1To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin West, 20 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Grandson being on the point to return to France, I cannot deprive myself the pleasure of sending by him this mark of that friendship and esteem I have ever had for you; and at the same time to express the satisfaction Mrs. West and I have had in seeing in England one we ever had much love and reguard for, (Mr. Temple Franklin) his good sence and...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Morel Dufaux, 12 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society If real Services rendered to the Subjects of the united States in the most Critical times when no Soul durst to Employ himself for, fearing blame, can Entitle to Claim of the protection of your Excellency, I flatter I have an undoubtfull right to it. Those Important Services I have already mentioned in a memoir I had presented to your Excellency but having...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Morel Dufaux, 11 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society For a while past Messieurs Veuve Dque. Morel & Self had the honor of writing to your Highness. Tho’ not honoured with an answer, yet I make it bold Humbly to beg of your Highness to accept my petition with regard to obtaining a prefference for the Consular office in Dunkirk. Thro’ the Channel of Mr Grand Banker in Paris we had occasion to render Important...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), III , 466. I received your kind letters of the 16th and 20th instant. I thank you for your philosophical news. We have none here. I see your philosophers are in the way of finding out at last what fire is. I have long been of opinion that it exists every where...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 12 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This will be delivered to you by Dr. Ross, who is strongly recommended to me by Persons of Distinction in England, and who, after travelling over a great Part of the World, wishes to fix himself for the rest of his Life in America. You will find him a very ingenious sensible Man, and be pleas’d with his Conversation: and you will therefore excuse my requesting for...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 18 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library M. du Trône, who will have the Honour of presenting you this Line, is recommended to me by very respectable Persons, as a young Gentleman of excellent Character, who goes to America with Views of residing there some Years, and practising Chemistry. I beg leave to recommend him to your Protection and good Counsels, and to those Civilities you delight in showing to...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Harrison, 27 July 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society The Assembly of this State have voted a Statue of our late worthy Commander in Chief General Washington, and have directed one side of the Pedestal to be filled with an inscription, the other three with the Dress are left for the exercise of the genius of your humble Servant & his Council, who are all too little acquainted with a business that requires such...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin West, 17 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Charles Lard, West Hartford, Connecticut (1981) I forget whether I answer’d in its time your kind Letter by Mr. Dagge. I have it now before me, and there will be no harm in answering it twice. It gave me great Pleasure, as it inform’d me of the Welfare of a Family I so much esteem and love, and that my Godson is a promising Boy. I wish much to see you all once more. The Malady I have,...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 17 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: American Philosophical Society Since I wrote to you respecting Dr. Withering, I have received a very satisfactory Letter from him. So this Affair need not give you father [farther] Trouble.— I am sorry to hear you are hurt by a Fall from your Horse. I hope the Effects will not be lasting; and that by this time you are recover’d. It will give me great Pleasure to hear that our...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 7 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress This will be delivered to you by Count Mirabeau Son of the Marquis of that Name; Author of LAmi des Hommes. This Gentleman is esteemed here, and I recommend him to your Civilities and Counsels, particularly with respect to the Printing of a Piece he has written on the subject of hereditary Nobility, on occasion of the Order of Cincinnati lately attempted to be...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 14 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College The Chevr. Castiglioni, who will deliver you this Line, is an Italian Gentleman of Character and Family, from Milan. He proposes a Tour thro’ all our States. I beg leave to recommend him to your Civilities, and that you would introduce him to the Acquaintance of such of our Society as have a Tincture of Natural History & Botany in which he is particularly curious. With...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 15 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In reply to your favor of the 5th: instt. I send you the Extract from the English translation of Kæmpfer’s history of Japan Vol. 2nd. Book 5. c. 6. p. 444–5, as follows. “The candles brought in at night, are hollow in the middle; the wick, which is of paper, being wound about a wooden stick, before the tallow is laid on. For this reason also the...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 8 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Frances V. Finletter, Philadelphia (1956) I cannot let this Opportunity of Mr. Jay’s going to London, pass without Dropping a Line to you, to say that I am tolerably well and love you as much as ever; and that I wish to hear from you oftner, tho’ I am so bad a Correspondent as not to deserve it. I find I have, left, four of my Vols. on Electricity, and none of your Collection. If Mr...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Pennsylvania Packet, And General Advertiser, June 29, 1784; copy: Bibliothèque de Genève I do not know who is at present secretary of our philosophical society, and therefore I address to you, who read French, a book lately published here, which gives an account of one of the most extraordinary discoveries that this age has produced, by which men are enabled to rise in the...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin West, 7 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I could not deprive myself the pleasure of convaying these few lines to you by my friend Mr. Dagge, he means to see you, and has been so Obliging to promis he would give this letter to you; I told him the jurney he was about to take, I almost envyed, as I should be happy to see you once more; Your friends hear have been flattering themselves with the...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Webb, 22 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress I received your’s of the 15th. Instant, and the Memorial it inclosed. The account they give of your situation grieves me. I send you herewith a Bill for Ten Louis d’ors. I do not pretend to give such a Sum. I only lend it to you. When you shall return to your Country with a good Character, you cannot fail of getting into some Business that will in time enable...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Putnam, 27 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot, cease to trouble you while my All is at stake, my Mind at the highest Reach of Pain & Anxiety, & only to be determined & reliev’d by your Excellency’s Interference without which of what Consequence to me, are Resolutions of Congress, however favorable to my Interest, they may have been past? I am Sir, without your Assistance in these two Cases,...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Harrison, 28 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will introduce to you Mr William Short, a Gentleman of my particular acquaintance, and a member of the Council of this State; you will find him the agreeable Gentleman, a man of considerable abilities, and in every respect worthy your civilities at [and] attentions, to which I most earnestly recommend him. He goes to France to join his intimate friend...
