1To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 5 February 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have so many Obligations to my kind Friend, that I dedicated a time to Visit all the Booksellers in London to search for foreign Electrical Books and could only find Two in French. One I take to be the same I sent for thy perusal but could not be certain which Elce [I] had not bought both for I sent it away just as I received it from France. I have many...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 21 March 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the Conveyance of our friend Mr. Watson whose Letter I inclose this will informe you the Abbe sent three books. I only send One by this Ship and another by the Next for fear of Accidents and if you give Mee Leave I will keep the third for my Self. You’l see the purport of Mr. Watsons Letter, the Booke is sent to Messr. Neat & Neave to Come in their...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 3 July 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Received June the 30. 1753. On Board the London for Philadelphia One long Case Mark’d L 4 M C No. 1 which I promise to Deliver (Dangers of the sea Excepted) . paid Freight and primage 6 s. besides one Brown paper bundle of Books of which I cannot give the particulars for I am Just come to Town and To Morrow the Letters are taken away and I go out of Town by...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 15 August 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library I had the pleasure of my Dear friend Letter of June 19th: It gives Mee concern for find my Letters Miscarried, for I writ both by Neat Ship and by Mesnard and I keep no Coppys. Indeed what I write generally in a Hurry does not deserve It but there was some things my Friends may be glad to know. In particular there was J. Bartrams Orders and Letters of advice of...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 21 October 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I impatienly expect the good News of my Dear Franklin’s Safe Arrival. Wee regret Your Abscence, but there is a Time the Dearest Friends must Part but Wee Cherish our Minds with the Hopes of Long enjoyeing your Correspondence and Shareing in the Discoveries, the Effects of your Fruitfull Genius, which can happyly Imploye it Self, to your own Benefit or that...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 25 April 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wish I have before this advised my Worthy Friend that his pacquet per Cap. Clark came at last to my Hands, with the Electrical Papers, which are now on the Press under the Inspection and Correction of our Learned and Ingenious Friend Doctor Fothergill for Wee thought it a great Pitty that the Publick should be deprived the benefit of so many Curious...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 20 July 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is a great pleasure to Mee to receive so many repeated Instances of my Dear friends regard for Mee, In his Sundry favours of Aprill 17: May 9 June 1. I omitted in a Hurry in mine by Shirley to tell you that your £60 Bill on Lane is accepted and shall be applyed as you have Directed. I know not who Mr. Blair Is or where he Dwells Elce should Inquire after...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 12 April 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library Company of Philadelphia I was very fortunate to receive both thy Curious Experiments on Electricity. I have Imparted them to the Royal Society to whome they are very acceptable and they are now in the hands of our Ingenious Friend Mr. Watson Who has promissed as soone as his accounts are printed to send them to Thee with a Letter and hopes for thy further Favours. My Letters and...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 12 August 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have much to say but am on the Eve of marrying My Daughter and many Orders in hast from Abroad that I can only add a few Lines to Informe you that your bill of 60 pound is Accepted, and I Intend to pay Osbourn £50. The remainder is for your Disposal when I can find time to Lett you know the Ballance. Your Impartial Account of the state of the Germans came...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 28 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received my Dear Friends Obligeing Letter with another Inclosed to our Friend Hamilton which I forwarded to Him. Doubt not but will proof Satisfactory. This Serves to convey Advice of a Box of Books for Thy Self, Lib: Com. and J. Bartram perticulars as under. From His Affectionate Friend The Box is Directed for Thee and comes by the Carolina Capt. Friend....
11To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 3 July 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received thy Letter from the Trustees and Bill per £100 on Jno Gurnell & Company which is accepted. I was really unwilling to undertake a New affair haveing so little Time to spare and yett I was as Unwilling so Benevolent a Design should suffer for want of my Concurrence. I have therefore procured your Value of Books of Whiston who I would willingly...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 14 January 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am so disheartend at the Loss of Capt. Davis, that I cannot tell how to sett Penn to paper. I had so amply Employed my Budget in 2 or 3 pacquetts with a Large pack and Books per M. Dalibard at Paris a Box with 6 of Bird thermometers books Magazins all gone and Poor John Bartram has lost his Two Guinea Microscope and prints for Billey Seeds and Two or...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Peter and Michael Collinson, 14 July 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania P Collinson and Son’s Respects to their Good Friend Benn: Franklin Request the favour to Enjoye His company at Mill-Hill any Day this Week that it Suites Him: to Make his Stay more Agreeable—I have by this Post requested the like favour, of Doct. Solander. I hope you Two Gentlemen will Concert Measures, to Come together, but if that can’t conveniently...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 3 June 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you before possibly you may receive Two Letters by one Ship—for here is Two Just going together and I cannot say whitch had my First. This serves to thank you for your favour of March 20th with the sundry Curious Articles besides. Greewood has been with Mee. I have recommended him to your Proprietor who Desires much to see Him, and does not...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 6 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I can only now express the great satisfaction I have and that of Our Family to Hear by your Kind Letter of the 7 Decemr of your Safe Arrival. I have One more Wish and that Is, to Hear of your Son and Daughter. All your Friends are Well in particular Yours Sincerely Addressed: To / Benn Franklin Esqr / in / [Philadelphia] Boston See above, pp. 165–6. For...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 26 January 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I emptied my Budget Largely by unfortunate Capt. Davis and as our Friend Smith comes in Capt. Shirley it will save Mee a very Long detail of what has passed between Mee and your proprietor as He has been privy to most of It, in General I can tell you He is Ardent in promoting Enlish Schools for teaching the Germans, as you will see by the Scheme When Mr....
