1Isaac Norris to Thomas Leech: Certificate for Money Payment, with Franklin’s Receipt, 24 September 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Original not found; facsimile of printed form with MS insertions in blanks: Torrington Library, Torrington, Conn. In Assembly Septr. 24 175 6 This is to certify, that Benjamin Franklin has attended as a Member of Assembly for the Ci ty of Philadelphia. 108 Days, at Six Shillings per Diem , for which there is due to him the Sum of Thirty two Pounds, Eight Shillings
2From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 22 November 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: American Philosophical Society; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Share allotted by the Lords of the Treasury to Pensylvania and the Lower Counties, of the Parliamentary Grant for 1758, was £29,993. The Rule their Lordships follow’d in the Division of the £200,000 was, to proportion the Sums for each Colony according to the Number of effective Men each had in the Field....
3From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, [16] December 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society Agreeable to what I wrote in mine of the 13th. I [have] ventur’d to agree by my Broker for the following [ torn ] Stocks, on Account of the Province, to be deliver’d [ torn ] Week from this Day, viz. £1000 of the 4 per Cent. Annuities 1760, at 92 per Cent. £[920: 0: 0] £1500 Do. at 91⅞ 137[8: 2:
4To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 4 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I sent by Captain Hervey bound to Hollyhead and by Wm. Fisher to Bristol Originals and Duplicates of Mine of the 30th Septr. and of the 19th of Octobr Last which inclosed First and Second Bills of Exchange for £97 10 s. 8 d. Sterling. I now remit the Third Bill drawn by JL and JS. on G. Bailey and A. Drummond Physicians in Bristol for the...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 27 August 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Above is Copy of my Last by Captain Friend. This incloses a second Bill of Exchange for £100—Sterl N 1876 drawn by Colonel J. Hunter on Messrs. Thomlinson &c. as it is uncertain whether our late Governor Denny will call and I do not certainly know when Capt. Hamet (by whom I purpose to send this) will sail) I shall send it to Town to be...
6Accounts with Isaac Norris, 15 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS account: American Philosophical Society; MS account book: Library Company of Philadelphia During Franklin’s first English residence he carried out numerous financial transactions for Isaac Norris. At his friend’s request he bought and sent to Philadelphia a telescope, several books and pamphlets, medicines, and a surprising number of decanters and other forms of glassware; he advanced money...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 11 August 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: American Philosophical Society My Brother just now brought me up your Letters of the 9th of June by the Packet and promises to enquire whether any Passengers are yet to be met with by whom I might send this in addition to what I have already wrote so that in this uncertainty I shall only...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 16 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Benja. Franklin By Captn. Bradford } Infra Nover 16 [1761] Above is the Substance of my Last. I now send the Second Bill of Exchange No. 121 for £100. Sterling drawn by the Trustees on your Self. Please to Credit my Account Current with That Sum. I am afraid our last Assembly have been too precipitate in drawing These Bills but it is now too...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 23 November 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Be pleased to receive the inclosed Bill of Exchange John Hunter on Messrs. Thomlinson, Hanbury, Colebrooke & Nisbitt Merchants in London No. 732 for Three Hundred Pounds Sterling. for my Account till further Order from Your Assured Friend Wrote [a Seperate Letter] at W Griffitts’s and Sent by his Young Man who went down after the Vessels....
10To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 8 October 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have been recovering slowly from a Tedious lurking Fever for some Time tho I do not venture to go much abroad. The frequent bile I have lately been subject to made me think it my Duty to request the Electors of this County to chuse some other person in my stead but tho’ I thot it very reasonable under my present Circumstances I have not...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 27 September 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote Yesterday but Joshua Howell calling to let me know he was just going to N York to take his leave of our Friend Christopher Kilby, I shall enclose this and request my old Friend C. Kilby to take the trouble of delivering it and wish him a good Voyage. I sent by way of Bristol in my above mentiond Letter a Copy of our Bill for...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 19 November 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society This is just to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favours of August 24 and 27. with the Bill for £100 on Messrs. Thomlinson &c. No. 1876, and to acquaint you, that I have at length receiv’d the Money from the Exchequer and lodg’d it in the Bank as nearly agreeable to the Directions of the Act as I possibly could; for they would not, as I acquainted you...
