, and together fill my Heart with Sentiments I am not able to express. You assert...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 15 June 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am heartily glad you made up the quarrel without coming to blows; and as we hope to find you peaceable and happy, we all promise ourselves much pleasure in spending this day in Craven street. To my mortal day I shall remain Your dutiful and affectionate
10To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, [1760–1762] (Franklin Papers)
Draft (incomplete): American Philosophical Society Your last Letter gave me great pleasure though the thoughts of having laid you under a necessity of writing it fill me with Confusion, for it was so unreasonable to draw you in to write a third Letter after you had condescendingly written two, that you ought to have punish’d me for it; but you have us’d the most effectual method to make me...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 19 May 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and draft: American Philosophical Society In my last I communicated what occurr’d to me upon first reading your Letters. I receive so much Pleasure from what you say or write, and it is with such Facility I comprehend, or fancy I comprehend, what you mean, that attending to you is my Darling Amusement. I have not many Opportunities of conversing personally with you, but I make up that...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 25 November 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the opportunity of writing by a Gentleman whom I wish to recommend to your Notice. His Name is Lyth, he is a Clergyman going to settle in Virginia, where he has the promise of a Living, and I hope he will meet with the Success I believe he deserves. The little I have seen of him has prejudic’d me in his favour, but I do not recommend him upon so...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 8 July 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Soon after my Eyes were open this Morning they were blest with a Letter from my dear and honour’d Friend. Mrs. Hawkesworth (for I have not seen the Doctor, but they seem to have both one Soul) bids me tell you they approve all your Scheme except that part of it which relates to me; and they shall expect to see all their Friends, who design them that...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 13 January 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society It is long since I troubled you with a Letter, which I am afraid you will impute to Indolence rather than Modesty. The Subject you are so condescending to enter upon with me would afford frequent matter of inquiry for me and give you too much trouble did I not suppress my inclination. The continual Engagements I am in prevent my spending as much time as I...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 10 March 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and draft: American Philosophical Society I did not think you had been so keen a Satyrist. I have not finish’d my Course of Philosophy , nor do I desire to be at full Leisure to improve myself in Cards . I confess you have just Reason to complain of me, and my Indolence merits your severe Rebuke. Your Letter fill’d me with Confusion, and I assure you it will be a Spur to my Industry. The...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 24 May 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Your Indulgence to me gives you a Claim to as much as you can desire from me, therefore don’t think I am so unreasonable to expect an answer to every Letter I write, I am sufficiently paid by the assurance that you receive mine with Pleasure, and when you have leisure to write me one I hope you are sensible I receive the favour with Gratitude. I was with...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, [December 1769] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society NB Dr Franklin to whom these verses Verses which accompanied her Christmas gift to BF .
18To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 30 August 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I have two Letters to thank you for since I wrote to you from Bromley, which tho short gave me pleasure as they assured me of your Welfare and the continuance of your Regard for your Polly. I now have the pleasure of returning your Friend’s Musick with the desir’d supplement. Mr. Stanley begg’d I would present his best Respects to you, and tell you how...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 22 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Mother hopes you receiv’d a Letter from Mr. Collinson, for she desir’d him to write to you one evening about a Bill which he told her was not accepted. The enclos’d are all that came since you heard last from us. Mr. Strahan presents his Respects to you and begs the Favour of your Company at Dinner next Tuesday to meet Sir John Pringle and some body...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 1 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Adinell S. Hewson, Bryn Mawr, Pa. (1957) Welcome to England my dear, my honour’d Friend! Just as I began a Letter to my Mother I receiv’d the News of your Arrival. I have the same Confidence in my Parent that the Iskimaux Woman had in hers, for if my Mother did not know “I always speak Truth” I could not venture to say what she might be apt to doubt. I confess she has some Reason to...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 31 October 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Welcome! my dear and honour’d Friend! Welcome once more to our Island! The Wind may blow now without making our Hearts ake. You were constantly in our Thoughts during the late stormy Weather. I have pray’d for you at Midnight when I have been suckling my little Boy and heard the Window Sashes rattle. I thank God you are safe. The same merciful Being has...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 29 August 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arriv’d here, very opportunely for my Mother and myself, on the day a Letter was to be sent to you, which saves her the Trouble and affords me the Pleasure of writing. I am first to present her Thanks for your two kind Letters, and then I must acknowledge my Obligation for your Remembrance of me in them. No Person has call’d here except Mr. Johnston for...