51From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Viny, 12 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Miss S. Madeline Hodge, Princeton, New Jersey (1955) Mr. Webb called upon me the other Day, and delivered me your Favor of Jany 28, enclosing a copy of your former, dated in March 24. I am pleased to find that you approve of the Proceedings of the Congress: I send you herewith a Number of their Addresses to the People of England, with some of the Bishop of St. Asaphs Speeches to be...
52From Benjamin Franklin to ———, 10 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library In Compliance with your Request I this Morning applied to a Virginia Merchant for Information, Whether the Courts of Virginia are now shut? and if so, from what Causes? particularly whether from any Resolutions of the People there to avoid Payment of their English Debts, as you told me had been insinuated by a Person in Administration. Inclos’d I send you the...
53From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Tucker, 10 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I beg to be inform’d by a Line whether a Letter, the third I did myself the honour of writing to you, dated the 26th of February 1774, ever came to your Hands. I am, Reverend Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant Notation by Franklin: Letter to Dr Tucker Feb. 13. 75 It did indeed. Tucker did not answer it but subsequently used it in a...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 5–7 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library, University of Michigan I received duly your respected Favours of Oct. 27 and Nov. 1 with Bills for five hundred Pounds Bulkeley on Whitmore; I thank you much for your Care in so speedy a Remittance. I hope you will excuse the Trouble I have given you in previously drawing for that Sum: and be assured that the Bills which I provisionaly desired you to draw on me (or in...
55An Imaginary Speech, 7 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , February 7, 1775. Verner Crane argues that the grounds, set forth at length in his annotation, for attributing this speech to Franklin are not conclusive but are plausible. The letter certainly contains a number of Franklin’s favorite ideas and rhetorical devices; its theme, the defense of American provincial troops in particular and of American courage in...
56From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 5 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Library Company of Philadelphia I received your Favour of Decr: 16. with the Bills Barclay & Mitchell on Harvey & Co: for sixty Pounds which is carried to your Credit. I am glad my little Services have been acceptable and every future Opportunity of continuing them will be a Pleasure to, Gentlemen, Your and the Company’s assured Friend, and most obedient Servant For Matthew...
57From 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...
58From Benjamin Franklin to the Speakers of the Colonial Assemblies: a Circular Letter from Franklin, William Bollan, and … (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress Our last Letter informed you, that the King had declared his Intention of laying the Petition before his two Houses of Parliament. It has accordingly been laid before each House, but undistinguished among a Variety of Letters and other Papers from America. A Motion made by Lord Chatham, to withdraw the Troops from Boston, as the first Step towards a conciliating Plan,...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 5 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received duly your Favours of Nov. 1. by Capt. Falconer, and afterwards that of Oct. 26. both inclosing the Letter from the Congress, and the Petition to the King. Immediately on Receipt of the first I wrote to every one of the other Gentlemen nominated, and desired a Meeting to consult on the Mode of presenting the Petition committed to our Care. Three of them,...
60Answers to Franklin’s “Hints,” [before 4 February 1775] (Franklin Papers)
Copy (?) and copy: Library of Congress Barclay and Fothergill, after their long conference with Franklin on December 6, carried copies of his “Hints” to Lord Hyde and Lord Dartmouth respectively. For almost two months no word came from Whitehall, and the rejection of Chatham’s conciliatory plan by the House of Lords on February 1 persuaded Franklin that he would hear no more of negotiation. He...
61To Benjamin Franklin from John Foxcroft, 1 February 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Yours of Decr. 7th. I rec’d Yesterday Informing me of your having drawn a Bill on me, which shall meet with due honour when it appears. And I hope it will not be long before we have the pleasure of seeing you over when we can adjust our Accts. as it appears by mine that you have over drawn. However any mistakes may easyly be rectified at a future Day. I...
62Franklin’s Notes for a Conversation with Lord Chatham, 31 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress In the debate in the House of Lords on January 20 Lord Chatham, in response to a challenge from the ministerial benches, promised to offer a plan of reconciliation. Franklin was most curious to know what it was, and the Earl had assured him in December that he would be consulted. His curiosity was satisfied when he was summoned to a conference at Hayes on...
63To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 31 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am favored with yours of the 17th. Novr. by the hands of Messrs. Foulger and Rant, who with their Familys arrived here in good health the 27th. Current. Mrs. Westley and her youngest Daughter suffered much by Sea-Sickness, the rest I understand bore their Voyage very well, however, they all came asshore hearty, and I have got each family into decent,...
