16081From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 27 September 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I received your very kind Letter of May 20. which came here while I was absent in Germany. The favourable Sentiments you express of my Conduct with regard to the Repeal of the Stamp Act, give me real Pleasure; and I hope in every other matter of publick Concern, so to behave myself as to stand fair in the Opinions of the Wise and Good: What the rest think and say of...
16082From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a few days ago by Mr. Penrose via Mary land, when I wrote also to the Speaker, to Mr. Galloway, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Hall. I have now as little time as then to enlarge, having wrote besides to day so much that I am almost blind. But by the March Packet shall fully answer your late Letters. Let the Vaults alone till my Return: As you have a Wood...
16083To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you by the Packet, inclosing a Copy of the Extract of a Letter from Thomas Penn Esqr. to his Nephew the Governor, which is inclosed in this Letter. This Account of the Petitions for a Change of this Government from Proprietary to Royal, has struck our Friends with the utmost Consternation. And indeed I am not a little alarmed at the Consequences....
16084From Benjamin Franklin to Ann Penn, 20 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Albert H. Smyth, ed., The Writings of Benjamin Franklin , iv (New York, 1906), 466–7. I received yours of the eleventh Instant, and condole with you most sincerely on the loss of your Son—my amiable young friend. It must have been a heavy loss to you; For he was truly a good Child; His last Will is only the last Instance of the affectionate dutiful Regard he always...
16085To Benjamin Franklin from the Earl of Morton, 24 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Lord Morton’s Compliments to Dr. Franklin, Acquaints him that he has been elected one of the Auditors on the part of the Society, and desires the favor of his Company to Dinner on Saturday next the 29th, and that he would come about one o’Clock so as there may be time to Examine the Accounts before Dinner. Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin For James Douglas,...
16086To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Broughton, 3 July 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you will pardon me as I am really sorry to find myself Obliged to trouble you On this Occasion but as I have tryed every Other way in my power and found them Enefectual I will not doubt your Usuall Candor will plead My excuse and now to take Up No More of your Usefull time I must inform you that I have had An Account Running on with Mrs. Franklin for...
16087To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, [14 July–15 August 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society On Satterday I wrote to you and in Closed a bill to you gave it to Mr. Foxcrofte to send as I did not know wather the Packit wold not Saile before this poste. Laste evening I reseved a line and halef from Salley to let me know that thay was returnd on Satterday night and was well the reste was a bought getting things for them as Lord Hope was to...
16088Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence to Richard Jackson and Benjamin Franklin, 8 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress When the Assembly reconvened in May after a recess of about three months, “A Member of the Committee of Correspondence,” undoubtedly Joseph Galloway, presented letters from Franklin “addressed to that Member only, and not to the said Committee, though relative to the Business of the Public.” When the letters had been read the House resolved that the Committee “do...
16089From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 11 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania , v (Henry Miller, Phila., 1775), 446, in the record of May 6, 1766; also as a broadside headed “Addendum,” but taken from the Miller edition (n.p., n.d., copy in Yale University Library). In Compliance with the Direction in the Committee’s Letter, I have procured, and now send you...
16090From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan: Report on William Pitt’s Speech in the House of Commons, [14 January 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Pierpont Morgan Library When Parliament reassembled on January 14 after a recess of about four weeks, the King delivered a speech from the throne recommending in deliberately indefinite terms that the members give attention to “the just Rights and Authority of the British Legislature” and the “Welfare and Prosperity of all my People.” The king promised that his ministers would lay papers...
16091Petition to the Pennsylvania Assembly regarding Fairs, 1731 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania To the Honourable House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania The Petition of divers Inhabitants of the City of Philadelphia Humbly sheweth That the Fairs which are held in this City twice a Year are of very small Benefit to the Inhabitants the Wares therein sold being either such as may be bought at any other Time, or else insignificant...
16092To Benjamin Franklin from William Heberden, [Before 29 September 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL : William Pepper, Philadelphia (1956) Dr. Heberden sends his compliments to Dr. Franklin and desires the favor of his company at dinner on monday next (Sept. 29th.) at half an hour past three. On Dr. Heberden, distinguished physician, for whose pamphlet on smallpox inoculation BF had written the preface, see above, VIII , 281. Since the invitation was for “monday next (Sept. 29th.),” it...
16093From Benjamin Franklin to Abbot Upcher, 4 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Since my Return from abroad I have been inform’d of your good Purpose to purchase a land[ed?] Estate in America of the Value of One Thousand Pounds and to apply the Rents and Profits thereof to the Support of Schools for the Instruction of Negro Children. And I have been desired by the Associates to consider the Matter, and give my Opinion where, and in...
