1William Strahan’s Account for Printing and Books, [13 September 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society We do not normally print accounts in extenso, but this one reveals enough about Franklin’s literary activities over an eighteen-month period to justify an exception. Decr. Sheet of Rules, 2 Reams PL 2 2 Two Reams of Writing Medium [?] Paper for Do. PL 2 8 Petit Code de la Raison Humaine, 4sheets, No 500, @ 14 s. PL 2 16 Four Reams of Paper for Do. PL
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 17 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been at Blair Drummond on a Visit to my Friend Lord Kaims, thence I went to Glasgow, thence to the Carron Works, viewing the Canal by the Way. Extream bad Weather detain’d me in several Places some Days longer than I intended: But on Tuesday I purpose setting out on my Return, and hope for the Pleasure of seeing you by the Tuesday following. I thank...
3From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 27 October 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library Thro’ Storms and Floods I arrived here on Saturday night, late, and was lodg’d miserably at an Inn: But that excellent Christian David Hume, agreable to the Precepts of the Gospel, has received the Stranger , and I now live with him at his House in the new Town most happily. I purpose staying about a Fortnight, and shall be glad to hear from you. I...
4From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 29 November 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (copy): British Museum This letter, one of Franklin’s major statements on colonial affairs, was in response to the queries Strahan had sent him a week before, which are printed above under November 21–22. As explained there, the queries and the reply were not designed for publication, and were not in fact published until 1774; they were intended for private circulation, in order to...
5From Benjamin Franklin to [William Strahan], 16 May 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I send you the Notes you desired of me. When you have dress’d them they’ll be fit to appear in Company. I send also a little Article of News for your Paper, which I wish may be inserted this Evening if you see no Objection. I mean to set the Dispute in a ridiculous Light if I could. The Act of Parliament requires the Colony to find for the Troops, Barracks,...
6From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, [8 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library The Bearer is Mr. Brown of whom I spoke to you formerly. I hope you can, without Inconvenience, afford him some Employment as a Compostor. He will be with me till the Beginning of next Week. I send one of the Papers, and shall send the other in the Morning. If you see any thing in them improper for Publication in your Paper, impute it to my being (as you say) too...
7From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, [27 November 1765] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library Oh! my dear Friend! I never was more surpriz’d than on reading your Note. I grieve for you, for Mrs. Strahan, for Mr. Johnston, for the little ones, and your whole Family. The Loss is indeed a great one! She was every thing that one could wish, in every Relation. I do not offer you the common Topics of Consolation. I know by Experience how little they avail; that...
8William Robertson to William Strahan, 18 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library Just now Mr. Balfour delivered to me your Letter of the 14th. and as the Post sets out in half an hour I must confine myself at present to that part of it which requires an immediate answer. You may present my most respectful and affectionate compliments to Dr. Franklin and assure him that nothing can give me greater pleasure than to serve any Man of whom he...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 24 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library I wrote to you of the first Instant, and sent you a Bill for £13 and a little List of Books to be bought with it. But as Mr. Becket has since sent them to me, I hope this will come time enough to countermand that Order. The Money, if you have receiv’d it, may be paid to Mrs. Stevenson, to whom we have wrote for sundry Things. I thank you for inserting the...
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I receiv’d your obliging Letter of June 5. I find by my Letter Book, that I wrote to you May 1. and June 25. I thought I had sent you one of my Narratives. You cannot conceive the Number of bitter Enemies that little Piece has rais’d me among the Irish Presbyterians. I now send you a Pamphlet that I have written since in favour of our projected Change of...
11From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 25 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I wrote a few Lines to go to you via Liverpool; but they were too late for the Ship, and now accompany this. I gave Mr. Parker a Power of Attorney to act for you and myself, with respect to Mecom’s Affairs, who has, under Oath, surrendred all he possess’d into his Hands, to be divided proportionably between us and his other Creditors, which are chiefly Rivington...
12From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 17 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Lehigh University Library I receiv’d your Favour per Capt. Walker, which I shall answer fully per Hammet, who sails in about ten Days. I think I am slighted lately per Mr. Becket. Pray enquire and tell me the Reason, that if I have been in fault I may amend. I left some Receipts with you for Subscription Monies to Books. I wish you to enquire about them, particularly Stewart’s Athens. My...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 May 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I receiv’d your Favour of Decemr. 20. You cannot conceive the Satisfaction and Pleasure you give your Friends here by your political Letters. Your Accounts are so clear, circumstantial and compleat, that tho’ there is nothing too much, nothing is wanting to give us, as I imagine, a more perfect Knowledge of your Publick Affairs than most People have that live...
