1From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin and Elizabeth West, [before 4 April 1772?]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library <Before April 4, [1772? ], and in the third person. An invitation to dinner next Saturday, April 4.> Between the artist’s marriage and BF ’s return to America, April 4 fell on a Saturday in 1767 and 1772. Our predecessors did not print the invitation under the earlier date, and we are therefore assigning it to the later one.
2From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Gale, 23 February 1767 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract reprinted from The Connecticut Courant , June 28, 1769. I receiv’d your favour of Nov. 15, with a letter inclos’d to Dr. Huxham, relating to a mistake in the account given of your success in inoculation, as printed in the Gentleman’s Magazine of August last, which seems to give you great uneasiness. It seems you have not known that your letter to Dr. Huxham, concerning...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 22 March 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dartmouth College Library It has been a great Pleasure to me to hear occasionally from others, that you were closely engag’d in your Studies, and distinguishing yourself by the Progress you made in them. I promise my self that you will return with such a Stock of useful Knowledge as will render you an Ornament to your Country; and that I shall have no reason to regret the Appearance of...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 7 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia This letter of introduction is the initial appearance in Franklin’s correspondence of a young man who later became important to him, first as his editor and then as Shelburne’s emissary during the peace negotiations of 1782. Benjamin Vaughan (1751–1835) was the eldest son of Samuel Vaughan, a wealthy English merchant with interests in...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I am favoured with yours of June 24. and shall as it is my Duty endeavour to obtain the Royal Assent to every Act passed by our Assembly; and to that you recommend, the more particularly as I think it reasonable in itself, and connected with Liberty of Conscience a Fundamental of our Constitution. But I am doubtful...
6From Benjamin Franklin to [Benjamin Waller], 1 August 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Daniel Buckley, Broadaxe, Pennsylvania (1955) I receiv’d yesterday your Favour of June 25. relating to the Son of my dear Friend Mr. Hunter. I am sensible that the Care of the Education of young Persons, is attended with Trouble, and like other old Men I begin in most things to consult my Ease: But I shall with Pleasure undertake the Charge you propose to me, if it be, as I suppose...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 14 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; letterbook draft: Library of Congress In a Box to Mr. Bache I send you a Bundle of the Ephemerides; they came but lately to hand with Duplicates for me; tho’ it appears by my Letter that they were sent from Paris last May was twelvemonth. Where they have been all this time I have not learnt. I send you also one of Dr. Priestly’s Pamphlets, containing a...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 3 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I had no Line from you per last Packet. But I had the Satisfaction of hearing you were well by Mr. Beache’s Letter. I wrote to you per Capt. All, and sent you some little Things. I continue well, and am ever, Your affectionate Husband Bache’s letter was that of Jan. 4 above, and BF ’s by Capt. All was, we assume, that of Feb. 14.
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 September 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is only to enclose a second Bill for £20 Sterling, drawn on Alexr Grant Esqr per Mrs. Mary Stevens. I am, Yours affectionately See above, p. 339.
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 December 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This serves to enclose second Bills for One Hundred Pound Sterling, sent per Richey. I am, ut supra. Addressed: To Mr Wm Strahan Printer London Per Capt. Mitchell. Written on the same sheet with the duplicate of his letter to Strahan, Nov. 27, 1753.
11From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 7 March 1748 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; abstracted in Worthington C. Ford, comp., List of the Benjamin Franklin Papers in the Library of Congress (Washington, 1905), p. 10. Abstract : Pass’s opinion as to cost of casting cannon; favors purchasing from New England. The ALS is known to have been missing from Lib. Cong. since 1951. In Ford’s List the addressee is given as “James Logan, Trenton”—obviously a misreading of...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 20 February 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Text reprinted and paraphrase based on Mme. Henri Saffroy sales catalogue no. 19, February, 1959. I have written fully to you and several friends by Capt. All; but as I know you like to have a letter by every ship, I add this line by Capt. Falconer. … <Continues in good health and spirits, God be praised, and hopes to arrive at home next May. Sends affectionate regards and love to the children.>
13From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Neave, 27 January 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library At your Request I have perused the Letter to you from Messrs. Baynton, Wharton, and Morgan, relating to the Lands they have convey’d to you, together with the Copies of the Warrants and Surveys; and it is my Opinion they have represented Matters truly and fairly to you in every particular, and that the Lands are so situated as probably to be of a...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Carter, 18 April 1748 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Anderson Galleries, Sales Catalogue No. 800 (January 18, 1910), item 90. Please to pay Mr. Robert Dade or Order Thirty-one Pennyweight of Gold, and charge it to Account of, Sir Your humble Servant Col. Charles Carter (1707–1764), of Cleve, King George Co., Va.; son of Robert “King” Carter of Corotoman and uncle of Robert Carter of Nomini Hall, the Councillor. Va....