13Isaac Norris to Samuel Preston Moore: Order for Money Payment, with Franklin’s Receipt, 24 September 1756 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Pay to Benjamin Franklin, or Order, the Sum of Two hundred and Ten Pounds, Thirteen Shillings and Ninepence Halfpenny; being the Ballance of his Account for Expences paid by him for Establishing a Post between Winchester and Philadelphia in Pursuance of a Resolve of the House; and for Postage of Letters to the Army under the late General Braddock. £210 13...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, [10 July 1762] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; abstract reprinted from Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1761–1762 (Philadelphia, 1762), p. 54. Mr. Speaker brought in, and communicated to the House, two Letters of the Tenth of July last, one from Messieurs Sargent, Aufrere, and Company, Merchants, in London, to the Trustees of the General Loan-Office, concerning the Provincial Bills of Exchange; the...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 17 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I now enclose Second Bills of Exchange amounting to £362 5 s. 2 d. Sterling which I request you would be pleased to receive for my Account. This goes by way of Ireland which is One Reason of my sending the Second instead of the First, but the cheif Reason is to get one of the first Bills endorsed which was omitted by oversight and I have not...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 28 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania This serves to cover Bills of Exchange as per List hereunder and to inform you that our Supply Bill lyes with the Governor now the 24 Inst including the Proprietary Estates and granting £100,000 for the Raising &c. of 2,700 Men but I shall refer to another Letter for further Particulars on that Head and propose this as a seperate Cover to the...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 26 May 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Comming into town I hear by Accident that a Vessel is to sail for Liverpoole either this Evning or to Morrow, as this is the first Notice I have had of it I can only acknowledge the Receipt of your Letters by Budden and the rest of the Books the Day after by Captain—I forget his Name. Baskerville’s Virgil is certainly a curious performance of...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 5 August 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote the Above in much haste, and yet it got To Town too late, but my Brother informs me he forwarded it a few days after by Capt. Marshall in a Schooner bound to Corke, which may Possably reach London Sooner Than if it had been sent by Capt. Budden; There is an Account in Town That the Ship Indian Trader is Taken off our Capes, and a...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 21 November 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania It is easy to perceive the Disposition of the People by the last Election under the Burthen of their heavy Taxes and several severe Losses upon particulars from the Conduct of some of the Military Gentlemen towards such as have supplied Our Western Army with Carriages, they are yet willing to bear these and every Thing else in their Power in...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 5 October 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote on the 26 and 27 of 7 br. last the First via Bristol and the other intended by our Friend C Kelby who is taking shipping at NY . in the 1st I sent our Agent Bill and the Governors proposed Amendments copied by the Clerk and in the other the Vindication of the Commissioner and Assessors of Cumberland County against the Representation...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 7 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Clerk calls upon me to sign the Indian Trade Bill now sent down by the Governor who adheres to his Amendments and as the House after agreeing to some of the Amendments now adhere to the Bill there is an End of that salutary provision to induce the Indians to come heartily into our Interest by making it their Own. We think it a Strange...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 19 August 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Your Wife has very kindly sent me Notice that if I write by this Post it will reach the Packet from N. York and that She will take care of the conveyance. I write therefore to acknowledge the receipt of yours 9th May and the 13th of June last which came to my Hands the 12th. Instant. I am well pleased...
23Province of Pennsylvania: Account with Franklin; Isaac Norris: Certificate for Payment, 4 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
I. DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania. II. Printed form with MS . insertions in blanks: Historical Society of Pennsylvania On March 4, 1763, the Pennsylvania Assembly’s Committee of Accounts, which had approved Franklin’s expenses on his English mission on February 19 (see above, p. 195), laid “before the House a State of the Account of Benjamin Franklin; Esq; with the Province,” and they...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 4 January 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bearer Charles Monk calling here in his way to N York from whence he is going to England. I send by him this short Letter for which I detain him on his Journey to inform you we have nothing very new or important in America since the reduction of Quebeck. Our Forces are quiet and General Stanwix continues at Pitsburg (as I hear laid up...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 30 September 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania A few Days before the last Assembly rose I received your Letter of the 10th of July by the Packet, It came to Hand very seasonably and was read in the House on the 23d of September. The Members were all well Satisfied with the Succinct Account therein given of the Situation of the Publick Mony under...
