2071To Benjamin Franklin from Katherine Sproule Douglas, 28 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society To accept my unbounded thanks for the Honor you did my freind Miss Maxwell when in Paris which I Sincerly Charge to my acct of Gratitude! & thanks to almighty God! for puting in my Heart to presume on Such an application; which I again most Gratefully imbrace on the Permission Graciously & bountifully granted by your Excellency to miss Maxwell! which I
2072To Benjamin Franklin from J. Rocquette, T.A. Elsevier & P.Th. Rocquette, 7 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Your much esteemed letter of the 4 augt: duely reach’d us, we observed there in with pleasure the receit of the two parcells we Sent you, the forwarding of Same deserves no thanks, we are allways devoted to your Commands, and shall be ready at any time to render you any Service in our power. This daÿ a Jew and a Jewish call’d on one of our Friends here, to...
2073From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [10 October? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Comme il sera necessaire, ma chere Amie, que je pars un jour pour l’Amerique, sans Esperance de vous revoir jamais, j’ai eu la Pensée quelquesfois qu’il sera prudent de me sevrer de vous par degrez, de vous voir premierement qu’une fois par semaine, aprés cela, qu’une fois par deux semaines, une fois par mois, etc. etc. afin de diminuer peu-a-peu le Desir...
2074To Benjamin Franklin from Reichsgraf Windisch-Grätz, 9 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Sátní oblastní archiv v Plzni, pracovištěe Klášter Vous avez fait tant de bien a votre patrie, et vous avez rendu de Si grands Services a l’humanité en général par les lumieres, que vous avez répandues; que tout homme, qui croit avoir des vuës utiles, peut Se flatter, que vous voudrez bien concourrir a les propager. C’est là Monsieur ce qui me...
2075From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have mislaid your Account of the Drafts you had made on M. De Chaumont, and want it much. Send me by the Return of the Post, either a Copy or an Abstract of it, expressing the Gross Sum & times of Payment. As soon as the Acct. is compleated I should be glad to have it. I received yours of Augt. 26 & Sept. 14.— I approve of your Proposition about the Sailors, and...
2076To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I have duly received your Excellencies dispatches of the 4th and 9th Current.— The Wind is Fair, the Pilot on Board, and the Ship will be under Sail at day Break.— Mr. Gourlade nor M. de La Grave have not yet appeared.— I will Steer as directly as possible for our Ports.— Enclosed is a receipt from Messrs. Gourlade and Moylan...
2077From Benjamin Franklin to Elizabeth Temple, 27 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour of July 30. with a Letter enclos’d for Mr. Temple. He came to Holland as I heard and went from thence to England, but has not written to me, nor do I know where he resides, So as to direct your Letter to him properly. But I Shall have an oportunity in a few Days of Sending it by a friend, who will find him out and deliver it— Please to present...
2078To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, [January 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arrived here in September last, with a purpose of visiting France and of paying my respects and offering my Congratulations on the restoration of Peace, and to you for the honor you have acquired in this business, as I cannot now do it personally permit the offering in this mode with my best wishes for a continuance of your health and strength of which I...
2079From Benjamin Franklin to John Torris, 4 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received but a few days since your favours of January 17. and 18. I send here with the Commission desired for Capt. Ryan & The fearnot. I heartily wish you and him all the success you desire and deserve. The Bond is to be executed and Left at Mr. Coffin’s, where you will find the Commission, as the English have paid no Regard to the written paroles taken by the...
2080To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Nesbitt, 4 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When I had the honor last of waiting on your Excellency at Passy, you were pleas’d to promise to give orders at Nantes for the Release of Captain Kinnear in Exchange for Captn Bell. The Death of Mr: Schweighauser no doubt is the Cause that nothing has hitherto been done in this affair, and unless your Excellency will please to give fresh orders to the...
2081To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 30 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had a severe Fit of the Gout which has confined me six Weeks; but it is now going off, and I flatter myself that it has done me a great deal of Good. I have just received a Letter from Dr. Ezra Stiles, of which the inclosed is an extract. Please to communicate it to Mr. Searle, and then give it to M. Dumas if you judge it proper for Publication. I have also a large and particular...
2082To Benjamin Franklin from Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 29 December 1760 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; abstract reprinted from Thomas G. Morton and Frank Woodbury, The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital 1751–1895 (Philadelphia, 1895), p. 43. “On December 29, 1760, a letter was written to Franklin for some necessary drugs and medicines, and he was also asked ‘to join with some others of our fellow citizens, now in London, in soliciting contributions on behalf of the Hospital from...
2083From Benjamin Franklin to Lotbinière, 28 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 26 de ce mois. Je vous renvoye cy joint les Papiers que vous m’avez laissés. Je suis tous les Matins chèz moi Jus qu’à onze heures, excepté les mardis, et Je vous verrai avec plaisir Si vous m’honorez d’une Visite. J’ai l’honneur d’être très parfaitement, Monsieur votre très humble...
2084To Benjamin Franklin from John Bartram, 12 November 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: The Royal Society Here is a visible Aurora Borealis; at 7 a Clock it was about two hours high, to the northward pretty bright. Soon after Day light disappeared it was much more East, where it was redder with some faint streamers, whose Points reached near 45 Degrees Elevation, which soon disappeared, and the Light descended by Degrees under the Pole, and by 10 a Clock was near...
