4091From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 27 July 1750 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences Mr. Watson I believe wrote his Observations on my last Paper in Haste; without having first well considered the Experiments related in §17 *Of the third Letter. which still appear to me decisive in the Question; Whether the Accumulation of Electrical Fire be in the Electrified Glass, or in the Non-electric Matter connected with the Glass? and to...
4092From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 15 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Je vous envoye une Epreuve de La traduction d’une Lettre du Congrès; et je vous prie de mettre au bas que vous ne vous opposez pas à son impression. Cette formalité Est nécessaire: Les censeurs ne veulent laisser paraitre qu’à cette condition, cet ouvrage dont il est bon pour nous que Le public n’ignore pas plus Long-tems Le contenu. Je vous...
4093[Benjamin Franklin?] to ——, 20 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 29, 1756. We have been here since Sunday Afternoon: That Day we had only Time to get up some Shelter from the Weather and the Enemy. Yesterday all Day it rained, with so thick a Fog, that we could not see round us, so as either to chuse a Place for a Fort, or find Materials to build it. In the Night it cleared up, and this Morning we...
4094From Benjamin Franklin to Charles [?] Rybot, 9 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I believe it is very unusual for one Man to pay another’s Debts without being desired so to do by the Debtor, or knowing that he acknowledges the Sum demanded to be due. Mr. Hood is as much a Stranger to me as he is to you. You have lent him 3 Guineas: I have lent him 30, supposing him an honest Man: By the Account you give me of his Treatment of you, and which...
4095From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Wharton, 12 December 1767 (Franklin Papers)
Burned fragment of extract: New York State Library [ Burned ] hear of the Accident to the Boat On the [ burned ] being fully sensible of the Truth of What you [ burned ] concerning Indian Affairs And the Necessity of [ burned ] a Boundary, I shall urge this Point very [ burned ] On the Ministry. This extract, and one from BF ’s letter to Galloway of Dec. 1, 1767 (above, p. 332 n), were sent by...
4096From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 22 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This will be deliver’d to you by our common Friend Mr. Marchant. He has had a difficult Negociation here, to obtain Money from a poor Board; to get an old Debt paid by those who are daily put to their Shifts for Excuses to avoid or postpone the Payment of new ones. He has done much more in it than I expected, or indeed than I think almost any other Man could have...
4097From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Shelburne, 13 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and two copies: Public Record Office; copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives I did myself the honour of Writing to your Lordship a few days since by Mr Grenville’s Courier, acknowledging the Receipt of yours of the 28th past by Mr Oswald. I then hoped that Gentleman would have remain’d here some time; but his Affairs it seems recall him...
4098To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 5 June 1779 (Adams Papers)
The Chevalier de La Luzerne sat out Yesterday for L’Orient, and will be with you perhaps before this comes to hand. You will find him a very agreable sensible Man, and a hearty Friend to the Cause of America. As you may land in Boston and are not certain of going directly to Philada. I have put under his Care my Dispatches for Congress, and request yours for those to New England. Mr. Bondfield...
4099From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, [June? 1773] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Extract from Kalm’s Travels into America. “It has been found repeatedly that these Trees [Peach Trees] can stand the Frost much better on Hills than in the Vallies; insomuch that when those in a Valley were killed by the Frost, those on a Hill were not hurt at all. It is remarkable that in cold Nights, all the Leaves to the height of 7 and even of 10 feet from the...
4100From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copies: Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society It was my Intention to pay my Devoirs at Versailles to-morrow. I thank your Excellency nevertheless for your kind Admonition. I omitted two of the last three Days from a mistaken Apprehension that being Holidays there would be no Court. Mr Laurens & Mr Jay are both Invalids; and...