31To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 24 August 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society All yours of April 14. May 23. and June 12. I received within a few Days of each other: I congratulate you, on the Renewal of your Commission. Thank you for all your kind Advice, and as Mr. Foxcroft has since appointed Mr. Babcock at New Haven, I am glad my Sentiments tallied with both yours. I have received the Chronicles by the two last Packets from Mr....
32To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 27 August 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Tho’ it is but 4 Days since I wrote per Packet, yet this Opportunity offering I send again, with this Day’s Paper, tho’ there is Nothing of Importance in it: Nor any Thing of private Intelligence, than that we are much as we were: nor have I had Time since my last to see about any Thing wrote about in my last: but as the Packet is to go next Monday I shall...
33To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 1 September 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having wrote twice since 8 Days ago, I have not any Thing material to write now only that I have not been able yet to execute a proper Power: Indeed, the chief Reason is for some Weeks past, I have had the Gout wandering from Limb to Limb, and tho’ none so very violent as to lay me quite up, yet so much, that I have no sooner Ease in one Part, than I have...
34To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 1 October 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society No doubt you will wonder I have not sent you a Power according to my Promise: The Reason is this: Mr. Colden tells me he has a Copy of the Power he sent, Which he would lend me to form one by: and he says he cannot at present recollect where it is, but will search for it, and I being desirous to have it unexceptionable, have waited in hopes he will find it:...
35James Parker: Power of Attorney, 16 October 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society Know ALL Men by these Presents, That I James Parker, Land-Waiter in his Majesty’s Customs at New-York, in America, have made, ordained and constituted, and by these Presents, do make, ordain and constitute Benjamin Franklin, Esqr. of Craven-Street, in the City of London, and Kingdom of Great Britain my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in my Name, and...
36To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 24 October 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Capt. Miller, who sail’d but this Morning, I sent you my Power of Attorney, and Certificate, which I hope you will receive safe; Capt. Miller, and his Mate are the Evidences, so they can prove it there: I am told you have all that is necessary in Order to receive any Thing that is due and that its paid Quarterly. If any Thing farther is necessary, I will...
37To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 24 November 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society No Packet having arrived here lately, that of August from England being the last, and this Opportunity being near I must scribble a few Lines to you. I sent you, per Capt. Miller, a Power to get any Wages that may be due to me. My last to you was per the Duke Packet, immediately after my Return from New-Haven: since which Mr. Ingersol has wrote Mr. Foxcroft...
38To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 24 December 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As no Packet has arrived here these two Months, nor any other Vessels lately from England, we have not had the Pleasure to hear from you since Sept. last. My last to you was per Capt. Eff. Lawrence by whom I told you the Issue of the Trial of the Office vers. Holt, was by the Auditors at New Haven, so far adjudged in Holt’s Favour, that he was to pay the...
39To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 21 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since the New-Year I wrote you per Capt. Farquhar in a Merchantman: This being the first Packet we have had this three Months. I have very little extraordinary to inform you of, further than my last. Only I continue to creep along Slowly. You will see I have altered the Day of my Paper back to Monday, and the Hartford Rider is suppress’d. The Commissioners...
40To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 30 January 1768[–13 February 1768] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society About 8 Days ago, I wrote per Halifax Packet, and this going so soon after, I shall not be very tedious. Only must beg one Thing in Relation to Mr. Strahan: Mr. Holt has told some, that he never sent to Strahan for any Books, and that those you paid Mr. Strahan for me, was sent for by me only, and that he never was or could be answerable for any of them but...
41To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 25 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of the 2d and 12th of December, per Packet, I received, and observe the Contents of it: I shall be obliged to enlarge in this to be as particular as I can about the New-Haven Affair, and the Hartford Rider. Before I was directed up to New-Haven as Evidence I did not dream that Holt would stand that Trial as he did: Upon my Qualification, I declared to...
42To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 18 April 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Morning only the January Packet arrived after about 13 Weeks Passage, and tho’ I had not the Pleasure of one Line from you, yet I will once more adventure to write, tho’ uncertain whether it will meet you there or not. Matters of the Post-Office go on as usual. I think I told you the Issue of the Suit against Holt, at New Haven, and the Stopping of the...
