2491From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 10 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Connecticut Historical Society I am concern’d that I have not for a long time heard any thing of Sister Douse. Pray inform me how she is. Brothers John, Peter and my self, agreed to contribute towards a small Pension for her Support; I should be glad to know whether it is regularly paid. Inclos’d is a Receipt for 30 Reams of Paper. I wrote to you per Morton and refer to that. My Love to...
2492Provincial Commissioners to Robert Hunter Morris, [13 June 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission When the Indians first began to Infest our Frontiers, the Commissioners were of Oppinion, that the best means of Securing our Inhabitants, was to Carry the warr into the Enemys Country, and hunt them in all their Fishing, Hunting, Planting and dwelling places: But having sent for Croghan and others, in order to obtain their Oppinion; and they...
2493From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 15 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I can now only acknowledge the Receipt of your Favours of Feb. 12, 21, 24, 29, and April 1. together with two Boxes, containing Parcels for the Library and John Bartram, all safe and deliver’d. Enclos’d is a 2d Bill for £20 Sterling; the first went in March. When receiv’d please to credit my private Account with it. I send also two other Bills of £50...
2494From Benjamin Franklin to William Shipley, 15 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Royal Society of Arts The above is a Copy of my Letter sent you last Year, to which having receiv’d no Answer, I imagine it by some means miscarried. I shall write to my good Friend and Correspondent Mr. Collinson to pay the 20 Guineas therein mentioned, to your Treasurer Mr. Goodchild. I am, Sir, Your most humble Servant Endorsed: Benjn. Franklin Esqr. Lre [Letter] Phil: 27. Novr. 1755...
2495To Benjamin Franklin from John Hunter, 17 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have the pleasure of Advising you of the Safe Arrivall of Genl. Abercrombie, with the Transports, Except Two, who they parted with in a very Dark Night, Not a Man Sick among those that are Arrivd. The Tents &c. being all on Board the ships not Arrivd it is Said the Troops are to be Landed this Day. The German Officers Came in the Last Pacquett, and are all...
2496To Benjamin Franklin from William Parsons, 19 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Huntington Library; draft: American Philosophical Society Your Favour of the 10th. Instant came safe to Hand, but I was not at Home when it came here; being over the Mountains visiting some of the Forts and Companies there. And since my Return have been very busily employed in making out the Returns of the several Companies of the first Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment, by Order of...
2497William Franklin to Timothy Horsfield, 21 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Capt. Orndt having informed the Commissioners, that there are a Number of the Province Arms at Bethlehem, under your Care, which he thinks are better than those belonging to his Company; they have given him Leave to take his Choice of those Arms, and directed him to return as many of those he now has, in the Room of those he shall take. I am Sir your humble...
2498Memorial to James Abercromby, 22 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Huntington Library It has been proposed to keep in constant Readiness a Number of Riders and Horses at different Parts of the Continent, viz. at New York 4, at Philadelphia 3, at in Connecticut 2, at Boston 2, and some in the intermediate Stages. These to be always ready to go at a Moment’s Warning, with Dispatches for the King’s Service. This Method will doubtless answer the End, with...
2499From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 28 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received here your Letter of extravagant Thanks, which put me in mind of the Story of the Member of Parliament, who began one of his Speeches with saying, he thank’d God he was born and bred a Presbyterian; on which another took leave to observe, that the Gentleman must needs be of a most grateful Disposition, since he was thankful for such very small...
2500From Benjamin Franklin to William Parsons, 28 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received here your Favour of the 19th Instant, with a Copy of your Remarks in Reviewing the Forts, for which I am much obliged to you; and I hope the Governor and Commissioners will immediately take the necessary Measures to remedy every thing that you found amiss. I think you hazarded your self with too small Escorts, and am glad you got safe through. It...
2501From 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....
2502From Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, 2 July 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The John Rylands Library, Manchester I received your Favour of the 24th. of February with great Pleasure, as it inform’d me of your Welfare, and express’d your continu’d Regard for me. I thank you for the Pamphlet you enclos’d to me. As we had just observ’d a Provincial Fast on the same Occasion, I thought it very seasonable to be publish’d in Pensilvania, and accordingly reprinted it...
2503From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 12 July 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 43–4. I am still here, waiting the arrival of Lord Loudoun. I received yours of the 5th instant, and shall forward the letter to Benny. I would not have you grieve about the affair; perhaps all is for the best. When I get home, I shall send you...
