331From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Hall will acquaint you of the Footing we are about to go upon &c. &c. I have only time to acquaint you, that I have sent you several Bills lately, and will speedily remit you whatever shall be due to you after the Receipt of the Parcel of Books some time since wrote for. My best Respects to Mrs. Strahan and Wishes of Happiness to you and all Yours, in...
332From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Norris, 12 June 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania June 12th 1755 pd £100. 0. 0 Cash 50. 0. 0 Notes £150. 0. 0. Please to send me One hundred and Fifty Pounds on Account of the Committee. It should be Paper Money, as it is to go up to Mr. James Wright: and Paper will be the best Carriage. Some of it may be in the new Bills. The Post goes in an Hour. Let Jemmy bring it, if you please, as my Niece can...
333From Benjamin Franklin to Rebecca Haydock, 5 February 1772: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from The Aurora , August 24, 1802 I received my industrious young friend’s parcel of silk, and should very willingly have taken any necessary care to see it manufactured agreeable to your directions; but your relation, Mrs. Foster, linen draper of Bishopsgate street, who appears a notable clever woman in business, called upon me for it; and informing me that she had a friend...
334From Benjamin Franklin to the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your Favours of Oct. 20. and Nov. 4. which I communicated to Mr. Barclay and Dr. Fothergill; and we have acted in Compliance with the Directions therein contained, by selling Part of the Stock and paying your Drafts. I suppose Mr. Barclay has informed you of the Particulars. I wish you Joy of so considerable an Acquisition to the Hospital,...
335From Benjamin Franklin to the Trustees of the Loan Office, 13 February 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and two duplicates: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; ALS : Yale University Library Since mine of Jany. 14. most of the Bills therein mentioned as not having then appear’d, have been presented, and I have accepted three more of them, viz. the Nos. 36, 50, and 121. which makes the whole Sum accepted by me £22,500. all of which is now paid except the three above mention’d Bills, which will...
336From Benjamin Franklin to Henry S. Woodfall, [before 22 September 1773] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This note went to the recipient, then to a mutual friend, then back to Woodfall and eventually back to Craven Street. The note was on a covering sheet around the manuscript of the following document, “An Edict by the King of Prussia,” and explained the typographical form that Franklin wished to have given to his satire. On the verso of the sheet Woodfall...
337From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 23 May 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Horace Howard Furness Memorial Library, University of Pennsylvania I have been waiting here near Six Weeks for the sailing of the Pacquet, and know not yet when that will be. From London I will send you the Account you desire of the Verification of the Meridian of France; and one of the best Thermometers I can procure. If in any thing else I can do you pleasure, signify it by a Line...
338From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, [30 December 1754?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I return your Excellency the Papers you have been pleas’d to favour me with the Perusal of. I really can think of nothing to add on the Topics you mention’d to me; but am of Opinion that the Force and Impression of the Matters contain’d in the 5 first and 3 last Pages, would be greater, if they might be read together, and were not disjoin’d by the...
339From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 15 August 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : the Royal Society I have just received the enclos’d from Dr. Priestly. And as it contains an Account of a new Discovery of his, which is very curious, and, if it holds, will open a new Field of Knowledge, I send it to you immediately. Please to communicate it to Dr. Price when he returns. I am just about taking a Trip for a few Weeks to Ireland. I hope I shall find you well at my Return....
340From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 May 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our Family here is in great Distress. Poor Mrs. Hewson has lost her Husband, and Mrs. Stevenson her Son-in-law. He died last Sunday Morning of a Fever which baffled the Skill of our best Physicians. He was an excellent young Man, ingenious, industrious, useful, and belov’d by all that knew him. She is left with two young Children, and a third soon expected....
341From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I wrote to you by Sutton that I was pretty well recovered of my Gout, but it return’d upon me that Day, and has handled me pretty severely for some Nights past, tho’ now I am something better. Mrs. West has another Son to whom I am Godfather. That Family is well, as is Mr. Strahan’s and Mr. Hewson’s. They always desire...
342From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [25 March? 1756] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society … about 5 aClock in the Afternoon, tho’ I had been hinder’d near half a Day by Peter’s Illness. The 3d Day about 2 in the Afternoon, we sail’d, after parting with Col. Washington, who overtook us there, and proceeded on his Journey by Land. We were only Sunday Night and Monday Night on the Water, for on Tuesday Morning about 10 aClock, we arrived...
343From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I received yours of May 16. with the Box of Books, and have already delivered and forwarded most of them as directed. I supply’d Dr. Fothergill with the wanting Sheet. I approve much of the Letter’s being in English. I forwarded your Letter to Mr. White, Son of Taylor White, Esqr late Treasurer of the Foundling Hospital (now deceas’d)...
344From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 3 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am com hither to spend a few Days and breathe a little fresh Air. Nothing material has occurr’d since mine per sutton, except the final Hearing at the Cockpit relating to Gov. Wentworth, against whose Conduct the Board of Trade had reported, and the Hearing was at the Instance of his Friends against the Report. Their Lordships have not yet given...
345From Benjamin Franklin to William Greene, 19 July 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From the very hospitable and kind Treatment we met with at your House I must think it will be agreable to you to hear that your Guests got well in before the Rain. We hope you and Mrs. Green were likewise safe at home before Night, and found all well. We all join in the most cordial Thanks and best Wishes, and shall be glad on every Occasion to hear of the...