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 11 June 1762 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Whether the Invitation you give me to write to you proceeds from the Pleasure you receive or desire to bestow I shall not enquire; the first would gratify my Vanity most, but I am not less pleas’d with thinking you love to indulge me. When I say I have not Leisure for my favourite Amusements I am as much surpriz’d as you can be, and I wonder how my Time...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 2 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Mother orders me to set down to answer all your Hows . The Hewsons young and old are well and thank you for your kind Enquiry. Your Dolly is well. I had a Letter from her to day from Bromley. Lady Barwell is well. Josiah when we heard of him, and Sally, and Mr. and Mrs. Jackson, I met them last Week at Barwell’s. All well. My Mother herself is grown...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 15 May 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received a letter from Kensington to day by which I learn that my aunt will not come to Bromley to fetch me, therefore I must go home by way of Craven Street next monday. Now if it will be convenient to you to come hither on sunday or monday you will give a great deal of pleasure to several persons by doing it and I shall have a more agreeable journey to...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 14 January 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Permit me to address you with the Compliment of the Season; not merely as a Compliment, but with a fervent sincerity. May this Year give you a happy sight of your Native Country, and of those dear Relations you left in it; and if there is anything else wanting to compleat your Felicity, May that be added! May you enjoy a long succession of Years, fraught...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 6 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter I am bound to answer it. My Mother I must tell you went off last friday week, took our little Boy with her and left Mr. Hewson the care of her House. The first thing he did was pulling down a part of it in order to turn it to his own purpose, and advantage we hope. This Demolition cannot affect you, who ar...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 8 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I got home extremely well last night, and met with nothing to make me uneasy but my own reflections. Before I came to pall mall I repented my acceptance of your obliging offer, for I consider’d myself as the cause of what the poor coachman suffer’d from the cold, which I might have avoided. This reflection destroy’d the tranquility which the fineness of the...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, [1760–1762] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society You find I endeavoured to maintain an opinion which I imperfectly understood but I hope I shall be pardon’d when it is consider’d that the desire of obtaining intelligence and conviction was my motive. I believe I told you before that nothing had fallen under my observation to justify the opinion that men are carried to excellence in the exertion of their...
30To Benjamin Franklin from William and Mary Hewson, 22 March [1771–74]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library <March 22, [1771–74 ]: a note in the third person, in Polly Hewson’s hand. Reminds Franklin that he has promised to dine with them next Thursday.> The Hewsons were married in July, 1770, and he died suddenly in May, 1774. The invitation could have been in any March between those dates, and according to our practice we are assigning it to the earliest...
31To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 9 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had rather you should find me deficient in any Point than that of Gratitude; therefore I will not delay acknowledging your Favour of the 29th. tho I am not prepar’d to write to you, having made very little Improvement lately in any kind of Study. I cannot recollect what word in my Letter to Miss Franklin was so unfortunate to meet your Disapprobation. I...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, [August 1760 ?] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Since you are pleas’d to say you shall be glad of a Line from me I will find Leisure. In my Letter to my Mother, I mention’d I had a Question to ask you. It is this, What is the reason the Water at this place becomes warm by pumping tho it is not so at the spring? Pardon my Impertinence. Goodnatur’d persons have always more impos’d on them than others; yet...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 16 September 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and draft: American Philosophical Society Such a Letter is indeed the highest Compliment. What you conclude it with I should think too far strain’d to be sincere if I did not flatter myself it proceeded from the warmth of your Affection, which makes you see Merit in me that I do not possess. It would be too great Vanity to think I deserve the Encomiums you give me, and it would be...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 5 August 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was so unfortunate to lose the pleasure of seeing you yesterday in Cravenstreet, but I don’t know whether I ought to say it was unfortunate, for I only bring you distress. My Mother tells me I made you unhappy by my Tears. Could you expect me to part from you without shedding some? I am griev’d to think I should cause you uneasiness, but you need not...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 26 September 1768: phonetic spelling and transcription (Franklin Papers)
Transcribed from ALS (draft with all but the final sentence in phonetic spelling): American Philosophical Society Yi i have transkr yi ib’d iur Alfabet &c. huit sh yi i th ink m yi it bi a v s yi rvis tu dh
36To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 30 July 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot return your Book without making some little Acknow[le]dgment of my Obligation. You did me great Honour by entrusting me with it, and I receiv’d a high Pleasure in the Perusal. Give me leave to say the Pleasure I receiv’d proceeded not wholly from the Merit of the Writings, but from my Esteem and Affection for the Author; yet I will so far...