43To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 25 April 1768: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, April 25, 1768. Franklin will probably have left before this reaches London. Wrote him a week ago, enclosing some papers (for which see his letter above, April 18); has heard nothing from him since December, but the February packet has not yet arrived. Wishes him a safe and speedy return home.]
44To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 14 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I have little agreeable to say, and your Time must be much better employ’d than in reading any Thing I can say, I shall the less intrude on you. I imagined you would be on the Return before this: but I heard there was not that Expectation, I wrote you a few Days ago per Capt. Miller. My Son is about embarking, and perhaps may sail before this for London:...
45To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 15 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This comes with my unhappy Son. How far he may be an Object of your Regard, is left entirely to your own Discretion. I have Nothing else to say in his Favour, but wish he may Merit some of your Good Will, which is all with our best Regards, from Your most obliged Servant Addressed: For / Benjamin Franklin, Esqr. / Craven-Street / London / per S.F: Parker
46To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 17 June 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of April 16, with Mr. Strahan’s Memorandum about Holt, I received per Packet. It is a bad Stroke for me, as I never had or received the Books, that I have been made to pay for, and shall never have any other Satisfaction for them. But I will not complain any more: I have now been sufficiently used to such Matters. It is possible, by the Time you...
47To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 29 June 1768: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Dated June 29, 1768, this is virtually a duplicate of Parker’s letter of May 14.]
48To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12 July 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I still continue to send you a Line or two on the Presumption you may possibly not have left England before this reaches you, and if you should be set out the Loss of this is not much: As I have little more to say than I have wrote, only that we continue still in the Old Way, rubbing through a World, in which some slide easier then others, but in which none...
49To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 10 September 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Tho’ I have not had the Pleasure of one Line from you for many Months past yet I will write a Word or two. Mrs. Franklin I hear expects you in the August Packet, but your Son, who is gone to Albany just now, told me he hardly expected you. I have not heard a Word from my unhappy Son, whether he be dead or alive, tho’ I heard the Vessel he went in arrived...
50To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 24 September 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Altho’ it be many Months since I have had the Pleasure of one Line from you, yet as I have some Room to think you are not on the Return home now, as all your Friends expected, I will once more scribble to a few Lines more to ask, How you do? At the same time, it may not be displeasing to receive Word, that your Son being gone to Albany, as you will see in...
51To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 17 October 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Tho’ I am hardly able to hold a Pen, from a Fit of the Gout in my Right Hand, yet I will try a few Words, to acknowledge the Receipt of one from you of Aug 9: giving an Account of my Son’s base Behaviour in attempting to get Money of Mr. Cummings &c. It grieves me to find his Vices still predominate; but am pleased at your letting me know it: for I hope he...
52To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 24 October 1768: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, October 24. Repeats the information in his letter of October 17, adding only that his son had tried to swindle Franklin as well as Thomas Cumming, that William Franklin has arrived at Sir William Johnson’s, and that Parker’s lawsuit with Holt drags on.]
53To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 22 November 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You never gave me the Satisfaction to know, whether you ever received any Arrears for me, at the Custom-House, or what. The News-papers in general, shew you the Condition of the Commissioners at Boston. Last Week came here from Boston, on[e] Esqr. Williams, who is called Inspector General of the Custom’s. He comes to set all the Officers in their right in...
54To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12 December 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Opportunity is embraced, as No Packet is come in here for some time past, to tell you we are yet in the Land of the Living and that’s as much as we can boast of. All your Friends are as usual, well. We have Nothing extraordinary, but dull and melancholly Times. You never have acquainted me whether ever you received any Thing from the Custom-Office for...
55To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 17 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This covers one of a Set of Bills of Exchange, which I just received from Mr. Hubbart of Boston, for £60 13 s . 9 d . Sterling on John Blackburn, Esq. London: The first of this Set I sent down to Mr. Foxcroft, who is gone to Virginia, and I apprehend he will send it to you, but very probably this will come to your Hand first, and of this I have advised him,...
56To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 1 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Mrs. Franklin’s Desire, I now send by this Opportunity, two small Kegs of Keskatomas Nuts, one is a Firkin the other a small Quarter Cask: They contain very near a Bushel and a half. I hope they may come safe and sound to your Hands: As I have been now a great while confined by the Gout, I could not go out about them; but as the Second Mate, is a near...