346From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 2 February 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Résumé printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives … Dec. 29, 1773 [to Dec. 24, 1774] (Philadelphia, 1774), pp. 42–3. <February 2, 1774: He encloses a list of fifteen provincial acts, passed on February 26, 1773, which were presented to the King in council on January 26, 1774. > The letter was laid before the House on July 19, 1774, by Samuel Rhoads as a member of the...
347From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 16 January 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Public Record Office In my last I wrote you that Mr. Foxcroft, my Colleague, was gone to Virginia where and in Maryland some offices are yet unsettled. We are to meet again in April at Annapolis, and then shall send you a full Account of our Doings. I will now only just mention, that we hope in the Spring to expedite the Communication between Boston and New York, as we have already...
348From Benjamin Franklin to [John Canton], 9 March 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society Dr. Priestly left these Specimens of the Circles with me to be produc’d to the Society. As I cannot be there this Evening, when I understand the Paper is to be read, I inclose them to you. Those that look at them should be caution’d not to rub them, lest they should be defac’d before the Company have all had a Sight of them. I am, Yours &c. The letter is among the...
349From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 13 March 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote to you very fully per Falconer of Feb. 17. and have since received yours of Jan. 21. together with one from the Committee, and the Messages, which, as you will see by my Answer to the Committee, I communicated to Lord Hillsborough. His Lordship read them deliberately, and took Notice that the Message of the Assembly seem’d to insinuate, that the Governor...
350From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 25 October 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society This last Summer I have enjoy’d very little of the Pleasure of Reading or Writing. I made a long Journey to the Eastward, which consum’d 10 Weeks; and two Journeys to our Western Frontier: One of them to meet and hold a Treaty with the Ohio Indians, in Company with Mr. Peters and Mr. Norris. I shall send you a Copy of the Treaty as soon as ’tis printed. I...
351From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Sharpe, 21 April 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library I approve very much of engaging Dr. Hay. I know not whether he will chuse to appear for us before the Attorney and Sollicitor General, but before the Committee of Council perhaps he may have no Objection. If the Constitution of the Province is to be attack’d, as you intimate, the Cause is of so much greater Weight. If the Privileges of a single Englishman are of...
352From Benjamin Franklin to Tuthill Hubbart, 27 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS on loan, Los Angeles County Museum: Mr. Jerome L. Padelford, San Gabriel, Cal., and Mrs. Martin L. Potter, Tacoma, Wash. (1955) I am much obliged by your care in sending me constantly the Boston Newspapers, which I request you to continue till you hear of my Return; adding such political Pamphlets or Sermons as may be published among you. I am glad I did not see your Name among the...
353From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 9 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Line is just to let you know that we have this moment come to an Anchor here, and that I am going ashore at Portsmouth, and hope to be in London on Tuesday Morning. No Father could be tenderer to a Child, than Capt. Robinson has been to me, for which I am greatly oblig’d to Messrs. James and Drinker’s but we have had terrible Weather, and I have often...
354From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 1 September 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote to you yesterday, and now I write again. You will say, It can’t rain, but it pours: For I not only send you manuscript but living Letters. The first may be short, but the latter will be longer and yet more agreable. Mr. Bartram I believe you will find to be at least 20 folio Pages, large Paper, well fill’d, on the Subjects of Botany, Fossils, Husbandry,...
355From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 20 July 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from John Bigelow, ed., The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin (New York and London, 1887–88), III , 207–8. I received your very kind letter and invitation to Bath where I am sure I could spend some days very happily with you and Mrs. Strahan, if my time would permit; but the man-of-war, that is to be our convoy, is under sailing orders for the 30th of this month so...
356From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 19 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours and Mr. Colden’s with the Accounts, and Bills, per Packet, concerning which shall be more particular in my next. This Line is only to inform you, that in my Opinion you are likely to obtain from the Board the Addition you desire to enable you to live at New York; that probably Mr. Finlay will be appointed Riding Surveyor; and that...
357From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your pleasing Letter of Jan. 5. I am glad you have undertaken the Care of the Housekeeping, as it will be an Ease to your Mother, especially if you can manage to her Approbation; that may perhaps be at first a Difficulty. It will be of Use to you if you get a Habit of keeping exact Accounts; and it will be some Satisfaction to me to see...
358From Benjamin Franklin to John Fothergill, 6 April 1755 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am but just return’d from a long Journey, having been absent near [six months]. I find your Favour of Novr. [ I , which I shall?] answer particularly per Reeve [who sails for London?] in about 10 Days. This [will only serve to bring?] Dr. Douglas’ Piece (and another) on the [ one and a half lines missing ] Copy, [ one line missing ]. With [ complimentary...
359From Benjamin Franklin to Agatha Drummond, 11 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I have lately received, in exceeding good Order, the valuable Present you have honoured me with, of Penn’s Picture. Please to accept my thankful Acknowledgments for the very great Favour, and for the abundant Civilities and Kindnesses receiv’d by me and my Friend during our pleasant Residence under your hospitable Roof at Blair Drummond. My best Respects to Lord...
360From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I feel still some Regard for this Sixth of January, as my old nominal Birth-day, tho’ the Change of Stile has carried the real Day forward to the 17th, when I shall be, if I live till then, 67 Years of Age. It seems but t’other Day since you and I were rank’d among the Boys and Girls, so swiftly does Time fly! We have...