2085To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 24 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy and transcript: National Archives Vous trouverez ci-joint, M, un office qui m’a été remis de la part de la Cour de Coppenhague; cette piéce est relative à des excès qui doivent avoir été commis près des côtes de Norwège par trois Vx. [Vaisseaux] Americains; je ne doute pas que vous ne vous empressiez à le faire parvenir au...
2086From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 7 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I arrived here the first of last Month, and had the great Happiness, after so long Absence, to find my little Family well, and my Friends as cordial and more numerous than ever. Mr. Bartram I suppose writes to you concerning the great Bones at the Ohio. I have delivered to him and to the Library Company what you sent by me. There is great Complaint here of the...
2087From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Thomas S. Gates, Philadelphia (1957); also duplicate: Yale University Library I wrote a Line to you some days since, via New York, enclosing a Bill of £25 Sterling; the second in a Copy by some other Vessel from that Port; the third you have herein, together with a Bill of £60 Sterling, which I hope will be duly honour’d. My Wife wrote to you per Mesnard for 6 Nelson’s Justice, 6...
2088From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress As Baron de Holtzendorff has thought fit to trouble your Excellency with a Memorial to me, relating to his affairs and complains highly as I understand of the Congress & of me, I beg leave to acquaint you with a few Circumstances in our Vindication, most of which I have from himself in one of his former Papers. Mr. Deane soon after his Arrival here, is said to have...
2089To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 24 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copies: New-York Historical Society, National Archives; transcript: National Archives Majr Genl Du Portail will have the honor to present this. Congress in consideration of their Long & faithful services in this country have grantd permission to him & Colls. De Laumoy & Gouvion to revisit their friends in Europe for the winter. As the merit of these...
2090To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Le Poole, 12 March 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Amsterdam, March 12, 1778, in English: I have just learned that inquiries have been made of you from here about whether I am a Congressional agent, and that you have answered that I am not but have connections with Virginia merchants. I send copies of two certificates, from the Governors of North Carolina and Virginia, given me before I left Charleston. I...
2091To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Samuel Andrews, formely of Boston lately of Demarara, is going to Paris upon Business, respecting a Vessell taken by the French and carried into Martinico. He will lay before you his Papers, and hopes for your Countenance, in the Prosecution of his Appeal, altho he claims as a Dutchman. I have the Honour to recommend him to your Excellencys Notice. I...
2092To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 20 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of writing you a day or two ago by the Shelala Capt. Holmes, on board of whom I have put 2 Barrels of Pippins & one large Barrel of Nuts, I also sent you the 2d. Sets of your Interest Bills; I now inclose you the third. We are just informed that Capt. Smith in the Kensington is arrived at Boston, having been chased in there, by a Frigate,...
2093From Benjamin Franklin to John Holker, 28 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Inclos’d I send you a Packet I have just received from Morlaix, containing some of the Papers you requested me to recover, and a Receipt for the Rest— You Will see what Mr. Diot says about the Trunks of Clothes. It will be best I imagine for the person who desires to have them, if he knows which they are, to Describe them to Mr. Diot or some other Person, and order...
2094From Benjamin Franklin to [——— d’Anglemont], 5 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Mr. Torris informs me that eight of the Prisoners formerly brought in to Dunkirque by the Black prince an american Privateer are desirous of serving under Capt. Ryan in the fearnot, and that the said Captain knowing them, and placing Confidence in them, is desirous of having them in his service; I do hereby request that you would be pleased to deliver the said Eight...
2095From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I leave Directions with Mrs. Stevenson to deliver you all the Massachusetts Papers, when you please to call for them. I am sorry that the Hurry of Preparing for my Voyage and the many Hindrances I have met with, prevented my meeting you and Mr. Bollan, and conversing a little more on our Affairs before my Departure. I wish to both of you Health and Happiness,...
2096To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 3 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Adams has the Honour to inform Dr Franklin that the American Ministers for the Peace, are desired by the British Minister to meet him at the Hotel du Parc Royal, Wednesday, at Eleven, for a Conference concerning the Definitive Treaty. Addressed: A Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre Plenipotentiaire / des Etats Unis...
2097From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 1262 (July 1, 1920), item 31; and American Art Association, Sale Catalogue (April 22–4, 1924), item 295. I received your kind Letter of the 23d of December. I rejoice always to hear of your & your good Mother’s Welfare, tho’ I can write but Seldom, Safe Opportunities are Scarce. Looking over some old Papers I find the rough Draft of a Letter which...
2098To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, [on or after 23 February 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society La dame a mille choses à répondre au monsieur, mais elle craint malgré la bonté de sa cause, qu’il ne garde sa prévention contre elle, leur oppinion étant absolument contraire; le monsieur, (grand phillosophe) suit la doctrine d’Anacréon et celle d’épicure; la dame est platoniciénne: l’un veut un amour gras, pottellé, un amour de chair et d’os; gasté choyé...
2099To Benjamin Franklin from François Bernier, 6 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Lorsque j’eus hier l’honneur de rendre mes hommages a votre Excellence, avec Mr. le Marquis de la Salle, en vous engageant a venir voir nos travaux, j’eus celui de vous dire qu’il serait assés tôt sur les unze heures, mais aiant fait reflexions qu’il y a tres peu d’especes a fraper, nos opérations Effigiaires pourraient être finiës dés les huit heures, Jai...
2100From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am glad to learn that the Turnip Seed and the Rhubarb grow with you and that the Turnip is approved. It may be depended on that the Rhubarb is the genuine Sort. But to have the Root in perfection, it ought not to be taken out of the Ground in less than 7 Years. Herewith I send you a few Seeds of what is called the Cabbage Turnip. They say that will...