21To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 8 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Do you know of a reason to impose silence upon the most fervid affection & deepest respect? I know of one; and a very powerful one; It is shame. You are a good judge of human nature, and know of it too.— And for what is my shame? why for having checked your reputation, when I had the mortification of meaning to serve it. I was first, too honest in saying to...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 18 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 423–4. I cannot but in the most earnest manner and from recent circumstances, press your going early to Versailles to-morrow; and I have considerable reason to think, that your appearance there will not displease the person whom you address. I am of opinion...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 27 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 412–13. I am so agitated with the present crisis, that I cannot help writing you, to beseech you again and again to meditate upon some mild expedient about the refugees, or to give a favourable ear, and helping hand to such as may turn up. Both sides agree...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 9 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You must forgive an old letter, which you will receive by this conveyance: but it contains things which I have not mentioned to you before, and shews my intentions; and therefore I send it in its present state. I have three papers included along with it; one upon Fairy Rings, one upon the Inflammation of candles, and another upon the Riots at the time of...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 8 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Oliver has written me a letter from Barbadoes, desiring me to procure from my connections letters to the French Governors of Grenada & St. Vincents; in both which islands he has property, more particularly in the former. As I take for granted this hint was intended for you , and will be such as your opinion of him will induce to comply with; I take the...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress I write this simply to inform you that I sent you no less than three pacquets and a letter by Mr. Austin, to forward from Amsterdam. I hope they will safely arrive.— Your book is translating in two places in Germany; & Dr. Forster’s son would have translated it himself, had not the advertisements from other quarters prevented him. This letter may perhaps be delivered...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 9 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society To avoid pressing you with conversation, & to shew how little I expect you to enter into any answer or dispute, I leave with you upon paper, my thoughts concerning your American confiscations; that you may take as much or as little of them as you please. I know of two principles, which your American friends will say influenced them in this matter;...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, [5 November 1782 or later?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I find that I can go off with convenience very early on Thursday morning; and therefore if agreeable, should wish you to give me your letter for Mr: T: T: tomorrow evening , as it may furnish with me with a probable occasion of speaking to that gentleman about certain affairs. Mr: H:’s letter may come under cover to me by a courier.— The very moment a certain event...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 19 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress B V: presents his most affectionate respects to Dr. Franklin, and is unfortunately so engaged to day, as not to be able to accept of his kind welcome. B V’s brother acted for the best, but not being privy to circumstances, misunderstood him.— Tomorrow evening B V will however call at Passy, unless inconvenient to his friend, and directed otherwise. Addressed: A Monsr /...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 9 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society After two and one-half years of false starts, editorial anguish, and printer’s delays, Benjamin Vaughan was finally sending Franklin the first set of sheets for Political, Miscellaneous and Philosophical Pieces . The editor’s work was far from finished. He had not yet collected all the pieces he was hoping to include, and he continued to make editorial...
31To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 10 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Thos. Oliver of Lowlayton, Mr Richd. Oliver’s Cousin & the partner of Mr Lovel, thinks it adviseable to send the inclosed; & as he seemed anxious about it, I did not prevent his satisfying his own mind & being also satisfied about my good wishes to the Alderman. Being told that the Grenada people who went on Sunday, would take no letters I deferred...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 31 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), I , 59–63. When I had read over your sheets of minutes of the principal incidents of your life, recovered for you by your Quaker acquaintance; I told you I would send you a letter expressing my reasons why I thought it would be useful to complete and publish it...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 6 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have this instant heard of this opportunity. I can put up nothing; scarcely this letter. Every thing appears to me huddled and uncertain; we were a little up, but the apparent imbecillity of those to act against us, has let the spirit cool again very much. And danger made a cry for unanimity that did us mischief. Your paper about the aurora has been a good...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A very respectable planter of Antigua writes to desire of Mr Manning, “as a particular favor, that he would procure for his son a letter to Dr Franklin, as he is desirous he should know one of the first characters this age has produced.” The young gentleman, Mr Mackinnen, who presents you with this letter is the person alluded to, and though he is...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 3 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A person has been named to me for some time past, as about to depart for Paris, by whom I designed writing in preference to the post; but as he delays, and you will think me dilatory in the mean time, I write under cover to M. le Grand. I communicated with Mr. Burke on the subject of your letter. He said that he had received it, but knowing that ministry...
36To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 27 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having a convenient opportunity I have sent you the publications you desired. The maps I hope you will do me the favor to accept of. Upon a reconsideration of the matter I shall cancel the whole impression of your political works, and wait for the additional pieces. I shall then have it my power to give a new arrangement, with a total omission of all notes,...