26From Benjamin Franklin to [Isaac Norris], 14 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Extract from Mr. Franklin’s Letter. Benjamin Franklin insisted in a Conference with the Proprietaries, that if, when Commissioners were named in a Bill, the Governor might not strike out or change them at his Pleasure, as none but his own Creatures might be admitted, and the Assembly might as well trust him with the whole, and that it was an...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 4 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bills of Exchange I have remitted are as follows—to wit— +1 My Bill or Order on the Executors of Doctor Logan for } £200. 0. 0 Sterling +2 John Hunter on Messrs. Tomlinson Hanbury &c. No 732 I have your Letter of the 18th of January acknowledging the Receipt of these } 300. 0. 0 +3 Anthony Stoker on Geo. Campbell payable in London...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 15 January 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I refer to the above Copies and enclose Duplicates of the Bill and Order for £500 0 s. that is to say An Order on Giles Bailey and Archibald Drummond for £200 and a Bill as above No. 732 for £300 and having dispatched these Mony Matters I am to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 16th of 7ber last by Captain Duncan a few Days ago, for...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate Yale University Library When I first began to treat with the Proprietors, they desired I would put down in Writing the principal Points of Complaint which were to be the Subjects of Conference between us, that they might previously consider them. I accordingly deliver’d them the Paper herewith enclos’d, called Heads of Complaint , in which I confin’d myself to those that related...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 1 May 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have been so very Unwell all this last Winter, and the Early part of this Spring that my Attendance on the Assembly has been Very Inconvenient and Troublesome to me, and if my ill state of Health Continues and I have no Reason to Expect much Alteration I must be oblig’d to quit all close Attention or attendance on publick Affairs. This I...
31To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 24 November 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The above is a Copy of my last. I have Since received two letters of the 23d (a Copy, the Original not Come To Hand) and 30th August. We are all extreamly well pleas’d With your Safe arrival there and the Continuence of your Health. Your Conduct I never doubted, but if it is necessary To Say any thing upon it I think you have acted With great...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 27 February 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am just come from the House to my Brother’s where I met a Gentleman setting out for NY who complements me with staying for this Letter which will probably reach the Albany Sloop of War to be dispatched by General Amherst, as he writes our Governor in ten Days from the 21st Instant. This Vessel brot Secretary Pitts Letter with the Plan of...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris: “Separate Notes,” 16 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress Baskerville is printing Newton’s Milton in two Volumes, 8vo. I have inserted your Name in his List of Subscribers, as you mention your Inclination to encourage so deserving an Artist. It is certain that the Government here are inclin’d to resume all the Proprietary Powers, and I make no doubt but upon the first Handle they will do so. I only think they wish for some...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 21 February 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Our old Inviterate Scribler has at length wrote himself into a Jail. How far this was good Policy to do him that Honour, I will not undertake to say; I know the Comittee have wrote largely upon this head, and it has cost the House a Great deal of Time in going Thro’ a formal Trial for Libelling, which is, for any thing I know, the first...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 19 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library This unusually full and explicit letter describes more clearly than virtually any other contemporary document the attitude of leading members of the ministry on some of the constitutional questions which were to become increasingly important in the relations between the colonies and the mother country during the next fifteen or sixteen years. In the light of what...
36To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 5 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Two Letterbook copies: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have already wrote by Captain Cuzzins inclosing Bills of Exchange. So that I now only inclose a First Bill which I have since purchased drawn by John Hunter on Messrs. Thomlinson Hanbury Colebrooke and Nesbit Merchants in London No. 1049 for £200. Sterling which I have ordered payable to your Self or Order which please to reserve for...
