1William 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...
2From 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.
3From 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.
4From 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.
5From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 February 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract reprinted from Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 906, pt. 2, supplement (October 26, 1904), item 2910. Our Friend Hall goes on exceedingly well: Has lately got a Daughter. Mary, first child of David and Mary Hall, was born Feb. 7, 1749, and died before Sept. 27, 1750. PMHB , XVI (1892), 364; LX (1936), 458.
6From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Yale University Library This is only to enclose a Bill of Exchange for £25 Sterling, and to wish you and good Mrs. Strahan, with your Children &c. many happy new Years. Mr. Hall continues well. We shall both write largely per Seymour. This via New York. I am, &c.
7From 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...
8From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 February 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Huntington Library Enclos’d is a second Bill for £19 7 s. 1½ d. Sterling. The first I sent you some time since. Mr. Hall will write, tho’ neither of us have much Time, the Vessel hurrying away for fear of the Ice. I shall soon send you more Bills. With my best Respects to Mrs. Strahan, in which my Dame joins, and hearty Wishes for the Welfare of you and yours, I am, Dear Sir, Your...
9From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 29 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly , LXI (1888), 26. Your Favours of March 18 and April 1 are come to Hand with all the Books, &c. mentioned in the invoice, in good Order, and am much obliged to you for your ready Compliance with all my Requests. I believe I could have got Subscriptions for 20 Sets of the Universal History, and perhaps more, but unluckily a Ship from Ireland...
10From 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...
11From 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...
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, 14 April 1745 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Rosenbach Foundation I wrote to you lately via New York, and sent a Copy via Maryland, one or other of which I hope may come to hand. I have only Time now to desire you to send me the following Books, viz. 1 Doz Cole’s Eng. Dictionaries 3 Doz. Mather’s Young Man’s Companion 2 Doz Fisher’s Ditto 2 Quarter Waggoners for America 6 Echard’s Gazetteer 4 Doz Grammars with const[ruin]g...
14From 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...
15From 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...
16From 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...
17From 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...
18From 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...
19From 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...
20From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Thomas S. Gates, Philadelphia (1957); also duplicate: Yale University Library I wrote a Line to you some days since, via New York, enclosing a Bill of £25 Sterling; the second in a Copy by some other Vessel from that Port; the third you have herein, together with a Bill of £60 Sterling, which I hope will be duly honour’d. My Wife wrote to you per Mesnard for 6 Nelson’s Justice, 6...
21From 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...
22From 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...
23From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 February 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote you per Capt. Budden, who sail’d the Beginning of December, and sent you a Bill of Exchange on Jonathan Gurnel & Co. for Fifty Pounds, and desired you to send me Viner’s, Bacon’s and Danvers’s Abridgments of the Law, with Wood’s and Coke’s Institutes. I have no Copy of the Letter, and forget whether I added the Compleat Attorney in 6 or 8 Vols. 8vo. the...
24From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 11 December 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pennsylvania Hospital; also duplicate: New York Public Library (Berg) While the War continues I find it will not answer to send for any considerable Quantities of Books; for that Business, as well as others grows duller daily, and People are unwilling to give the advanc’d Prices we are now obliged to put on Books, by the excessive Charges of Insurance &c. So at present I only send for a...
25From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 November 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your Favour of June 11. per Capt. Tiffin, with the Books, &c. all in good Order. Mr. Parks, who drew the Bill on Guidart & Sons, is surpriz’d at their Protesting it, they having, as he says, large Effects of his in their Hands: He will speedily renew that Bill. Enclos’d I send you a Bill on Xr. Kilby Esqr, for £19.7.1½ Sterling, which I hope will...
26From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 16 November 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I wrote a Line to you via Maryland, and another via New York, lately, enclosing with each a Bill for £15 Sterl. The Third I now send you. I receiv’d the Books and Letter you sent in good Order, and purpose to write for another Parcel of Books by Mesnard who is to sail in 2 or 3 Weeks. I have now every Thing ready for Mr. Hall to go to the W. Indies, but...
27From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 23 October 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Bigelow, Works , X , 253–4. I hope before this can reach you your Parliament will have met and ordered payment of what has been so long due on account of the Canada expedition. In the settling our account I will make you a reasonable allowance for the disappointment occasioned by the delay of my son’s bill. J. Read has removed into a house of less rent, which I was...
