5531From Benjamin Franklin to [George Washington], 11 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I do every thing in my Power to discourage foreign Officers from going over to enter into our Service, knowing well how difficult it is to place them, to their Satisfaction and the public Utility, particularly as most who apply are unacquainted with our Language. The Person who will have the Honour of presenting this Letter to your Excellency, M. le Baron de...
5532From Benjamin Franklin to Rinquin, 9 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letters you did me the honour of writing to me the 21st. of January and The 2d. of this Instant; with The Proces Verbaux relating to The ships the Jacques Thomas, and The Camden, both of which I judge from the Said Procés to be good Prizes; as also those which were ransomed and for which William Hillier and Robert Story were Hostages. At the Request of...
5533Note on Franklin’s Sketch of How to Force a Wheel Round by Gunpowder, [before March 1775?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society For some years we have been trying and failing to answer two questions about this sketch: why and when was it made? The device as described would obviously never produce continuous rotation, if that was the intent; and a wheel that turned in spasms would have limited use. As for the date, no clue to it has appeared in the edited correspondence; one may of...
5534From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 8 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress Understanding that you expect an explicit Order from me, this is to require you to receive on Board your Ship the Alliance, the Honourable John Adams Esq. with his Son and Servant, and give them a Passage therein to America. I have the Honour to be Sir your most obedient humble Servant In Gellée’s hand. Written at JA ’s request...
5535From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 7 October 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Sept. 1. with one enclos’d for Mrs. Clarke, which I immediately forwarded to Bristol; but she call’d on me two Days after to enquire how you did. She returns into Oxfordshire for the present, and after some time to Bristol again. I am glad you have satisfied Hayne that he went on a Fools Errand. There is no convincing those People...
5536On Literary Style, 2 August 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , August 2, 1733; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. To the Printer of the Gazette . There are few Men, of Capacity for making any considerable Figure in Life, who have not frequent Occasion to communicate their Thoughts to others in Writing; if not sometimes publickly as Authors, yet continually in the Management of their private Affairs, both...
5537From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 17 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society One of the Messrs: Beaumarin’s of Bourdeaux some time since told me they intended to send a Packet every Month to America, on their own Account, they having great Concerns there. He offer’d indeed to carry our Dispatches; but as at this Distance we could not know the Captains, nor the Degree of Confidence that might be...
5538From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 26 June 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library Mr. Bartram brings a Box to my House, which has a little Vacancy in it; so I put in my Philosophical Pacquet, which I long since intended to send you, but one thing or other has prevented. I would not have any Part of it printed, (unless you should think that printing the Papers relating to Whirlwinds and Water Spouts, together with a Collection of all the...
5539From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 6 February 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., Boston, 1836–40), VIII , 3–4. The trunks of silk were detained at the customhouse till very lately; first, because of the holidays, and then waiting to get two persons, skilful in silk, to make a valuation of it, in order to ascertain the bounty. As soon as that was done, and the trunks brought to my house, I waited...
5540From Benjamin Franklin to [Alexander] Colden, 8 April 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I have ordered into your Care from Liverpool 9 Casks and a Bale, which I request you would receive and forward to my Brother Peter Franklin, in Newport, Rhodeisland. Enclos’d is the Bill of Lading. Please to pay the Freight (Eight Guineas) and charge me with it. I hope this Summer to have the Pleasure of seeing you, and of finding both the Families well...