1To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Walpole, 23 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank you for your very kind remembrance of me, and for your valuable present to my Son. He is extremely flatter’d with it and as his desire to preserve an impression of your person shew’d some virtuous disposition in him, I hope he will study and imitate your conduct if he should ever be called to the service of his Country. The Confidence which the...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Walpole, 11 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : David Holland, London (1955) I ought long since to have acknowledg’d the Receipt of the Bills you sent me, in full Discharge of the Ballance of our Account. For which I thank you. I am sorry Lord Chatham’s Motion for a Cessation of Arms, was not agreed to. Every thing seems to be rejected by your mad Politicians that would lead to Healing the Breach; and every thing done that can tend to...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Walpole, 5 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is some time since I prepared the inclosed letter in answer to that you was so kind to favour me with by Dr. Bancroft. A diffidence arising from serious concern and agitation of mind on the cruel situation and melancholy prospect of affairs prevented my sending it forward which I now do as a testimony that I was both pleased and flattered by your...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Walpole, 10 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Wharton having signified to me by Letter that in the present unhappy Situation of Affairs in America he apprehends he cannot be of any use in the further Application to Government for Lands on the River Ohio, he therefore finally closed his Account on the 17th August last against my self and Associates, and sent me his Note of Charges, which are...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Walpole, 1 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was very glad to receive a testimony under your own hand of your kind remembrance of me, and I am obliged to you for the information you give me, relative to the Lands of our purchase in America. When the charges incurred here upon that Object are finally settled, I shall send you an account thereof with a credit upon some House in Paris for the ballance....
6From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Walpole, 12 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : David Holland, London (1955) This letter, the first in a brief correspondence with Walpole during the next two months about the affairs of the Walpole or Grand Ohio Company, touches an important question: to what extent, if any, did Franklin’s connection with the Company affect his conduct as a diplomat? He seems here to be severing the connection, but in fact he retained it; and it...
7Franklin, Thomas Walpole, Samuel Wharton, and John Sargent: Power of Attorney to William Trent, 11 April 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The promoters of the Walpole grant in London were becoming more and more unsure of obtaining it. Franklin’s ostensible withdrawal from their group in January, 1774, had had no perceptible effect in forwarding their cause, and their chance of success diminished as war drew nearer. They waited for over a year. Then in the spring of 1775 they apparently...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Walpole, 16 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Library of Congress Franklin’s anger at the ministry did not rob him of all circumspection. Before he sent the above memorial to Dartmouth he showed it to Thomas Walpole, who “lookt at it and at me several Times alternately, as if he apprehended me a little out of my Senses.” The American asked him to get a second opinion from Lord Camden; Walpole did so, and returned the...
9Franklin’s Ostensible Withdrawal from the Walpole Company: Two Letters, [on or after 24 January 1774] (Franklin Papers)
I. AL : Library of Congress II. ALS : New York Public Library; draft: Library of Congress Franklin had for some time been playing a minor role in the affairs of the Walpole Company. The greater his unpopularity in Whitehall, the less the promoters of the grant wanted to emphasize his connection with them. He was well aware that he was a liability, according to William Strahan, and as early as...