31From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 13 November 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from William Duane, ed., The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin , VI (Philadelphia, 1817), 14. I wrote to you a few days since, by a special messenger, and inclosed letters, for all our wives and sweethearts; expecting to hear from you by his return, and to have the northern newspapers and English letters, per the packet; but he is just now returned without a scrap for poor...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 16 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Nationalbibliothek, Vienna I wrote to you per Packet, and also by Mr. Ayres, who goes in Sparks. But I must send you a Line per Capt. Falkener, and another per Capt. Story, if ’tis only to say over again that I am well, and to acknowledge the Receipt of your kind Letters and Presents of Meal, Apples, Nuts, Cranberries &c. I have written to Sally too by Mr. Ayres, My Love to her and all...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 20 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have written to you lately by Packet, by Mr. Ayres, and by Capt. Falkener, and have little to add; but I know you will expect a Line by our Friend Capt. Story. I hope he will succeed in his new Employment, and indeed I make no doubt of it, for he is very obliging and seems to be much lik’d. It griev’d me to hear of the Death of that fine Child of theirs....
34From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin (II), 3 July 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library My Friend Mr. Neave calling to acquaint me of his going, I write this Line to let you know that I am well at present, tho’ I have been all last Week so ill with the general Cold and Fever which everybody has had, that I could not hold a Pen, or I should have written fully by him to you and all my Friends as I intended. But the Packet goes next Week by which I...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 March 1772 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letters of Jany 5. and Feby. 3. and am glad to hear your Kingbird has gone thro’ his second Inoculation. Capt. Osborne is not yet arrived here. By this Ship I send the Curtains you write for. Mrs. Stevenson thought it best to have them made here. The enclos’d Letter to Sally will explain all. A new Bedstead is to be made with...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 June 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: American Philosophical Society I wrote a Line to you by the Pacquet, to let you know we were well, and I promis’d to write you fully per Capt. Budden, and answer all your Letters, which I accordingly now set down to do. I am concern’d that so much Trouble should be given you by idle Reports concerning me. Be satisfied, my dear, that while I have my Senses, and God vouchsafes me his...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 23 August 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Letters by Mr. Keene, and some others, which I shall answer fully by Capt. Faulkner, who sails in a few Days. By him I send the Eider Down Cover lid, and Bag for the Feet, which cost 12 Guineas; also the Camlet a second time for Sister Peter, to supply what was lost in Capt. House: with some other little things that I shall mention...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library A happy New Year to you, and all Friends. We arrived here, all well, about two Hours ago. Capt. Coultas tells me he purposes to start early in the Morning, so as to be at Philadelphia to morrow Evening. I have only time to write this Line, just to acknowledge the Receipt of your agreable Letters, Sally’s, Dr. Bond’s, Mr. Hughes’s, &c. and to promise particular...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just return’d from a Journey of near a Month, which has given a new Spring to my Health and Spirits. I did not get home in time to write by Osborne, but shall fully to my Friends in general by Capt. All, who sails about the End of the Week. I was charg’d with Abundance of Love to you and Sally and Ben from our Sister Bache and her amiable Daughters. I...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 November 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society; parts reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , 20–4. During my Illness which continued near Eight Weeks, I wrote you several little Letters, as I was able; the last was by the Pacquet which sailed from Falmouth [above a week since: in that I informed you that my intermitting fever which had continued to harrass me, by frequent relapses, was gone off,...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 28 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have written several short Letters to you lately just to let you know of my Welfare, and promising to write more fully by Capt. Falconer, which I now sit down to do, with a Number of your Favours before me. I received the Box and Letter from Mr. Peter Miller, but if as you mention, Enoch Davenport brought it, I did not see him. Perhaps...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 29 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you yesterday per Post. This is only to acquaint you, that I am determined against going in the first Pacquet. Send me the Indian Sealskin Hussiff, with all the Things that were in it. It will be an acceptable Present to a Gimcrack great Man in London, that is my Friend. In the right hand little Drawer under my Desk, is some of the Indian Lady’s...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 28 April 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I hoped to have been on the Sea in my Return by this time, but find I must stay a few Weeks longer, perhaps for the Summer Ships. Thanks to God I continue well and hearty, and hope to find you so when I have the Happiness once more of seeing you. Your God Daughter Amelia Evans, that was, (now Barry,) is gone again with her Husband and Children to Tunis, where she...