64From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 28 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I have been favour’d with yours of Sept. 24. and Oct. 26. from Philada. Nov. 14. and Dec. 5. from Boston, and thank you for the Information communicated. It gives my Mind some Ease to learn that such good Care is taken both by the General and the Town to prevent Mischief. I hope that Care will continue and be effectual. And that People will be...
65To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Edwards, 27 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The person who applied yesterday on the Subject of Establishing a Paper-hanging Manufactory in America, begs he may not be esteem’d impertinent in requesting you will please to favor him with the time when he may wait for the line of recommendation (to the proper Gentlemen) You was pleas’d to offer to Sir Your Most Obedient Humble Servant
66To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Shipley, 25 January [1772–75?]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <Jermyn Street, January 25, [1772–75? ], in the third person and the Bishop’s hand. Invites Franklin to dinner tomorrow.> BF ’s acquaintance with the Bishop of St. Asaph and his family began, as far as we know, in the summer of 1771; we are therefore assigning this invitation to what seems to be the earliest likely date.
67From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Stanhope, 23 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Chevening Estate, Sevenoaks, Kent (1958); copy: Library of Congress Dr. Franklin presents his best Respects to Lord Stanhope, with many Thanks to his Lordship and Lord Chatham for the Communication of so authentic a Copy of the Motion. Dr. F. is fill’d with Admiration of that truly great Man. He has seen in the Course of Life, sometimes Eloquence without Wisdom, and often Wisdom...
68To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Garth, [22 January 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Garth’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin, is sorry that he can’t wait upon him to Morrow Morning at the Hour mention’d to consider of the Draft of a general Letter, he has by no Means understood that such Letter was expected, only that the Agents Letters should be wrote to the Speakers, for which heretofore he has frequently had similar Directions, when...
69From Benjamin Franklin to Granville Sharp, 21 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Miss T. Olive Lloyd-Baker, Hardwicke Court, Glos. (1956) Dr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr. Sharp, with many Thanks for the Copy of his excellent Work, of which he desires 50 may be sent him; with a Bill of what he is indebted. Addressed: Granville Sharp Esqr BF had long known Sharp’s work against slavery, and had made his acquaintance by early 1773. Above, XVII , 38...
70To Benjamin Franklin from Lord Stanhope, 21 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Lord Chatham, after six months of quiescence, was returning to do battle with the ministry. Franklin had furnished him with ammunition, in the form of the petition from the Continental Congress, and on December 26 had an interview with him at which Chatham mentioned the possibility of a move as soon as Parliament reconvened. On the day it met, January 19, he sent the...
71Three Public Notices Concerning the Petition from the Continental Congress, 17–18 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
I and II: printed in The Whitehall Evening Post , respectively January 19–21 and 14–17, 1775; III: printed in The Public Advertiser , January 20, 1775. Once Dartmouth informed the Massachusetts agents on December 24 that the King had received the petition from the Congress and would lay it before Parliament, they had to decide when it might properly be published. As soon as it had been...
72To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 13 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Il y a longtems que je n’ai eu l’honneur de vous ecrire j’en suis honteux. Lors du depart de M[essieu]rs Magellan et Priestley, j’avois une lettre prete à fermer lorsqu’on m’annonça pour le jour meme de la part de M. Le Roy que son parent m’apporteroit les 8 Louis qu’il vous doit. Je l’attendis vainement et je passay chez M Magellan 2 heures apres son...
73To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, 12 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress The merchants’ meeting that had been planned in late December was postponed to January 4, when some three or four hundred men concerned with the American trade met at the King’s Arms Tavern in Cornhill. Barclay offered two motions: that the state of the North American trade made a petition to Parliament expedient, and that a committee should be appointed to draw it up...
74To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Shipley, 12 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I think as You do that the highest Pitch of human Honour is the approbation of a free and virtuous People. I have had much more of it than falls to my share but that pleasure is temperd as it ought to be with a proper sense of my own Unworthiness. But I can only be consider’d by them as a distant unconnected Well wisher. Your Name will justly be reverd by...
75To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, 10 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress David Barclay presents his Respects and acquaints Dr. Franklin that if he could, without inconvenience, call on DB this Morning at Ten ’Clock his Company would be particularly acceptable. DB has been indisposed several Days past, or he should have waited on Dr. Franklin. Addressed: Doctor Franklin / Craven street Barclay probably wanted to discuss the merchants’...