15From Benjamin Franklin to William Knox, 26 January 1771: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania <Craven St., Jan. 26, 1771. Is directed by the Georgia Assembly Committee of Correspondence to request the plan of the lands in that province claimed by the estate of Sir William Baker. Please deliver the plan to the bearer, Thomas Life.> See above, XVII , 139 n. Knox’s reply is below, Jan. 29.
16From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 1 September 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress <London, September 1, 1773: Has received Colden’s of July 7, enclosing Archimedes Georges on Curtis & Lowell for £113 and Norris Goddard on Anthony Todd for £69. Is glad to hear that Colden and his family are well.>
17From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 25 October 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Toronto Library The above is a Copy of my last. Enclosed is the second Bill. I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient Servant See above, p. 219.
18From Benjamin Franklin to Elizabeth Gardner, 4 June 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pennsylvania Hospital Please to receive the Bearer into the Hospital, and entertain him there till the Physicians have considered his Case. Your Friend and Servant Elizabeth Gardner was matron of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1751–60. Thomas G. Morton and Frank Woodbury, The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital (Phila., 1895), p. 544. Not identified.
19From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 3 August 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress <West Wycomb, at Lord Le Despencer’s, August 3, 1773: Has received Colden’s of June 2 enclosing seconds of “sundry Bills acknowledg’d in my last” and the first of Willing & Morris on Harris & Co. for £15. Encloses Ogle’s protested bill on Anderson for £83 10 s. 3 d. , which with charges totals £83 16 s. Compliments to Mrs. Colden.> See the letter BF...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 22 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I received your Favour of May 14. with the very ingenious Oration you deliver’d at the Society, for which I thank you. The Bookseller you had likewise sent it to (Mr. Dilly) being desirous of Dr. Huck’s Opinion and mine as to its Publication, we had, after separately reading it, a little Consultation upon it; the...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 25 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have already written to you as a Friend by this Conveyance. I now write to you as one of the Secretaries of our Philosophical Society, who understands French, to request your Attention to the enclos’d Papers, and that you would translate them for the Use of the Society. In this Ship, Capt. Falconer, I send a Box, containing a Number of Presents for the...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 8 November 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New Haven Colony Historical Society I write this Line in great Haste, just to let you know I am well, and to request your Care in delivering the enclosed. I am, with Love to our Children, Your affectionate Husband
23From Benjamin Franklin to [Nathaniel Sparhawk], 15 June 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Joseph W. P. Frost, Kittery Point, Maine (1954) I receiv’d yours per Mr. Baynton with the Money as therein specified; and have since deliver’d it to Mr. Warren (who is now here) with Mr. Pepperill’s Letter; of which please advise Mr. Pepperill. I am Sir, Your most humble Servant Nathaniel Sparhawk (1715–1776), merchant at Portsmouth and Boston; married the daughter of Sir William...
24From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [7 October 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from a quotation by William Franklin in a letter of January 1, 1770, Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue , No. 860 (April 9, 1901), p. 9. It is very uncertain as yet what Turn American Affairs will take here on the Meeting of Parliament. The Friends of both Countries wish a reconciliation; the Enemies of either endeavour to widen the Breach, God knows how it will end.
25From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Franklin, [May 1738?] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Letter of the 4th of May in answer to mine of April 13. I wrote that of mine with a Design to remove or lessen the Uneasiness you and my Mother appear’d to be under on Account of my Principles; and it gave me great Pleasure when she declar’d in her next to me that she approv’d of my Letter and was now satisfy’d with me....
26From Benjamin Franklin to Smith, Wright, & Gray, 14 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Enclos’d is Dr. Rush’s Signature which you desired. I thank you for so readily furnishing the Letter of Credit. Yours &c Addressed: To / Messrs. Smith, Wright & / Gray, / Bankers / Lombard street See the preceding document.
27From Benjamin Franklin to the Printer of the Gazetteer, 18 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , May 18, 1768. In order to shew my countrymen the sentiments of the North Americans, I request you will publish in your paper the inclosed hand bill, which came over by the last ship from Philadelphia, and there is no doubt but great numbers of them have been dispersed in that and the other provinces. Franklin wrote only the first paragraph,...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1754 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Send 50 Reams largest Demi to Mr. Daniel, Printer at Jamaica. Send 30 Reams Do to Peter Timothy. Send the Ream of thick blue Paper to Parker. Send half the brown Paper in the House to Parker[?], ’tother half to Brother John in Boston; No, send it all to Boston. [ In margin ]: Nota, bene. Don’t forget to enter it. This note cannot be dated precisely; sometime...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 7 May 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL (fragment): American Philosophical Society It is now a very long time indeed since I have had the Pleasure of a Line from you. I hope however that you are well as I am, Thanks to God. [ Remainder missing. ] Her last extant letter was the previous October: XX , 449–50.
30From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This just informs you I am well and received yours by the April Packet. I shall write fully to you and all Friends by Osborn. My Love to Sally, Mr. Bache, the Child, and all that love us. I can now only add, that I am ever Your affectionate Husband