19To Benjamin Franklin from William Augustus Miles, 11 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is by the express desire of my friend Sir Edward Newenham that I transmit you the inclos’d printed extracts from the irish Papers. It will afford me a real pleasure to hear of them having arriv’d Safe and in the interim I have the honor to remain with the utmost respect Sir Your most obedt: & most Oblig’d Hble Servt Notation: Miles Oct 11. 1784— Who had...
20To Benjamin Franklin from the Conde de Aranda, 20 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L : Library of Congress L’Ambassadeur d’Espagne a l’honneur de remettre à Monsieur Franklin Ministre Plenipotentiaire des Etats unis de l’Amerique Septentrionale la Léttre ci-jointe, qu’il vient de recevoir de Madrid, et il saisit cette occasion pour lui reiterer les assurances de son fidele attachement. Undoubtedly Carmichael’s letter of Sept. 13 (misdated as August), above.
21From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 5 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yesterday your kind Letter of the 23d past, with a Pacquet of Books and Pamphlets. I am much oblig’d by your friendly Attention in sending them. I have as yet only had time to run over the Thoughts on Executive Justice. They have given Rise to some Thoughts in my Mind on the same Subject, which perhaps I may communicate to you in my next. I am...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Bra[iez?], 22 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society Je suis trop étranger, Monsieur, à toute Dispute sur le Mesmerisme, pour consentir que mon nom paroisse ni directement ni indirectement ailleurs que dans le Rapport des Commissaires au Nombre desquels Sa Majesté m’avoit nommé. J’ai l’honneur d’être, Monsieur, Votre trés humble & trés obeissant Serviteur In response to his letter of the...
23To Benjamin Franklin from John Charretié, 23 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Mr Charretier presents his respects to Mr Franklin, and sends by the bearer two parcels he brought from London. Mr. C was obliged to go to Versailles immediately on his arrival but will have the honor to wait upon his Excellency when he returns Addressed: B. Franklin Esqr / &c &c &c / at / Passy Notation: Charretier 23 Oct 1784— These parcels were doubtless...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Lewis R. Morris, 14 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and transcript: National Archives I receiv’d by the Washington the Bills and Accounts mentioned in yours of the 5th of June, and shall soon send you an Account of the Disposition of the Money. My Account as stated by you appears to be right. With much Esteem I have the honour to be, Sir Your most obedient & most humble Servant
25To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 23 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society It is long since I have heard from you. The present is the first opportunity I have had for writing to you by a private hand, & my ignorance of the party still prevents my being particular. You will receive herewith a parcel of books. I am sorry not to have another copy of the Cincinnati at hand, with one or two other pamphlets, but these shall come by...
26To Benjamin Franklin from John and Angelica “Carter” [i.e., Church], 10 February 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr & Mrs Carter Request Dr. Franklin to do them the Honor to dine with them on Saturday next. The Favor of an Answer is desired. The son-in-law and daughter of Philip Schuyler. BF had learned the husband’s true name, John Barker Church, in October: XXXVIII , 546; XL , 263–4.
27To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 20 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Captain Paul Jones returns his respectful Compliments to Doctor Franklin and has the honor to accept his kind Invitation for Dinner on Thursday the 25th. Instant. Addressed: His Excellency / B. Franklin Esquire &c &c / Passy This is the first of several responses to BF ’S invitation to dinner on Dec. 25. None of the actual invitations has been located.
28To Benjamin Franklin from ———, [on or after 14 October 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Je crois devoir vous prévenir que Confiér les affaires de Mr Chaffert a de Baumont C’est a proprement dire donner la Brebis a garder au Loup ce dernier ayant fait cent Coquinneries dont quatre l’ont conduit en prison la derniére a la fin de juillet sans compter le courant Et notament des billets quil s’est fait faire par Chaffert soit disant pour Nouriture....
29To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 28 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Je joins icy M. le nouveau Saufconduit que vous avez demandé en faveur du Sr. Williams par la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 18 de ce mois. Il est Sans doute instruit de la necessité de le faire enregistrer au Bureau des gardes du Commerce.
30To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Webb, 15 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the Liberty of writing to you by the favour of your Grandson sometime since —and It is only from very urgent Reasons that I am induc’d again to trouble you, which I hope you will be so good to pardon. I have not ever mentioned to you myself, any other part of my unfortunate History, but that of being intirely deprived of the Society of my amiable...