17To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 27 March 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am now so prodigiously Engagd as well in my publick business as on Account of our very great National loss the Death of the Prince of Wales that I can only acknowledge the Receipt of thy kind Letters with the Tracts Inclosed. I have sent per Capt. Richey in the Beulah the Magazins for Febuary. I am thy sincere friend Prince of a short Illness an...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 17 October 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was glad to hear my Dear Friend was Safe Arrived In the happy land of Liberty—and more So, that Wee shall Have the pleasure of his Company at Mill Hill. If He will do Us that Favour Next Fryday or Saturday it will be perfectly Suiteable and Agreeable to Us. I have wrote by this post to Docr. Solander that He may come to you and Settle the Time to be...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, [1765–1768] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Peter Collinson is much obliged for his Dear Frinds Calling Yesterday—Shall be glad to See Him to Dine with Mee next Thursday Two Clock and then go afterwards to Crane Court. I am Engaged to Dine att Your End of the Town to Day Being called Sunday in Hast. Addressed: To / Benm. Franklin Esqr / these This note can not have been written later than Aug. 11,...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 7 March 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your favours of the 16 and 7th and 29 came not to My Hands untill the First of March and the Philosophical pacquet you Mention intended for my Winters amusement is not yett Come to hand. But indeed a Large pacquet came by Capn. Mitchell and that unworthy Man (tho in particular Directed to the Contrary) putt it into the Post Office and I was Charged Thirty...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, [27 May? 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Yale University Library I have the pleasure to tell thee how much thou art esteemed by many worthy men here: for on the Ballot for thy Election to be a Member of the Royal Society , there was not one negative Ball; an Instance of Unanimity that Lord Macclesfield told me he never before saw . So I wish thee long to enjoy that Honor deservedly and so unanimously conferred on thee. Thy...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 9 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I reced both Yours from Boston —it is a Pleasure to hear from the Man I Love. I Submit the Inclosed to your perusal. Your Free remarks on them will be acceptable. I that Live so remote am not so good a Judge of the Reasonabl[n]ess and practibility of Them. They were drawn up at the breaking out of the Cherokee Warr and presented to those at the Helm. Its...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, [1764–1765] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I think you[r] Vindication is admirably well drawn up You make Mee Smile now and then with a keen back Stroke and then with a Home Thrust. It must Mortifie Allen for it cuts Him to the Quick. He has poisoned the Barclay Family. I wish you had one to spare to send my penny post Directed to Mr. David Barclay Junior in Cheapside. If you have them not to...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, [5 October 1755] (Franklin Papers)
Transcript of fragment: Rosenbach Foundation Speaker Isaac Norris entered a long note on an interleaved sheet in a copy of Poor Richard improved , 1755, following the calendar for December. He first copied an advertisement from the Antigua Gazette or Public Advertiser , Aug. 12, 1755, in which George Thomas, former governor of Pennsylvania and now governor of the Leeward Islands, defended...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 8 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Going away of Ships are So uncertain, and I am So Frequent out of Town—I write this Letter to my Dear Friend premature because I do not Inclose a receipt for the Box which I expect to do in my Next if I am not out of Town when the Ship Sails. The Box comes by Capt. Friend in the Carolina. In it is Books and Catologues for Lib: Company, Some for J:...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 27 September 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In thine of June 19 mention is made of not receiveing a Letter which is a disappoinment to mee who keeps no Coppys. I always am carefull to Carry Letters my Self so how it should happen can’t say and I took particular care to write by Mesnard because of the books and Johns Watches and I saw it putt in the bagg. That Two should miscarry I cannot comprehend...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, [1759?–1762] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Lett not my Dear Friend Forgett that I expect Him and his Son to Morrow being Wednesday to drink Tea and afterwards to spend the Evening which will oblige his sincere friend Certainly written during BF ’s first mission to England because of the mention of WF . If the “Doctor Frankland” is contemporary, the note was written after BF ’s honorary degree...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, [June 1750] (Franklin Papers)
AL (fragment): Library Company of Philadelphia [ First part missing ] Pray give my respects to Lewis Evans. I have not Time to write to Him but I putt his Mapps to Bowles one of the most noted Print and Mapp sellers near the Exchange —and He Tells Mee he has disposed of few of them the Price is so High. Thou will see by Byrd’s Letter the reason no Thermometers was done. So farewell. The Books...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 19 [April or July] 1765 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society P Collinson Incloses to his Dear Friend the Receipt for the Box of Seeds to Doctor Hope. That and my Letter I Desire He will Inclose in a Frank to the Doctor. Doctor Pringle no doubt will procure a Frank. I hope you received a Letter Inclosed to Mee per S: Wharton of Philadelpa: paid postage £2: 6 Charges of the box Seeds to Edinburgh 2: 4: 6 During 1765...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 14 September 1749 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I was unwilling to loose the Opertunity per Cap. Rice—So in 5 or 6 Days time I ordred all the Books to your Order that Could be gott together. I was so much engaged I could not go to see them before they was packed—but Hope the Bookseller has been carefull to send such as will Meet with your aprobation. What can be gott to the remainder of your Order...