601From Benjamin Franklin to John Cuthbert, 28 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Your Favour of July 30. came duly to hand, and I have since received and sent to France the Drawings brought to Town by Lady Bewick. I hope they were not too late to be of Use, tho’ I had a Letter from M. Morand about three Months before, that he then despair’d of receiving them, and thought of publishing his Work without them. I have not heard from...
602From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Benezet, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received with Pleasure yours of Sept. 13. as it informed me of your Welfare. With this I send you one of Young’s Night Thoughts, the largest Print I could find. I thank you for the 4 Copies you sent me of your Translation of the French Book: I have given two of them to Friends here, whom I thought the Subject might suit. I have commenc’d an...
603From Benjamin Franklin to Sargent Aufrere & Co., 16 January 1762 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Knowing as I do the present great Scarcity and Value of Money here, and the many profitable Uses it may be put to at this Time, I cannot but esteem your Undertaking to pay those Bills out of your own Cash, a Proceeding extreamly generous towards the Province; as well as particularly obliging to me. I shall not omit to express fully, my Sentiments...
604From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 20 October 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Last Night your good Mother receiv’d the enclos’d Letters from Mr. T. Henckell, and answer’d him that we should all be happy to have his Company, and appointed him to be at our House in Craven street at ½ after 7 on Saturday morning that we might set out by 8. Our Reason for going so early is, that having the Day before us, we may do our Business and dine...
605From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Moore, 5 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pennsylvania Hospital I duly received your Favour of Dec. 7. with a Copy of the Resolution of the House appointing me Agent for the current Year; and the printed Votes. I am oblig’d by your Care in sending them so expeditiously. A Friend of mine, Lord Le Despencer, has lately erected at Wyecomb his fine Country Seat, a noble Statue of William Penn, our Founder; holding in its hand a...
606From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 19 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote a few Lines to you yesterday, but omitted to answer yours relating to Sister Douse: As having their own Way , is one of the greatest Comforts of Life, to old People, I think their Friends should endeavour to accommodate them in that, as well as in any thing else. When they have long liv’d in a House, it becomes natural to them, they are almost as...
607From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 12 February 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 38. I condole with you on the loss of our dear brother. As our number grows less, let us love one another proportionably more. I am just returned from my military expedition, and now my time is taken up in the Assembly. Providence seems to...
608From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 19 August 1772: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Library of Congress In yours of May 14th, you acquaint me with your indisposition, which gave me great concern. The resolution you have taken to use more exercise is extremely proper, and I hope you will steadily perform it. It is of the greatest importance to prevent diseases; since the cure of them by physic is so very precarious. In considering the different kinds of exercise, I...
609From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 15 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I have now before me yours of April 6, and 29, May 21. and June 1. I rejoice with you in the first place on the good News contain’d in your last, that Sally is safely delivered of another Son. I hope he will prove a Blessing to you both. I wish your new Shop Business to prove profitable, and do not doubt it if the Shop is closely attended. Will not...
610From Benjamin Franklin to Elizabeth Hubbart, 22 February 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Massachusetts Magazine, or Monthly Museum of Knowledge and Rational Entertainment , I (1789), 100. I condole with you, we have lost a most dear and valuable relation, but it is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life; ’tis rather an embrio state, a preparation for living; a man is not...
611From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 18 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have had but one Line from you since your Arrival in England, which was a short one, via Boston, dated October 18. acquainting me you had wrote largely by Davis. Davis was lost, and with him your Letters, to my great Disappointment. Mesnard and Gibbon are since arriv’d here, and I hear nothing from you; which I should tell you chagrins me not a...
612From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 8 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am writing to you and all my friends by the packet that sails to morrow. This is only to cover the French work on Silk worms, said to be the best extant; which being too bulky to go per packet I send you by this ship. Some extracts may be made from it and published of the most useful directions; for it is like other French writings rather too wordy,...
613From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library; also duplicate: Yale University Library The above is a Copy of mine per Reeve. Two Ships are since arrived in New York, but I hear nothing yet of the Things expected, tho’ possibly they may be come. I enclose Mrs. Steevens second Bill for £20 Sterling. Please to send the following Books, viz. 2 Familiar Letters by Charles Halifax 12mo Baldwin 2 Nelson on the...
614From Benjamin Franklin to John Pringle, 6 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), p. 362. I return Mr. Mitchell’s paper on the strata of the earth with thanks. The reading of it, and perusal of the draft that accompanies it, have reconciled me to those convulsions which all naturalists agree this globe has suffered. Had the different strata of clay, gravel, marble,...
615From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Clap, 20 August 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Miss S. Berenice Baldwin, Woodbridge, Conn. (1959) I arrived here well (Thanks to God) on Friday about Noon, and had the Pleasure of hearing from my Family, that all were well at home. I see the Proposal of Purchasing from the Six Nations is mention’d in the Boston Papers, which I wish had not been done, as it may give Notice to the French, and put them on taking some preventive...
616From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , 28–9. I wrote a very long letter to you lately, two whole sheets full, containing answers to all yours received during my sickness. I have since received your kind favours of November 13 and November 16th. It has given me great concern that you should be so disappointed in having no letters by captain Luthwycke; you know by this time how it...