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [January 1758] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragments): American Philosophical Society good Order. I receiv’d also his Letter relating to the Aurora Borealis, it was seen here at the same time, and I shall endeavour to procure him a particular Account of it. It was an unlucky Mistake, that of putting your Letter under Cover to Mr. Colden, as it occasion’d a Week’s Delay in your receiving it. I do not find you have receiv’d a Letter...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 10 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is now nine long Months since I received a Line from my dear Debby. I have supposed it owing to your continual Expectation of my Return; I have feared that some Indisposition had rendered you unable to write; I have imagined any thing rather than admit a Supposition that your kind Attention towards me was abated. And yet when so many other old Friends...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted in part from Duane, Works , VI , 36–9; in part from The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , VIII (1884), 403–6; remainder missing. In mine of June 10th, by the Mercury, captain Robinson, I mentioned our having been at Cambridge. We staid there a week, being entertained with great kindness by the principal people, and shown all the curiosities of the place;...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 9 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been so hurried of late, that I could not write much by this Packet. One Letter to the Speaker, and one to you, is all I shall be able to make out. Thanks to God, I am got perfectly well, my Cough quite gone. My Arms, too, continue mending, so that I can now put on and off my Cloaths, but do not practice it yet, as it still hurts me a little. John...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 March 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We got here yesterday Afternoon and purpose Sailing to day, if the Wind be fair. Peter was taken ill with a Fever and Pain in his Side before I got to Newcastle; I had him blooded there, and put him into the Chair, wrapt up warm, as he could not bear the Motion of the Horse, and got him here pretty comfortably. He went immediately to bed and took some...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 February 1758 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society I have wrote you several long Letters lately; the last was by Mr. Relphe, and at the same time I wrote to my dear Sally. Last Night I receiv’d yours of the 1st and 6th of January, which gave me the great Pleasure of hearing that you and my little Family were well. I hope you continue so, and that I shall have the Happiness to find you so. The...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 July 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be delivered to you by our ingenious Countryman Mr. Benbridge, who has so greatly improv’d himself in Italy as a Portrait Painter, that the Connoisseurs in that Art here think few or none excel him. I hope he will meet with due Encouragement in his own Country, and that we shall not lose him as we have lost Mr. West: For if Mr. Benbridge did not...
51From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 23 May 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you a few days ago by Mr. Odell a young Clergyman, appointed to the Mission of Burlington, who goes by way of New York; and I purpose writing again per Capt. Egdon, who sails in a few days. As the Packet was late coming hither, I was told by the Secretary of the Post Office that she would not be dispatch’d till the second Saturday of June: But I...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 23 August 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot let Major Small go without a Line to let you know I am well; tho’ I have wrote so much lately, that I have nothing to add. I sent you a small Box of Tea per Capt. Budden. My Love to Sally and all Friends. I wrote to always every Body by Budden, enclosing my Letters in a Packet to you. They were in the Care of Mr. Logan. Adieu my dear Debby Your...
53From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; transcript: University of Virginia Library I am here in my Way to Oxford, where I am going to be present at the Installation, and shall stay a few Days among my Friends there. By Capt. All who sails next Week I shall write fully to you, and to Friends in Philadelphia. This is my only Letter per Packet. Love to our Children, and to Benny Boy. I am,...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 March 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d the Enclos’d some time since from Mr. Strahan. I afterwards spent an Evening in Conversation with him on the Subject. He was very urgent with me to stay in England and prevail with you to remove hither with Sally. He propos’d several advantageous Schemes to me which appear’d reasonably founded. His Family is a very agreable one; Mrs. Strahan a...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congres s I wrote to you a few Days since by the Packet. In a Box directed to Mr. Bache I send a striped Cotton and Silk Gown for you, of a Manufacture now much the Mode here. There is another for Sally. People line them with some old Silk Gown, and they look very handsome. There goes also a Bedstead for Sally, sent on Capt. All’s telling Mrs. Stevenson that...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 8 November 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New Haven Colony Historical Society I write this Line in great Haste, just to let you know I am well, and to request your Care in delivering the enclosed. I am, with Love to our Children, Your affectionate Husband
57From 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....
58From 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...
59From 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...
60From 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...