37To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 18 May 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of the 18th of Febry last with a Pamphlet to vindicate the late Proceedings and the Power of Parliament to make general Colony Laws, for which I return you my Thanks. It is no new Scheme and the War in America has brought it to the Issue we now see and are like to feel both now and...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 20 September 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Since my Last 24 and 27 August which acknowledged your Several Letters to the 14 of June last I have received the 27th and PS. 29 June and Copy with addition of the 12th July. These acknowledgments of Dates may be satisfactory to know what Letters have fal’n [fallen] into right Hands for it is certain some of those wrote by Captain House got...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 29 April 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Assembly being fully Convinced by the Experence of the last year; that our forces, were, at a Great Expence Suffered to lye Ide [Idle] on the frontiers, and managed in such manner as to be of very little Service had Resolved to reduce Their Numbers to Seven Hundred Men; Till Lord Loudoun made his Requisition from This Province and the...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 4 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The interfering in those Weighty matters you are charged with, either by an Attempt to explain what you are fully Master of or to add any thing of my own not already contained in the Report of the committee or the Instructions of the House to yourself, would subject me justly to a censure I hope to avoid for if I had any thing material beyond...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris; Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Accounts: Report, 9, 15, and 19 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
I. Draft: American Philosophical Society. II. ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania. III. Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1762–1763 (Philadelphia, 1763), pp. 28–9. On Feb. 9, 1763, Franklin drafted a letter to serve as preface to a statement of his expenses as agent of the Assembly in England (Document I). After considering the draft, however, he must have...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 15 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Repeatd Exemptions of the Proprietary Estate, from Bearing a part in our Present Heavy Taxes, Apears so unreasonable That I Think They Cannot long Support That Cause to the Nation, Who Bear the Burthen of An American War, (where our Proprietarys have so large an Interest to Defend) as well as for the more Immediate Defence of their own...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 25 July 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania If I Could hear the News by this Days post, I might Possibly Send Some Intellegence from our Westren Expedition and Ticonderoga, but there is no probability of transmitting from hence, any thing Relateing to Cape Breton, which will not be Sooner known by A direct Conveyance from thence. The Politicians in Town are in full Expectation of...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 9 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Yale University Library It gives me great Pleasure to learn by yours of the 12th. of April, that the Bill taxing the Proprietary Estate would pass. I believe he will not dare to oppose it here; but if he does, I think it will bring the Point to a Decision the shortest Way, and that it must in all Probability be decided against him. The Firmness of the Assembly on this Occasion...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 17 October 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; also letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I was pleased to hear of your safe arrival by a short agreeable Letter from Exeter, which I had the pleasure of receiving about a Month ago. The small but violent Party continues the same political Systems here expecting, I suppose, to be supported by Power and Influence at Home, where you will have...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 19 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I find my Last of the 30th of September mist the Packet by which it was intended so that having since that Date received yours of 7th August and and Letter from the Executors of R. Partridge by which they Order and direct the Settlement of their Accounts here I retract my former Order to pay them the Ballance of R P. Account as it will suit...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 24 August 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania It is some Time since I wrote last, which I perceive by Your last, was come to hand, being Dated on the 15th April past, Your Several Dates of 9th January, 19th, 21st 29th february and 11th March With Several Copies, got to me in Due Time, and a few Days Ago the 14th June by the Packet, it will be Needless to Say, That all the Letters by...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 28 July 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania It is some time since I wrote—my last being of the 15th April since which I have recd yours 9th January 19. 21. 29 Feb and 11 March with several Copies. The Proprietors endeavouring to repeal our late Laws is what we might expect from their Conduct towards us for some Years past. But the Confusion the dissallowance of our Mony Act, and...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 1 March 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote on the 27th of February last by a Gentleman to N York. This will inform you that the Assembly have resolved to grant £100,000 for the raising paying and cloathing 2,700 Men to Act in Conjunction with his Majestys Forces during the ensuing Campaign and have got their Bill into the Hands of a Committee for those Purposes. As we shall...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 31 July 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: American Philosophical Society Just on closing my last Letter which was on the 14th of June last I added a figure 1 before the 4 though it was actually wrote on the 4th of that Month and being called off from adding a few lines to explain the difference Situation between those Dates it will be...