76To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Percival, 10 January 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <Manchester, January 10, 1775, a note in the third person: Presents his compliments and encloses an extract from Bede’s Ecclesiastical History . The experiment of calming waves with oil was successfully performed in Manchester last week.> Undoubtedly the story of Bishop Aidan’s foretelling a storm at sea and, to calm its fury, giving the voyagers holy oil....
77From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 7 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia This letter of introduction is the initial appearance in Franklin’s correspondence of a young man who later became important to him, first as his editor and then as Shelburne’s emissary during the peace negotiations of 1782. Benjamin Vaughan (1751–1835) was the eldest son of Samuel Vaughan, a wealthy English merchant with interests in...
78From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 7 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I find it impossible to visit my dear Friend at Twyford as I promis’d myself. My Time is totally engross’d by Business. The Petition from the Congress has been presented to the King by Lord Dartmouth to whom we delivered it for that purpose. The Answer we receiv’d was, that his Majesty had been pleased to receive it very graciously, and had commanded him to tell...
79To Benjamin Franklin from Caroline Howe, [7 January? 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Mrs. Howe’s compliments to Dr. Franklin, he may depend upon her care. She has just now received a letter from Ld. Howe which she wishes to communicate to the Docter. Business obliges her to be out this morning till one, if it would not be inconvenient to him to call upon her after that hour any time before four, or in the afternoon betwixt 6 and 8 she shall be happy to...
80Replies to Questions from Lord Howe, [7 January? 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress Franklin, in reply to Mrs. Howe’s request in the preceding document, called upon her immediately. She showed him a letter from her brother that asked for the American’s answers to two questions. First, would his constituents approve his agreeing to pay for the tea, on condition that they were promised redress of their grievances when their assembly petitioned for it?...
81To Benjamin Franklin from William Ansell, 5 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have taken the Liberty of sending a Turkey by the Norwich Coach who Inns at the Bull Bishopgate street which I hope youll Do me the favor to Exsept. May I beg to know what time you think of Leaving England as I wish to trouble you with one hour of my Company before you sail for America. I find my Neibour Foulger Left England in fine spirits with Gods...
82To Benjamin Franklin from John Foxcroft, 4 January 1775: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract in Franklin’s hand: American Philosophical Society The Vouchers to our Accounts was forwarded by the last Packet, which I hope will enable you to make a final Settlement at the Office. See the first extract above, Nov. 2. As promised in his letter above, Dec. 7. The packet was the Harriot ; her arrival was announced in the Public Advertiser , Jan. 7, 1775.
83To Benjamin Franklin from Caroline Howe, [3 January 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Mrs. Howe’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin, she encloses him a Letter she received last night, and returns him many thanks for his very obliging present, which has already given her great entertainment. If the Docter has any spare time for Chess, she will be exceedingly glad to see him any morning this week, and as often as will be agreeable to him, and rejoices in having...
84To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste LeRoy, 3 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je n’ai reçu Monsieur et cher confrère votre lettre et le Pacquet que vous avez bien voulu m’envoyer qu’il y a quelque temps et alors J’etois un peu malade de m’être trop echauffé à travailler cet automne. Je me porte beaucoup mieux actuellement et je profite de l’Occasion de M. Wildman pour vous écrire un petit mot. Je ne doute pas que le Parlement mieux...
85To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, 2 [January] 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress D. Barclay presents his Respects and desires Dr. Franklin will peruse the inclosed and DB intends calling for it Tomorrow about 9 or 10 Clock. Addressed: Dr: Franklin Endorsed: Recd Jan 2. 75 Doubtless something to do with the meeting of merchants scheduled for Jan. 4, to consider a petition to Parliament; see Barclay to BF below, Jan. 12. At this time Barclay was too...
86To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Cumming, [1765–1774] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society T. Cumming presents his best respects to his worthy friend Doctor Franklin, and begs the favour of his company to eat a bit of venison (from Brislay park) at three o’Clock, with their Friend John Wright at C’s house. Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin / Craven Street. For Thomas Cumming, a London Quaker merchant, see above, X , 345–6. Since Cumming died on May...
87From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 7 May [1774?]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: British Museum Both Bigelow and Smyth accept the date that appears on the copy, but we suggest that the copyist was wrong by a year. The point is of some importance because, if the letter was written in 1775, even this small fragment bears on the relationship between father and son when the former returned from England. Although the language is open to various interpretations, the...
88Tract Relative to the Affair of Hutchinson’s Letters, [1774] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft) and two copies, one complete and one mutilated and lacking the initial pages: Library of Congress This narrative opens quietly. Franklin explains why he has hitherto suffered in silence the political slings and arrows that have come his way, and why he is now breaking silence. Next he summarizes, more fully than anywhere else, the principles on which he has acted during the past...