57To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 4 March 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [March 4, 1769. Repeats the substance of his letters of February 17 and March 1, printed above. Adds that he has received another bill of exchange from Postmaster Hubbart for £100, drawn by Nathaniel Rogers on a London merchant. The worst of the winter was in February, which is unusual. He hopes his gout will not lose him his place.] For Rogers see BF to...
58To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 20 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed in this comes a Bill of Exchange for Fifty-five pounds Sterl. on Messrs. Sargent, Chambers & Co. which from a presumption of your Goodness, I have troubled you with on the following Occasion: Having collected up all that I could of Mr. Balfour of Edinburg’s Books, I got them sold at Auction, which produced as much Money as purchased £25 Sterl. but...
59To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 29 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Day yours of the 22d December and 4th January via Philadelphia, came to Hand. And tho’ I had determined not to trouble you with long Epistles, yet at this Time I think I shall tire your Patience: if so, lay the Letter by, till you have more Leisure. My Son arrived here the Beginning of January, when I had been laid up with the Gout five or 6 Days. He...
60To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 14 April 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Philadelphia, April 14, 1769. John Foxcroft has summoned him there. Encloses a second bill for £60 13 s. 9 d. , the first of which he had sent from New York on February 13. This Foxcroft had returned to him to send to Franklin. Is in poor health but hopes to recover.]
61Account with James Parker, 1 May 1769, to 14 May 1770: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AD : Yale University Library [The accounts of Parker’s remittances as comptroller of the Post Office run from May 1, 1769, to May 14, 1770; the sixteen bills of exchange listed total £1,1899 19 s . 1 d . The endorsement, in Franklin’s hand, refers to Parker as the “late Comptroller.”] The details of these transactions appear above, XVI , 130, 159, 162, 180, 185, 186, 215–16, 269, and in...
62To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12 May 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Before this reaches you, I hope Mr. Foxcroft will be safe arrived with you, as he sail’d from Philadelphia the 20th of last Month. This covers the first of a Set of Bills for £100 Sterling which I purchased here with Money sent me by Mr. Vernon of Rhode-Island, who I have press’d hard for Payment. His Accounts, tho’ kept in Sterling when he sends Cash will...
63To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 22–24 May 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The 12th of this Month I wrote you per Packet, and sent the first Bill of a Set for £100 Sterling of which this incloses the second of the same: to that I refer for Particulars. You have never told me, whether you have received any of my Pay from the Custom-House. As if you have, I should be glad if you would pay Mr. Potts for two years of the Chronicle. It...
64To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 30 May 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You were so good a while ago, to Mention that if I chose to resign the Custom House Business you would not be displeased. While I had the Ability to do what I was taught was my Duty, I patiently Submitted to any Unpopularity or Odium that might unjustly be thrown upon me. But the Commissioners at Boston seem continually to be forming new Orders and...
65To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 31 May–10 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The 22d and 24th Instant, I wrote you per Capt. Haight, inclosing you the 2d of a Bill for £100. Sterling and the first of a Bill from Mr. Hercules Courtenay, Post-Master of Baltimore, for £141 6 s. 11 d. Sterling drawn by Stevenson on Hervey of London, of which this has the 2d inclosed: Mr. Courtenay says it is the whole of the Ballance due from him. I...
66To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 18 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Eight Days ago, I wrote you per Packet, inclosing the 2d Bill from Mr. Courtney of Baltimore, the first of which I sent per Capt. Haight, for £141 6 s . 11 d . Sterling. Last Night I received the inclosed Bill for £10 1 s . 3 d . Sterling from Mr. Vernon of Rhode-Island; he says, it is good, and he is trying to get more for further Remittance. This is all I...
67To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 28 June 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, June 28, 1769. Encloses two bills of exchange, which he is sending by way of Bristol: one from Tuthill Hubbart of Boston for £122, drawn by Timothy Folger on Moses Allnutt of London, dated June 19; the other from Thomas Vernon, the Newport postmaster, for £15, drawn by John Mawdsley on Messrs. Lane Son & Fraser of London, dated June 16. Also...