16094From Benjamin Franklin to [Hugh Roberts], 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I receiv’d your kind Letter of Nov. 27. You cannot conceive how much Good the cordial Salutations of an old Friend do the Heart of a Man so far from home, and hearing frequently of the Abuses thrown on him in his Absence by the Enemies that Party has rais’d against him. In the meantime I hope I have done even those Enemies some Service in our late...
16095From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [February–March 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society There is a brown Paper Packet for you directed but contains chiefly a Letter and Parcel of News papers for Billy, which pray send to him directly. I mean the Newspapers. You need not indeed open the Pacquet, if it were not to take out a Letter or two for Neighbour Sumain, and the Beans. But pray send him up the Papers directly before they are...
16096To Benjamin Franklin from the Associates of Dr. Bray, [4 December? 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with ms insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society The Associates of Dr. Bray, for establishing Parochial Libraries, and instructing the Negroes in the British Plantations, meet on Thursday the 4 Day of December at Ten o’Clock, at their Office at the Angel and Bible, in Ave-Mary Lane. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin Near / The Strand For the Associates of Dr. Bray, a...
16097To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 12 July 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your kind letter of May the 9th by the Packet, for which I am much obliged, and observe what you say as to the Accounts; but, as you are pleased to express your Satisfaction, with respect to my Desire of settling every thing right, and my Sentiments are exactly the same as to you, we can not, as you remark, have any Difference:...
16098From Benjamin Franklin to Rudolph Erich Raspe, 21 July 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Landesbibliothek, Kassel I had a Bill on Messrs. Michael David, & Fils, for 526 ⅓ Reichs Thalern. I receiv’d 50 Ducats in Specie, and a Bill on Franckfurth for 134 Ducats, making in all but 184 Ducats. I request the Favour of Monsr. Raspè to speak of it to Monsr. David, and to get the Mistake rectified, receiving and retaining in his Hands the Money still due to me, to pay for such Books...
16099From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Hopkinson, 9 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have been so busy that I have not had time to go to the Customhouse about your Salary, since mine of Feby. 26. (but will now do it soon) nor to write to you since I saw the Bishop, which was some time after he receiv’d your Letters. He express’d a Pleasure in hearing of and from his Relations, enquir’d in what manner he could send Letters to you, and...
16100From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [10 May 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from [Jared Sparks, ed.,] A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 275. I like the project of a colony in the Ilinois country, and will forward it to my utmost here. The original letter has not been found. On the relationship between this extract and those immediately above and below, see the headnote to the one...
16101To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Kent, 19 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With a pleasing pride I often recollect, your former complaisance in calling me Brother Ben and agreable to the Old saying non Animam Mutant, qui trans mare Currunt. I still challenge the Honour of being your Friend: but I should be but a miserable private Friend, If I was not the Friend of all men: and it is from that, principle, as well an especial Love...
16102To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Kent, [c. September 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Assure you I am not so mercinary as to expect the undeserv’d favour of A Line from you; but agreable to An old Observation, on which I much rely viz Non animam Mutant qui trans mare Currunt I shall make my self as free with you, as when you used to flatter me, with the kind appellation of, “Brother” Ben. And If these should Interrupt your grand Concerns...
16103Record of Birth, 6 January 1706 (Franklin Papers)
MS Record, Boston Births, V , 113: City Registry, Boston Benjamen Son of Josiah Frankling & Abiah his Wife born 6 Janry 1706 This entry is taken from an official compilation, made at some later time, from the original book of record. The clerk used the year dates of the New Style calendar (adopted by Great Britain in 1752), recording the year of BF ’s birth as a simple 1706 instead...
16104From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 11 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind little Letter of August 26. per Packet. Scarce any one else wrote to me by that Opportunity. I suppose they imagin’d I should not be return’d from Germany. You mention writing to me by a Son of Mr. Potts’s. A Ship is come from Philadelphia, Capt. Golley. But I have only one Letter in her, and that is from Mr. Hall, to whom my Respects....
16105From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Fox, 1 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William Logan Fox, Philadelphia (1956) I wrote to you of the 22d past, via Maryland. Inclos’d I send a Copy of the late Votes on the Affair of the American Stamp-Act. The Repeal is now in a fair way of being compleated, on which I congratulate you and the Assembly. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, P.S. An Act will pass at the same time with the Repeal of the Stamp Act,...