14From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 30 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I begin to think it long since I had the Pleasure of hearing from you. Enclos’d is one of our last Gazettes, in which you will see that our Dissensions are broke out again; more violently than ever. Such a Necklace of Resolves! and all Nemine contradicente, I believe you have seldom seen. If you can find Room for them and our Messages in the Chronicle,...
15From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 19 December 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I have before me your Favours of July 16, and Augt. 18. which is the latest. It vexes me excessively to see that Parker and Mecom are so much in Arrear with you. What is due from Parker is safe, and will be paid, I think with Interest; for he is a Man as honest as he is industrious and frugal, and has withal some Estate: his Backwardness has been owing to his bad...
16From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 September 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery I write in pain with an Arm lately dislocated, so can only acknowledge the Receipt of your Favours of May 3. and 10. And thank you for the Intelligence they contain concerning your publick Affairs. I am now 400 Miles from home, but hope to be there again in about 3 Weeks. The Indian War upon our Western Settlements, was undoubtedly stirr’d up...
17From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 8 August 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have received here your Favour of May 3. and Postscript of May 10. and thank you cordially for the Sketch you give me of the present State of your political Affairs. If the stupid brutal Opposition your good King and his Measures have lately met with should as you fear become general, surely you would not wish me to come and live among such People; you would...
18From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library You will hear before this reaches you, that the Indians have renew’d their Hostilities. They have not as usual made any previous Complaint, and various Conjectures are therefore made of the Cause. Some think it is merely to secure their Hunting Countries, which they apprehend we mean to take from them by Force and turn them into Plantations, tho’ this Apprehension...
19From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 10 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am here in my Way to New England, where I expect to be till towards the End of Summer. I have writ to you lately and have nothing to add. ’Tis against my Conscience to put you to the Charge of a Shilling for a Letter that has nothing in it to any Purpose, but as I have wrote to some of your Acquaintance by this Opportunity, I was afraid you would not forgive me...
20From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 2 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have just received your Favour of Feb. 28. being but lately returned home from Virginia. Dr. Kelly in his Letter, appears the same sensible, worthy, friendly Man I ever found him; and Smith, as usual, just his Reverse. I have done with him: For I believe no body here will prevail with me to give him another Meeting. I communicated your Postscript to B Mecom, and...
21From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 9 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery I have been from Philadelphia about 3 Weeks on a Journey hither upon the Business of the Post Office, but am now returning home, where I hope to find some Letters from you, as I hear that two Pacquets are arrived at New York since I came out. I have answer’d the Letters receiv’d from you by my Son, and have little to add. I congratulate you...
22From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I have received your Favours of Oct. 20 and Nov. 1 by my Son, who is safely arrived with my new Daughter. I thank you for your Friendly Congratulations on his Promotion. I am just return’d from a Journey I made with him thro’ his Government, and had the Pleasure of seeing him every where receiv’d with the utmost Respect and even Affection by all Ranks...
23From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 23 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I have only time to write one Line by this Conveyance, just to congratulate you on the glorious Peace you have made, the most advantageous for the British Nation in my Opinion, of any your Annals have recorded. The Places you have left or restor’d to the French I look upon to be so much in our Power in Case of a future War, as to be so many Hostages or Pledges of...
24From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 7 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I wrote you some time since to acquaint you with my Arrival, and the kind Reception I met with from my old and many new Friends, notwithstanding Dr. Smith’s false Reports in London of my Interest, as declining here. I could not wish for a more hearty Welcome, and I never experienc’d greater Cordiality. We had a long Passage, near ten Weeks from Portsmouth to this...
25From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 2 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As good Dr. Hawkesworth calls you, to whom my best Respects. I got home well the 1st. of November, and had the Happiness to find my little Family perfectly well; and that Dr. Smith’s Reports of the Diminution of my Friends were all false. My House has been full of a Succession of them from Morning to Night ever since my Arrival, congratulating me on my...