37To Benjamin Franklin from [Benjamin Vaughan], [18 September 1777] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am ashamed my dear sir at the littleness of my heart or rather that of my friends: as soon as I have passed the opportunity for conversing with this man it will be over, and I shall see you as publicly as at Xmas. Yes my dear sir I will meet you at 5, in the middle of the Seine; any where, so that I do but meet you, and tell you how much I revere you. In...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 24 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having an opportunity of writing you by the Dutch envoy from London, I cannot omit sending you a line to tell you that I see nothing more that is amiss here than you know of, notwithstanding Mr Knox & two or three people pretend that the Loyal Colonies are to have the trade to the islands. If you keep firm, & good humored, I hope you will in the end lose...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 20 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society There was some little tumult when I sent you the last printed pacquet, (which however missed two opportunities of going) and therefore you had no letter.— By the present opportunity I wish to inquire your opinion as to the time of appearance. I am for the present moment; the bookseller for deferring: But as my opinion will rule, I wish without giving...
40To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 26 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Dr. Priestley & Lord Shelburne have parted, as far as I can understand, amicably. The truth is, the two characters were such as did not understand the one the other: The one did not comprehend enough the nature & merit of a speculative scholar, nor the other the situation and difficulties of a political actor. I labored, as you did, to prevent it; but...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 9 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I beg to introduce to your acquaintance My friend Mr Benjn. Savage, a young Gentn., born in South Carolina. By some accident or other, his friends have chosen the wrong side of the question, though he has relations very warmly contending on the right side. Politics however do not much warp his mind, which is as candid a one almost as I ever knew; and...
42To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 5 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My father having an immediate desire to purchase lands in America to the amount of £4000 by way of a beginning; and your friend Mr. E. Jeffries of the club of “honest Whigs at the London Coffee House,” being determined to appropiate £2000 in that line; and I believe another friend having determined upon a like adventure, of which he is soon to advertise us;...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 21 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg the favor very particularly of you to give a letter of recommendation for Langford Lovell Esqr. (who gives the inclosed account of himself) addressed to the Govr. of Dominica. I should esteem it an addition to the favor, if you would yourself inclose a duplicate of such letter to Mr Lovel in Dominica, by some safe conveyance; as in such case, by means...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 5 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have seen Mr. L—— [Laurens] since his return from Bath. He had received my Letter, but was so much incapacitated by his disorder having lain in his head, as to have written only one letter; and that, though a common one, & in reply to his physician, cost him three hours and an half.— He says that Indigo certainly was sent from America, by the young...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 30 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I sent you a pacquet with a number of sheets of your printed papers; which I suppose you have received, though as yet I have not had it signified to me. I send you more sheets which now lie by me; and have still another or two finished, which I believe are with the printer. I send you also all that I have written out of my remarks on motion &c &c: it...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 11 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society There seems still an indecision in public affairs, as far as relates to ministry, but every body is glad to stand upon the clear ground of a peace; so that you need not fear that your treaty will be shaken. I find every plan I had heard spoken of, was in a great state of ripeness, when I arrived in London; and the grandest ideas prevailing about free trade,...
47To Benjamin Franklin from [Benjamin Vaughan], 5 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I beg to recommend the bearer to your best patronage, friendship, and advice. I shall say nothing more of him, than that to warm benevolence and good parts, there have been joined a virtuous education and public principles. In these times and upon the plan on which he goes, his success is fundamentally important to his family. Particulars he will explain;...
48To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 20 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I now fulfil a part of the promise I lately made you, of a communication upon the subject of natural history & philosophy. Arthur’s seat you know to be a considerable hill in the neighborhood of Edinburgh. While I was in that city, my excellent friend Professor Dugald Stewart informed me, that Dr. Hutton (one of the philosophical society of that place) had...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 17 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society In about 3 weeks time I hope to send you every thing complete, relative to a certain collection. There will be an engraving of the head of the party, taken from the larger medallion, of which you sent a miniature-size to Miss G: S.— The motto, given by her father at my request, is “His country’s friend, but more of humankind.” I wanted something that should...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan and Samuel Vaughan, Jr., 29 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Messrs: Vaughan have the honor to present their respects to Dr: Franklin. A prior engagement obliges them with the most extreme regret to decline the pleasure of waiting upon him on sunday, agreeable to his kind invitation. Mr: Vaughan has the honor to inclose a list of some books sold by the same bookseller who furnished Mr V with the copy of the Politique...