28From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Hall will acquaint you of the Footing we are about to go upon &c. &c. I have only time to acquaint you, that I have sent you several Bills lately, and will speedily remit you whatever shall be due to you after the Receipt of the Parcel of Books some time since wrote for. My best Respects to Mrs. Strahan and Wishes of Happiness to you and all Yours, in...
29From 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...
30From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 June 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I receiv’d yours of March 26. with the Books per Smith in good Order: And your Account, which agrees with mine except in a Trifle, the Share of the Charges on Ainsworth carried to J. Read’s Account. I am concern’d at your laying so long out of your Money, and must think of some Way of making you Amends. I have wrote to Smith at Antigua to quicken him in...
31From 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...
32From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 26 April 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; also duplicate: Boston Public Library I have had no Line from [you] since that dated June 1745, which, with your equal Silence to our Friends Hall and Read, made me apprehend that Death had depriv’d me of the Pleasure I promis’d myself in our growing Friendship: But Lieut. Grung writing in February last that you and your Family were well, convinces me...
33From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 19 July 1751 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Bigelow, Works (Federal Edition, 1904), XII , 253. This serves to cover the enclosed and recommend the affair to your care. I have assured the gentlemen concerned that you will serve them as well and cheap as any bookseller in London. They are men of ability, and will be constant customers. We are all well, and join in the most cordial salutations to you, Mrs....
34From 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...
35From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 7 August 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library I wrote to you lately per Mesnard, and sent a Bill for £50 Sterling, with a List of Books to be purchased for our Library; a Copy of which I shall send per another Ship that sails in a few Days. This is chiefly to recommend to you Mr. Matthias Harris, a Gentleman of Maryland, and a Friend of mine. As he will be entirely a Stranger in London, your Acquaintance and...
36From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 May 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; also duplicates: New York Public Library and Pierpont Morgan Library This is only to enclose a third Bill, for £15.0.0 Sterling the first and second of which went from this Port directly and from Annapolis: And to desire you to send me two setts of Popple’s Mapps of N. America one bound the other in Sheets, they are for our Assembly; they also want the...
37From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 9 January 1749 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This just serves to cover a Bill of Exchange for £8 8 s. o d. Sterling, and to let you know we are all well. It goes via New York, our River being full of Ice. I shall write you largely per our next Vessel, particularly about Mr. Read’s Affair. I wrote to you per our two last Vessels. The Post just going, cannot add but that I am Dear Sir, Your obliged Friend and...
38From 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...
39From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 10 July 1743 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library Mr. Read has communicated to me part of a Letter from you, recommending a young Man whom you would be glad to see in better Business than that of a Journeyman Printer. I have already three Printing-Houses in three different Colonies, and purpose to set up a fourth if I can meet with a proper Person to manage it, having all Materials ready for that purpose. If...
40From 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...
41From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 September 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library My Daughter receiv’d her Books all in good Order, and thanks you for your kind Care in sending them. Enclos’d is a second Bill for £20 Sterling. The first went per Mesnard. There is a little Book on the Game of Chess, by Philip Stamma, printed for J. Brindley, 1745. If to be had, please to send it me; with the Remaining Vols. of Viner as fast as they are...
42From 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...
43From 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...
44From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 14 April 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Rosenbach Foundation The above is a Copy of mine per Capt. Martyn. I have only to desire you to add the following Books. 6 French Testaments. 12 Boyer’s Grammars, 12 Cord[ier]. Colloqu[es]. French. 3 Cambray’s Fables. 3 Telemaque, 2 Travels of Cyrus, French. 2 Boyer’s Dictionaries 8vo. 1 New German and Eng. Dictionary and Grammar by Professor A. of Leipsig. Yours &c. Addressed: To Mr...
45From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 3 July 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Bigelow, Works , X , 252–3. I wrote to you very fully per Arthur concerning your affair with Mr. Read, and shall have nothing to add on that subject till I hear further from you. I acquainted you that he had given his bond for the balance due to you, and that I do not look on the debt as desperate. Enclosed I send you several second bills, having sent the firsts...
46From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 21 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly , lxi (1888), 29. I wrote to you in the Winter via New York, for a few Books, and sent a 2d Bill of £30 Barbados Currency. The first is enclos’d. I hope it came to Hand Time enough for you to meet with the Gentleman and get the Money. He is Capt. of a Ship, and was to be found in the New England Coffee House, but probably may be gone before you...
47From 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...
48William 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
49From 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,...
50From 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,...