26From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 23 August 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I have been two Nights on board expecting to sail, but the Wind continuing contrary, am just now come on shore again, and have met with your kind Letter of the 20th. I thank you even for the Reproofs it contains, tho’ I have not altogether deserved them. I cannot, I assure you, quit even this disagreable Place without Regret, as it carries me still farther from...
27From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 23 July 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from John Bigelow, ed., The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin (New York and London, 1887–88), III , 208–9. As Dr. Hawkesworth calls you, I send you inclosed a line to my good friend Dr. Kelley; which you will do me the favour to deliver with the parcel directed to him. As it is vacation time I doubt whether any other acquaintance of mine may be in Oxford, or at least...
28From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 20 July 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from John Bigelow, ed., The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin (New York and London, 1887–88), III , 207–8. I received your very kind letter and invitation to Bath where I am sure I could spend some days very happily with you and Mrs. Strahan, if my time would permit; but the man-of-war, that is to be our convoy, is under sailing orders for the 30th of this month so...
29From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 14 June 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly , LXI (1888), 34. Mr. Franklin’s Compliments to Mr. Strahan, and out of pure Kindness to him offers him an Opportunity of exercising his Benevolence as a Man and his Charity as a Christian. One Spencer, formerly a Merchant of Figure and Credit in North America, being by various Misfortunes reduced to Poverty, is here in great Distress, and...
30From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 6 September 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your agreable Letter of the 4th August, is just come to hand, being sent back to me from London hither. I have been a Month on my Journey; but the first Thing I did after my Arrival here was to enquire at Mr. Kincaid’s whether you were yet in Scotland. He told me he believ’d you were out of Town, but not return’d to England, and might be heard of at Mrs. Scot’s....
31From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 31 January 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Huntington Library The above is a Copy of my last I have now before me your Favour of Sept. 11 I shall not fail on every Occasion to recommend you to my Friends on the Book Account I wish I could give you any Hopes of soon receiving your Debt of J. Read Mr. Hall, no doubt, writes you more fully concerning him. It gives me great Pleasure to hear so good an Account of our Son Billy In...
32From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 January 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Rosenbach Foundation; duplicate: Huntington Library I wrote you a Line or two yesterday, enclosing B. Mecom’s 2d Bill for £100 Sterling drawn on you upon Presumption that you had received some Bills he had sent you, amounting to about £120 more than the Ballance of his Account. He has settled honourably with me, and bought the old Printing House he had at Antigua, which he has sent to...
33From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 31 December 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Free Library of Philadelphia This serves only to cover a Bill of Exchange drawn by B. Mecom on you, upon a Supposition that you have receiv’d Bills he sent you from Antigua for about £120 more than the Ballance of your Account. If those Bills are not come to hand or not paid, you need not be at the Trouble of Protesting this Bill; but let it lie in your Hands till you hear farther from...
34From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 27 July 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library The above is a Copy of my last. Since which I have received from Philadelphia one of our Newspapers printed on the new Letter you sent us, and find that it is not a Brevier Body, but larger, and is really and truly no other than the Burgeois, No.1. of Caslon’s Specimen now lying before me, which Burgeois is mark’d by a Pen with his own Hand, Price 2 s . So that...
35From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 2 July 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston; duplicate: Yale University Library Being here, I take this Opportunity per the Packet Boat, to write you a Line, acknowledging the Receipt of your Favour of March 13. and of the Brevier Fount, which is come to Hand in good Order, and pleases Mr. Hall and me very much. I am much indebted to you for your Care in that matter, as well as many others....
36From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 27 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I have yours of Oct. 3. Bolitho being just arriv’d, the Things not yet come on shore. By the Account sent, I find I was then £59 4 s . ½ d . in your Debt. I hope you have since received the Bills I sent you per Joy and Budden for £109 8 s . 4 d . Sterling which will leave a Ballance in my Favour. I do not at all approve of B. Mecom’s being so much in your Debt,...
37From 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.
38From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 7 October 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Scheide Library, Princeton, N.J.; duplicate: University of Toronto Library Mr. Hall has wrote to you for a Fount of English, and a Fount with a Longprimer Face on a smaller Body for the Gazette, on my Account. Inclosed is a Bill for £109 8 s . 4 d . Sterling, drawn on the Revd. Mr. Saml. Chandler, which I doubt not will be readily paid. I know not well how my Account stands with you,...