89From Benjamin Franklin to The Public Ledger, [after 9 March 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress Nothing can equal the present Rage of our Ministerial Writers against our Brethren in America, who have the Misfortune to be Whigs in a Reign when Whiggism is out of Fashion, who are besides Protestant Dissenters and Lovers of Liberty. One may easily see from what Quarter comes the Abuse of those People in the Papers; their...
90From Benjamin Franklin to John Pownall, [on or after 21 April 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft ): Library of Congress Dr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Pownall and acquaints him, that he was appointed Agent of the Province of Pensilvania for the current Year, by a Vote of the present Assembly, a Copy of which follows, viz. Resolved, That Benja Franklin Esqr be, and he is hereby appointed Agent of the Province for the ensuing Year, to solicit and transact the Affairs...
91To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, [December 1774?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress D. Barclay’s respects, and desires to see Dr. Franklin this Evening on particular Business. Addressed: Doctor Franklin Endorsed: recd at 7. The only clue to the date is the “particular Business,” which might have been connected with either the peace negotiations or the projected meeting of merchants to petition Parliament (see Barclay to BF above, Dec. 22). The first...
92Franklin’s Proposals to Lord Howe for Resolving the Crisis, [between 28 and 31 December 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress On December 4 Franklin called on Mrs. Howe for their second session at chess. After they finished playing, their talk turned to politics and the chance of settling the American quarrel. He could do it himself, she was confident, if he were authorized. He agreed, provided that both sides wanted to settle; in that case two or three people could resolve the issues in half...
93To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Cushing, [30 December 1774?] (Franklin Papers)
AL (fragment): American Philosophical Society [ First page or pages missing ] their Proceedings are Contained in the public Papers [?]. I have lately been favoured with a Copy of Lord Dartmouth’s circular Letter to the Governors of the respective Colonies upon this Continent, wherein he Informs them, that His Majesty has thought fit, by his order in Council of the 19th October 1774, to...
94To Benjamin Franklin from John Fothergill, 28 [December 1774?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Dr. Fothergill presents his respects to his Friend Dr. Franklin, and would be glad of the favour of his company this evening about 5 ’o clock, if the Drs. Engagements permit. Dr. Fothergill is so much engaged the rest of the day, as to put him under the necessity of fixing an hour, which he fears may be inconvenient to his Friend but cannot avoid it....
95Queries for a Conversation with Lord Camden, [27 December 1774?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress Qu. What were the original Ideas upon which the Colonies were settled? What was the State of their Government during the first Reigns? Were they established at the Expence of Govt here? Did the Parliament make any Grants to defray or aid the first Charge, or for Protecting the Settlers? Was the Parliament advis’d with by the Crown concerning the Terms of Settlement?...
96From Benjamin Franklin to the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly: a Circular Letter from Franklin, William Bollan, and … (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library; draft: Library of Congress When four of the seven agents to whom the Congress had entrusted its petition refused to have anything to do with it, the three representatives of Massachusetts faced the problem of how to deliver it; and they decided to depart from their instructions and not put it directly into the hands of the King. The “regular Official...
97To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This and the following letter from William, which went on the same ship, brought Franklin the news of his wife’s death. Until her final stroke neither his son nor son-in-law had warned him that she was failing, at least in letters that survive; both had written frequently and at length but had scarcely mentioned her. Perhaps they saw no change in her...
98To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I came here on Thursday last to attend the Funeral of my poor old Mother who died the Monday Noon preceeding. Mr. Bache sent his Clerk Express to me on the Occasion, who reached Amboy on Tuesday Evening, and I set out early the next Morning, but the Weather being very severe, and snowing hard, I was not able to reach here till about 4 o’Clock on Thursday...
99To Benjamin Franklin from William Neate, 24 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress Mr. William Neate presents his most respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and as a report prevailed yesterday Evening that all the disputes between Great Britain and the American Colonies were thro’ his application and influence with Lord North amicably setled, conformable to the wish and desire of the late Congress. W N desires the favor of Dr. Franklin to inform...
100To Benjamin Franklin from Lord Dartmouth to Franklin, William Bollan, and Arthur Lee, 23 December 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Public Record Office <St. James’s Square, Friday, December 23, 1774: A note in the third person asking them to meet him at his house at ten the following morning. > To learn how the King had received the petition from the Continental Congress; see the following document.