617From Benjamin Franklin to John Franklin, 6 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am glad to hear that Mr. Whitefield is safe arriv’d, and recover’d his Health. He is a good Man and I love him. Mr. Douse has wrote to me per this Post at Mrs. Steele’s Request desiring an Explanation from me with regard to my Dissatisfaction with that Lady. I have wrote him in answer, that I think a Misunderstanding between Persons at such a Distance,...
618From Benjamin Franklin to James Parker, 7 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; draft: American Philosophical Society I received the Honour of yours, dated July 5. relating to the Act for establishing the Division Line. It was by a Letter from J. Kinsey, and J. P. Hewlings Esqrs. that I was directed to solicit the Royal Confirmation of that Act: Accordingly when it was obtain’d I sent the two authenticated Copies to those Gentlemen; one by...
619From Benjamin Franklin to William Alexander, 3 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress On my Return to Town I found your Favour, with the Schemes of your Lottery, to which I wish Success, and besides ordering some Tickets for my self, I have spoken well of it on every Occasion; but I find little Inclination among my Acquaintance to engage in Lotteries at such a Distance, and one cannot be very open in promoting them, it being contrary...
620From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Timothy, 3 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Aug. 24. by Capt. Vanderhorst, to whom I should willingly have shown any Civilities in my Power, but I being gouty of late seldom go into the City, and he has not called on me since he delivered your Letter. I am sorry you talk of leaving off your Business with a View of getting some Post. It is so difficult a matter to obtain any...
621From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 14 April 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Rosenbach Foundation The above is a Copy of mine per Capt. Martyn. I have only to desire you to add the following Books. 6 French Testaments. 12 Boyer’s Grammars, 12 Cord[ier]. Colloqu[es]. French. 3 Cambray’s Fables. 3 Telemaque, 2 Travels of Cyrus, French. 2 Boyer’s Dictionaries 8vo. 1 New German and Eng. Dictionary and Grammar by Professor A. of Leipsig. Yours &c. Addressed: To Mr...
622From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson and Thomas Mifflin, 5 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Amherst College Library I received yours with two Bills of Exchange enclos’d, for £150 Sterling, with a Catalogue of Books to be procur’d for the Library Company, which I have given Orders for Collecting immediately, and hope they will be ready to send by Budden or the next Ship. I am not acquainted with the Work intitled British Zoology, but shall enquire its Character of some knowing...
623From Benjamin Franklin to [Peter P. Burdett], 17 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Being about to embark for America this Line is just to take leave wishing you every kind of Felicity, and to request that if you have not yet purchased for me the Theatrum Machinarum , you would now omit doing it, as I have the Offer of a Set here. But if you have purchased it, your Draft on me will be duly paid in my Absence by Mrs. Stevenson, in...
624From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hopkinson, 26 July 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you pretty fully per Capt. Friend concerning your Family. I now send you the Extract of the Church Register, in which you will find the Names of your Father and Uncle. My Love to your Children. I am Madam, Your assured Friend and most obedient Servant See above, p. 200. On the search for Mrs. Hopkinson’s English relatives, see also above, pp....
625From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Partridge, 1 February 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society It is long since I had any of your Favours. I should now have wrote you a long Letter, but that the House have desired the Speaker and myself to go immediately home in order to get our Differences with the Proprietaries Settled some way or other, and tis probable that one of us will soon have the Pleasure of seeing and conferring with you fully on all our...
626From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Babcock, 18 October 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : West Chester (Pa.) State Teachers College I hop’d to have had the Pleasure of being with you before this time, but various Remora’s have detain’d us in various Places. We are to set out this day, so as to lodge at Cases’ to night, and purpose to take a Bed under your hospitable Roof the Night, if not cast away among the dangerous Rocks of your Coast. My best Respects to Mrs. Babcock, &c....
627From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 14 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received your kind Letters of Augt. 30. and Nov. 16. Please to return my Thanks with those of my Friend, to Mr. Stanley for his Favour in the Musick, which gives great Satisfaction. I am glad to hear of the Welfare of the Blunt Family, and the Additions it has lately received; and particularly that your Dolly’s Health is mended. Present my best...
628From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 7 November 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We stopt one Day at Mrs. Green’s, and We got to Newport the Saturday Evening after we left you, staid there till Tuesday Afternoon, got to Dr. Babcock’s on Wednesday, staid there till Friday then went to New London, where we staid among our Friends till Tuesday, then set out for Newhaven, where we arriv’d on Thursday Morning, set out from thence on Friday...
629From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Bernard, 28 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Photostat of ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am favour’d with yours of the 17th. with the Letters return’d concerning Sturgeon. I lately sent you a good Receipt for Pickling, which I hope got to hand. I shall forward your Son’s Letter to Mr. Johnston. Enclos’d is one I received a few Days since from that Gentleman. I paid his Order, as you will see by the Receipt. Please to pay the...
630From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 3 July 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Bigelow, Works , X , 252–3. I wrote to you very fully per Arthur concerning your affair with Mr. Read, and shall have nothing to add on that subject till I hear further from you. I acquainted you that he had given his bond for the balance due to you, and that I do not look on the debt as desperate. Enclosed I send you several second bills, having sent the firsts...