39From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 23 March 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This only serves to cover a Bill of Exchange for Twenty Pounds Sterling, drawn on Alexander Grant Esqr. by Mary Steevens. I send it via Ireland, and shall write you fuller per Reeve and Hargrave, who will sail for London in a few Weeks. Mine, and my Wife’s Compliments to Mrs. Strahan. I am, with great Esteem and Affection, Dear Sir Your most humble Servant...
40From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 November 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am favoured with yours of July 31. and Augt. 5. which came to hand since my Arrival here. I hear from Mr. Parker, that the Goods for Connecticut were safe arrived at New York, and that he had sent them to Newhaven: I thank you for your Care in that Matter. Inclosed you have a second Bill for £20 Sterling drawn by Mrs. Stevens on Alexr. Grant Esqr: the first I...
41From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 8 August 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library The above is Copy of my last. Not receiving the Printing House as expected last Spring, has been a considerable Disappointment; but I am more concern’d to hear that you and yours have had so much Sickness. I hope before this time you are all perfectly recover’d. I inclose a Bill for £20 Sterling, drawn by Mrs. Mary Steevens on Alexr. Grant Esqr; which when paid...
42From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library; also duplicate: Yale University Library The above is a Copy of mine per Reeve. Two Ships are since arrived in New York, but I hear nothing yet of the Things expected, tho’ possibly they may be come. I enclose Mrs. Steevens second Bill for £20 Sterling. Please to send the following Books, viz. 2 Familiar Letters by Charles Halifax 12mo Baldwin 2 Nelson on the...
43From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 18 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library; also duplicate: New York Public Library By Capt. Gibbon I received a Copy of yours per the Myrtylla, but she is not yet arrived. I am glad to hear the Bills I sent you for £100 Sterling are accepted, and that the Goods were to be shipt soon for Connecticut. Bryant is arrived at New York, who left London the Middle of March; I have not heard whether he has brought...
44From 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.
45From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 27 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and duplicate: Yale University Library I inclose you a Bill of Philip Gibbes jr. drawn on Messrs. Lascelles and Maxwell, Merchants in London, for £50 Sterling. Also a Bill of John Hutchings on Mr. James Buchanan Merchant London for £50 Sterling which I hope will be readily paid. Twelve Pounds in these Bills is what I received of Mr. Dove for Mr. Young; the remaining £88, please to carry to...
46From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 16 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Merwin Sales Company, Catalogue No. 557 (1914), p. 16. I wrote to you via Bristol and desired you to bespeak some Letter and a Press for me. I desired Mr. Hall to look out for such a Bill for me, but he has not been able to procure one at any reasonable rate. Among the lost [long?] list of type is 300 lb. long Primer with Figures and Signs sufficient for...
47From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 27 October 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have your Favour of June 27, and am quite surpriz’d at the Conduct of Mr. Harris. He is return’d to Maryland as I hear, a Parson! I have now received Bower’s 2d Vol. and shall send to the Trenton Library to enquire after Crito and Delaresse. The Sum was £25 to which I limited the Books, &c. to be sent my Nephew Benja. Mecom. But if you have sent to the Amount of...
48From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 June 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library The above is a Copy of mine per Reeves. This is only to request you would send me here, the Quarto Abridgement of the Philosophical Transactions, except the first five Volumes which I have. Send me also Fielding’s Proposals for employing the Poor. In haste, I am Yours ut supra All well. Mr. Hall out of town. The 5 Vols of Transactions I have, are abridg’d by...
49From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 9 May 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library; also duplicate: New York Public Library I have your Favour of Jany. 30 and thank you for the Civility shown on my Recommendation to Mr. Harris. What you mention concerning the Books, was not at all amiss. Neither the 2d Vol. of Bower’s History of the Popes, nor Delaresse’s Art of Painting, nor Crito, are to be found in Mr. Hall’s Trunks. I have settled a Nephew of...
50From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 16 November 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your Favours of Augt. 26. with the Books for the Library Company, &c. came safe to hand; and all turn out right; excepting that D’Argens Philosophy of Common Sense is not come, but another thing of his instead of it. The Life of Boerhave sent is an old and small Book; what we intended was a new Life lately published in (I think) 4 Vols. 8vo. Condamine’s Figure of...