31From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 9 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have not heard from you since your Goods arriv’d. I hope they got safe to hand, and that they please. I write this Line just to let you know I am well, Thanks to God, and to cover a Paper of mine printed here, which I send because you desired I would send you what I published from time to time, and I am willing to oblige you; but often they are things out...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 2 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I received your kind Letter of Nov. 8. for which I thank you. It rejoices me to hear that you and your Children continue well. I thank God that I too enjoy a greater Share of Health, Strength and Activity than is common with People of my Years, being now Threescore and one. You mention my Opinion of this being a good sort of World, in which you differ from...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 11 November 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of the 1st Instant. It was on that Day I had the great Happiness of finding my Family well at my own House after so long an Absence. I am well except a little Touch of the Gout, which my Friends say is no Disease. Cousin Benja. has been to see me as you supposed, and yesterday he return’d homewards. My Love to Brother Mecom and...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 3 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Hearing just now of this Opportunity, I write a Line to acquaint you that I am well and hearty, Thanks to God, as I hope you are. It seems likely now that I shall stay here another Winter; you will therefore be kind in continuing to write to me. My Love to Jenney, &c. I am ever, Your affectionate Brother For reasons explained in the preceding document. Jane...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 24 October 1751 (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. 21. My son waits upon you with this, whom I heartily recommend to your motherly care and advice. He is indeed a sober and discreet lad of his years, but he is young and unacquainted with the ways of your place. My compliments to my new niece,...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 25 November 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank you for your obliging Letter of the 12th. Instant. My Wife says she will write to you largely by next Post, being at present short of Time. As to the Promotion and Marriage you mention, I shall now only say that the Lady is of so amiable a Character, that the latter gives me more Pleasure than the former, tho’ I have no doubt but that he will make...
37From 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...
38From 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...
39From 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...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 1 November 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of June 28. with great Pleasure, as it inform’d me of your Welfare. I thank you for your good Wishes that I may be a means of restoring Harmony between the two Countries. It would make me very happy to see it, whoever was the Instrument. I had us’d all the smooth Words I could muster, and I grew tir’d of Meekness when I saw it...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 28 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received here your Letter of extravagant Thanks, which put me in mind of the Story of the Member of Parliament, who began one of his Speeches with saying, he thank’d God he was born and bred a Presbyterian; on which another took leave to observe, that the Gentleman must needs be of a most grateful Disposition, since he was thankful for such very small...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 12 July 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), pp. 43–4. I am still here, waiting the arrival of Lord Loudoun. I received yours of the 5th instant, and shall forward the letter to Benny. I would not have you grieve about the affair; perhaps all is for the best. When I get home, I shall send you...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 10 July 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library We all condole with you most sincerely on the Death of your Daughter. She always appear’d to me of a sweet and amiable Temper, and to have many other good Qualities that must make the Loss of her more grievous for Brother and you to bear. Our only Comfort under such Afflictions is, that God knows what is best for us, and can bring Good out of what appears Evil....
44From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 21 February 1757 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Pieces of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 48. I am glad to hear your son is got well home. I like your conclusion not to take a house for him till summer, and if he stays till his new letters arrive, perhaps it would not be amiss; for a good deal depends on the first appearance a man...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 14 July 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of Jany. 31. You are very good in not resenting some Part of my Letter of September 16. which I confess was a little rude; but you fatfolks can’t bear Malice. Our Cousin Fisher and her Husband are both dead since I saw them. She surviv’d him but a few Days. What she had in her Disposal was but little; and it was divided into 7...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 21 May 1757 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Pieces of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 52–3. I received your kind letter of the 9th instant, in which you acquainted me with some of your late troubles. These are troublesome times to us all; but perhaps you have had more than you should. I am glad to hear that Peter is at a place where...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 27 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of Jan. 30. Mrs. Stevenson has executed your Order, and sends the Things in a Bandbox directed to you, in the Care of Mr. Jefferies your Neighbour. A new-fashion’d something that was not ready when the Box was pack’d up, is inclos’d in her Letter. I am now grown too old to be ambitious of such a Station as that which you say has...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 24 July 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is not in my Power to dispense with an Act of Parliament. To attempt it would hazard my Place. The Privilege of Franking my own Letters is indulg’d to me by the Act; but I have been given to understand that ’tis a Trust, which tis expected I will not violate by covering the Letters of others. Mr. Flag must therefore pay for the Letters you send him; and...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, [June 1748?] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 10–15. I received your letter, with one for Benny, and one for Mr. Parker, and also two of Benny’s letters of complaint, which, as you observe, do not amount to much. I should have had a very bad opinion of him, if he had written to you those...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 13 April 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter by Mrs. Wright, and shall do her all the Service in my Power. I think I wrote to you by Cousin Josiah, who sailed in Acworth last Week, and I hope will get safe home to his Friends. I continue well, and purpose returning this Summer, God willing, and then may hope next Year for the Pleasure of seeing you, as 1773 is my Period for...
51From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 23 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received your kind Letters of Sept. 26. Oct. and Nov. 7. That of Sept. 26. is directed to my Wife, but she sent it to me, I suppose that I might see your Opinion of Mr. Bache: I am glad you approve the Choice they have made. I write a few Lines to Mr. Leadly: I cannot say much on that Subject till I see Mr. Foxcroft, whom I now expect daily. I am...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 23 March 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A violent Cold which affects my Head and Eyesight, makes it inconvenient to me to write much; yet I would not miss the Opportunity of giving you this Line just to let you know that I am otherwise as usual. I hope you and yours are well, and am ever Your affectionate Brother
53From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 28 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letters of May the 1st and 18th. I rejoice to hear that you and yours continue in Health; as I do, Thanks to God. The Report you mention that I offer’d to desert my Constituents, and banish myself if I might continue in Place, is an infamous Falshood, as you supposed. And as ridiculous as false, since it implies that I have not...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 15 December 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank you for your kind Congratulations on my safe Return. Brother Peter is with me, and very well, except being touch’d a little in his Head with something of the Doctor , of which I hope to cure him. For my own Part, I find myself at present quite clear of Pain, and so have at length left off the cold Bath; there is however still some Weakness in my...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 15 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 123–4. I received your kind little letter of January 3d from Philadelphia. I am glad your visit thither proves agreeable to you. Since your family is so much reduced, I do not see why you might not as well continue there, if you like the place equally with...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 24 December 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received yours of Oct. 23. and condole with you most affectionately in the Affliction you must have suffered by the Loss of so valuable and so amiable a Child. The longer we live we are expos’d to more of these Strokes of Providence: but tho’ we consider them as such, and know it is our Duty to submit to the Divine Will, yet when it comes to our Turn...
57From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 11 November 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a long Letter of Sept. 16. and again I wrote to you Oct. 2. since which I have receiv’d your Favour of Augt. 15. You mention its being sent by the Son of our good Friend Dr. Perkins. I have not seen him yet, but shall endeavour to find him out. I hope my Health is now pretty well established by the frequent Journies I have made this Summer, and...