68To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 22 July 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, July 22, 1769. Repeats the substance of his letter of June 28. Encloses a bill of exchange for £50 from Luke & Prettyjohn, Barbados, drawn on Richard Gosling of London and endorsed by Mrs. Moore of New York; bills are rising and now stand at 72½, and he bought this one for 70. Has received Franklin’s letters by the packet and by Dr. Rush. Captain...
69To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12 August 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, Aug. 12, 1769. Sent by the packet the seconds of two bills of exchange, Hubbart’s for £122 and Vernon’s for £15, and the first of a bill for £50 that Parker bought in New York; encloses the second of that, together with the first of a bill just received from Hubbart for £200, Folger upon Allnutt, of which the second will follow shortly. Mr....
70To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 14 August 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, August 14, 1769. Repeats the substance of his letter of August 12, and encloses the second of Hubbart’s £200 bill.]
71To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 12–13 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Packet being detain’d two or three Days on the following Occasion, tho’ I had wrote four Days ago, all that was then necessary, I could not dispence with writing again; And notwithstanding you will doubtless hear it, if I had not wrote: It pleased God to take our Governor Sir Henry Moore, Bart. out of this World, Yesterday half after 3 o’Clock in the...
72To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 5–9 October 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Ever since my last of the 11th Sept. have I been laid up, by the most excruciating Fit of the Gout, that ever I had: and I have now but scarce Ability to write a Line or two. Nothing worthy of Note has happen’d since in Relation to the Post-Office, except that Mr. Babcock has left New-Haven, and I sent a Commission to Mr. Kilby in his Stead, who has given...
73To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 6–7 October 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, October 6–7, 1769. Sent the Post Office account book with his letter of October 5. Confined to his room and can barely sit up. Has not touched Benjamin Mecom’s books, but will as soon as he is able to stir——if he ever is. Postscript of Sept. ( i.e. , Oct.) 7: encloses originals of Hubbart’s two bills, of which seconds went by his letter of...
74To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 30 October 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York October 30, 1769. Is recovering after six weeks from the worst fit of gout he has ever had. Pain is gone, but he is so weak he can scarcely stand; “so have only Patience and Flannel.” Has heard nothing from Franklin, and nothing has happened in the Post Office since he last wrote.]
75To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 30 November 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Woodbridge, N.J., November 30, 1769. Has taken the journey from New York in the hope that it would help his recovery from the gout. Just back from a trip by waggon to Burlington, where the Assembly is sitting, and finds on his return Franklin’s letter of September 9 with its remarks about Mr. Robinson and Parker’s office in the customs. Is resigning that...
76To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 16 December 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [New York, December 16, 1769. Crept back from Woodbridge two days ago, in order to send by packet anything of interest. Mr. Colden has applied for a bill for £200, which was promised him today; but he was disappointed because Mr. Watts, who signs the bills together with Mr. McEvers, was out of town. Will send the bill by Captain Davis, eight or ten days...
77To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 23 December 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Woodbridge, December 23, 1769. Has crept back here to print the New Jersey laws. The enclosures will show (1) why the bill of exchange that Colden had promised is not sent; and (2) that Franklin has power of attorney, witnessed by the captain and mate of the ship, to recover the wages due Parker. Has written the Board of Customs Commissioners at Boston to...
78To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 26 December 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Woodbridge, N.J., December 26, 1769. Had intended this to go by Captain Davis, but he sailed before it reached New York. Has received since then the enclosed bill from Mr. Colden for £200, drawn by Watts and McEvers on Harley & Drummond, “cost 65 per Cent the Exchange at this Time.”] John Drummond (1723–74), of Drummond’s Bank, and the Hon. Thomas Harley...
79To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 4 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am yet here about the Jersey Laws: I sent up to New York 8 Days ago, a Letter for you with the first of the inclosed Bill of Exchange for £200, Wats and Mc Evers on Harley and Drummond which I had of Mr. Colden: but the Weather has been so extreme severe, that I have not learnt whether it could be sent by a Merchantship, or by this Packet; but lest that...
80To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 2 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was from Woodbridge, where I have been printing the Laws of Jersey pass’d last Session, that was per Packet, with the Second of a Bill for £200 Sterling I had of Mr. Colden——the first of which I sent by a Ship bound for Bristol, along with which I sent you another Power, as should have sent by Capt. Davis, but he sail’d e’re I was aware of...