Benjamin Franklin Papers
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https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-10-02-0205

From Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, 28 November 1763

To George Whitefield7

ALS: Morristown National Historical Park

Philada. Nov. 28. 1763

Dear Sir

Inclos’d is a Packet I receiv’d under my Cover from Boston, which I thought to have deliver’d into your Hands, but am told you do not return hither from Princetown, as was expected, and are gone forward to N York, which mortifies me not a little, that I should so long omit waiting on you here, as to be at length finally depriv’d of the Pleasure of seeing you.8

Wherever you are, you have the sincere Esteem and best Wishes of Dear Sir, Your affectionate Friend and most obedient Servant

B Franklin

To the Revd. G Whitefield

Endorsed: Franklin Answer’d F

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7For George Whitefield, the famous evangelist, see above, II, 241 n. Whitefield landed in Va. toward the end of August 1763 for what was destined to be his last visit to America. He reached Philadelphia on September 20 receiving a warm welcome there even from the previously hostile Anglican clergy. He visited Princeton about November 14, and after “four sweet seasons” of preaching at the college and two at Elizabeth Town, N.J., went to N.Y. and then on to New England, where he stayed until June 1764. He then went to Ga., stopping at Philadelphia on the way, and returned there in May 1765, just before he sailed to England from N.Y., June 9, 1765. Pa. Gaz., Sept. 15, 22, 1763; Luke Tyerman, The Life of the Rev. George Whitefield (London, 1876–77), II, 467–86. William S. Perry, Papers Relating to the History of the Church in Pennsylvania (privately printed, 1871), pp. 354–5, 360; PMHB, XVIII (1894), 37–8.

8Whitefield’s departure from Philadelphia must have taken place a little more than a week after BF’s return from New England.

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