1From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Nairne, 8 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I forget whether I paid you for the Magnet. Let me know. If you can make a Thermometer agreable to the enclos’d Directions, please send it me. Mrs. Stevenson where I lodg’d will pay you. My Respects to Mr. Canton when you see him. I am &c. Edward Nairne (1726–1806), F.R.S., 1776, was an English electrician and instrument maker. In 1774 he published a paper...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nairne: Bill and Receipt, 6 September 1765 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society Bot. of Edwd. Nairne £ s D an Achromatic prospective Glass. with two Eye Glasses in one Slider. that Magnifies Different } 1: 15: – a Set of 6 Inch Magnetts in Mahogany Case 1: 16: – an Electrical Machine, with: 6 Inch Globe in a plain box } 6: 16: 6
3To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nairne, 19 March 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania When You did me the pleasure of calling on me last week, I mention’d to You that I had been trying to freeze water in which different quantities of Sea Salt had been dissolv’d, You then said You wish’d I had tasted the Ice, for it was thought to be fresh; At that time I had not tasted it, but since have tried the following Experiment; I took two ounces...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Nairne, 13 November 1780[–18 October 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : Library of Congress, Yale University Library; AL (draft) and press copy: Library of Congress The Qualities hitherto sought in a Hygrometer, or Instrument to discover the Degrees of Moisture & Dryness in the Air, seem to have been, an Aptitude to receive Humidity readily from a moist Air, and to part with it as readily to a dry Air. Different Substances have been found to possess more...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nairne, 14 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Sikes of Paris has been so obliging as to undertake the care of delivering a Book to you. It is directions for using my Patent Electrical Machine which I hope before this you have received safe. There are some experiments in the Philosophical part, which I hope will give you pleasure, as they tend to confirm your Theory of Electricity. If it were...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Nairne, 18 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), III , 459. I received your favor of August 14, by Mr. Sykes, with the book of directions for using your patent electric machine. The machine itself is also come to hand in good order, after some delay on the road; and I think it very ingeniously contrived...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nairne, 2 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your favours. The book & prints which Mr Argand was so obliging as to deliver I have since sent to Sir Joseph Banks agreable to your request. I am very much obliged to you for your observations on the alteration of the wood of the box belonging to the magnets. Since I received your favour have been endeavouring to make as simple an instrument as...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nairne, 5 May 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS :American Philosophical Society By the favor of Colonel Harman, have sent you three lens’s from 40 to 49 inches focus, one of which I hope will prove the right length. Have looked over my books but cannot find any account of those you formerly used. If either of these should not be long enough, their shall be others sent you, by any conveyance you shall mention. Mrs Nairne & my two...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nairne, 19 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did my self the pleasure of writing to you the 8th of last Month & sent it to your grandson. I last night had the pleasure of seeing him at the R.S. He told me he was detained longer than he expected. But that he should go Sunday or Monday next which oppertunity I have taken of sending you the identical hygrometer, I mentioned in mine of the 8th of Octr....