3381From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 5 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Herewith you will receive Copies of my three last Letters to you. I have receiv’d none from you of later Date than the 21st of July, already acknowledg’d: but which I propose now to answer more fully, as I promised.— The Sentiment you express “That no Country is truly independent, until with her own Credit & Resources she is able to defend herself and...
3382From Benjamin Franklin to [Lord Howe], 8 September 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Whitehall had entrusted the peace mission to Lord Howe and his brother, but the Admiral played the leading part. He had carried on the lengthy maneuvering in London about the commission, he wrote the declaration that was disseminated on his arrival, and although he consulted with his brother he took charge of negotiating in America. His first problem...
3383From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 7 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of Writing to me the 4th Instant, on the Appointment of Consuls.— I have not yet received any Orders or Instructions from the Congress relating to that Object. I shall transmit to that Body a Copy of your Excelly.’s Letter; but as the Office of Consul has...
3384From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 18 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Samuel Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania , XVI , No. 5 (August 1, 1835), 92–3. I wrote to you of the 4th instant per Gill, and sent you a Paper of Observations on your Specimens of Silk drawn up by Mr. Patterson, who is noted here in that Trade, with a Specimen of Italian Silk as a copy for our People to imitate. But they must not be discouraged if they should not...
3385From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Hopkinson, 13 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I have received your kind Letter of July 17. with its Duplicate, enclosing those for Messrs Brandlight and Sons, which I have forwarded. I am sorry for the Loss of the Squibs. Every thing of yours gives me Pleasure. As to the Friends and Enemies you just mention, I have hitherto, Thanks to God, had Plenty of the former kind; they have been my Treasure. And it...
3386From Benjamin Franklin to de Tavarez, 4 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Notes and Queries: a Medium of Intercommunication for Literary Men, General Readers, Etc. , 6th series, X (July–December, 1884), 153. The account given in the Newspapers of my having furnished the Physicians with a receipt against the Dropsy is a Mistake. I know nothing of it, nor did I ever hear before that Tobacco Ashes had any such virtue. I thank you for your kind...
3387From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 23 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I beg leave to introduce Mr. Alexander by this Line to your Excellency, and to request that you would favour him with a few minutes Audience. With the greatest Respect, I am, your Excellency’s m. o. and m. &. Undoubtedly Alexander John Alexander, who had asked BF to deliver memoirs to Sartine and Vergennes; see his letter of Dec. 14, above.
3388From Benjamin Franklin to William Carmichael, 31 March[–7 April 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Copies (two): Library of Congress I received by M. Gerard your kind Letter written at Philadelphia. His safe Return has given me great pleasure. As soon as I received yours of Jan 25 from Cadix, I order’d a Credit of 1000 Louis d’ors to be Lodg’d for Mr. Jay and you, by Mr. Grand with his Banker at Madrid. He wrote by the next post. It does not appear by yours of March 13, that you had then...
3389From Benjamin Franklin to [Georgiana Shipley], [after 3 February 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete press copy: Library of Congress … must now be near its End, as I have compleated my 75th Year. I could wish to see my dear Friends of your Family once more before I withdraw, but I see no Prospect of enjoying that Felicity. Let me at least have that of hearing from you a little oftner. I do not understand the Coldness you mention of the Nights in the Desart. I never before heard of...
3390Post Office Instructions to James Parker, 22 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society Mr. James Parker [General Post O]ffice } April 22, 1757 Sir [in] North America As you have undertaken to execute the Office of Comptroller of the General Post Office during our Absence and that of the present Comptroller the following Instructions are necessary for your Observation viz. [1.][ Illegible ] Every Post Master on the Continent to send you a...