1William Strahan’s Account for Printing and Books, [13 September 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society We do not normally print accounts in extenso, but this one reveals enough about Franklin’s literary activities over an eighteen-month period to justify an exception. Decr. Sheet of Rules, 2 Reams PL 2 2 Two Reams of Writing Medium [?] Paper for Do. PL 2 8 Petit Code de la Raison Humaine, 4sheets, No 500, @ 14 s. PL 2 16 Four Reams of Paper for Do. PL
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 17 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been at Blair Drummond on a Visit to my Friend Lord Kaims, thence I went to Glasgow, thence to the Carron Works, viewing the Canal by the Way. Extream bad Weather detain’d me in several Places some Days longer than I intended: But on Tuesday I purpose setting out on my Return, and hope for the Pleasure of seeing you by the Tuesday following. I thank...
3From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 27 October 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library Thro’ Storms and Floods I arrived here on Saturday night, late, and was lodg’d miserably at an Inn: But that excellent Christian David Hume, agreable to the Precepts of the Gospel, has received the Stranger , and I now live with him at his House in the new Town most happily. I purpose staying about a Fortnight, and shall be glad to hear from you. I...
4From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 29 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (copy): British Museum This letter, one of Franklin’s major statements on colonial affairs, was in response to the queries Strahan had sent him a week before, which are printed above under November 21–22. As explained there, the queries and the reply were not designed for publication, and were not in fact published until 1774; they were intended for private circulation, in order to...
5From Benjamin Franklin to [William Strahan], 16 May 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I send you the Notes you desired of me. When you have dress’d them they’ll be fit to appear in Company. I send also a little Article of News for your Paper, which I wish may be inserted this Evening if you see no Objection. I mean to set the Dispute in a ridiculous Light if I could. The Act of Parliament requires the Colony to find for the Troops, Barracks,...
6From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, [8 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library The Bearer is Mr. Brown of whom I spoke to you formerly. I hope you can, without Inconvenience, afford him some Employment as a Compostor. He will be with me till the Beginning of next Week. I send one of the Papers, and shall send the other in the Morning. If you see any thing in them improper for Publication in your Paper, impute it to my being (as you say) too...
7From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, [27 November 1765] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library Oh! my dear Friend! I never was more surpriz’d than on reading your Note. I grieve for you, for Mrs. Strahan, for Mr. Johnston, for the little ones, and your whole Family. The Loss is indeed a great one! She was every thing that one could wish, in every Relation. I do not offer you the common Topics of Consolation. I know by Experience how little they avail; that...
8From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 24 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library I wrote to you of the first Instant, and sent you a Bill for £13 and a little List of Books to be bought with it. But as Mr. Becket has since sent them to me, I hope this will come time enough to countermand that Order. The Money, if you have receiv’d it, may be paid to Mrs. Stevenson, to whom we have wrote for sundry Things. I thank you for inserting the...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I receiv’d your obliging Letter of June 5. I find by my Letter Book, that I wrote to you May 1. and June 25. I thought I had sent you one of my Narratives. You cannot conceive the Number of bitter Enemies that little Piece has rais’d me among the Irish Presbyterians. I now send you a Pamphlet that I have written since in favour of our projected Change of...
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 25 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I wrote a few Lines to go to you via Liverpool; but they were too late for the Ship, and now accompany this. I gave Mr. Parker a Power of Attorney to act for you and myself, with respect to Mecom’s Affairs, who has, under Oath, surrendred all he possess’d into his Hands, to be divided proportionably between us and his other Creditors, which are chiefly Rivington...