2504Memorial to the Earl of Loudoun on the State of the Forces of Pennsylvania, 22 July 1756 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Huntington Library The Frontier of Pensilvania, from Delaware to the Maryland Line is now cover’d by about 15 Stockado’d Forts, garrison’d, some with 75 Men each, some with 50, and some intermediate Posts with smaller Parties. Between 4 and 500 Men are gone up to Shamokin, with every Necessary for Building a strong large Fort there; and are now actually at work upon it. It is suppos’d...
2505From Benjamin Franklin to Sir Everard Fawkener, 27 July 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Archives, Windsor Castle I wrote you a very long Letter by the Harriot, Capt. Bonell, to which I have now little to add. It was in answer to those I had been favour’d with from you. Being requested, by a Letter from Mr. Pownall before he left England, to be here at Lord Loudon’s Arrival, I came accordingly about the time he was expected, but waited near 5 Weeks before he...
2506From 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...
2507From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, [July 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Drafts: American Philosophical Society Because of Franklin’s increasing involvement in the bitter political disputes in Pennsylvania during 1755–56, Thomas Penn, Governor Morris, and others tried to deprive him of his lucrative office of deputy postmaster general which he held at the Crown’s pleasure. Early in July 1756, he probably defended himself in a long letter (now lost) to his immediate...
2508Provincial Commissioners to Robert Hunter Morris, 12 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library Your Honour having in your Letter of Yesterday to the Commissioners recommended sundry Articles of Expence, and the advancing of Money on several Occasions, they think it necessary to acquaint your Honour, which they hereby do, that the Fifty-five Thousand Pounds put into their Hands by Act of Assembly for the King’s Use, is all expended, together with about Two...
2509Robert Charles to Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 12 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We have lately received Mr. Franklin’s Letter Dated from New York the 4th. of last month with the Several Papers therein referred to, and shall endeavour to make the best use of the seasonable Intelligence and Pertinent Observations where with He has furnished us. After all the Proofs which the Assembly have now given of Zeal for the Publick Cause, and of...
2510To Benjamin Franklin from David Colden, 12 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society You oblidged me very much by communicating your Electrical Experiments made in pursuance of those by Mr. Canton: I shall think myself fully rewarded for my attempts in Electricity if I can thereby procure the notice of one whose Labours always aford agreable instruction to those who are desirous of discovering truth. Altho’ I have not intirely laid aside...
2511Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 18 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 128. On August 17 the Assembly received a message from the governor informing it of the capture by French and Indians, July 31, of Fort Granville, about 25 miles west of the Susquehanna on the Juniata River (near present-day Lewiston). The treasury was depleted, and Morris asked for new...
2512From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Pownall, 19 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I have done my self the Honour to write to you twice since my Return, relating to the propos’d Road; but have as yet had no Line from you. Inclos’d I send you a Copy of the late Treaty or Conference at Easton, with a Letter from Bishop Spangenberg to Mr. Norris, by which you will see nothing is like to come of that Treaty; that the Indians are preparing to...
2513From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 19 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have your Favours of July 23. and Aug. 3. but that you mention to have wrote per Mr. Balfour, is not come to hand. I forwarded the Pacquet inclos’d in that of July 23. as directed; and shall readily take care of any other Letters from or for you, that pass thro’ my hands. The Post between this Place and Winchester was established for the Accommodation of the...
2514Pennsylvania Assembly: Address to William Denny, 23 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 130. The Assembly minutes, August 19, record: “The House being informed, that the Gentleman who is appointed to succeed our present Governor, is now on the Road hither from New-York, and will be in Town some Time To-morrow, Adjourned to Five a Clock To-morrow Afternoon.” In the rush to honor...
2515Philadelphia City Regiment: Address to William Denny and Reply, [23 August? 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , August 26, 1756. To the Honourable William Denny , Esq; Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, The Address of the Officers of the Regiment and Artillery Company of the City of Philadelphia. May it please your Honour , We heartily congratulate your Honour on your safe Arrival and Accession to...
2516To Benjamin Franklin from William Parsons, 25 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society The inclosed is the Copy of a Bill which I had given over for lost as Mr. Kilbey protested it the next Fall after it was drawn. But I have lately heard that Richd. Nugent the Drawer is still an Officer in one of the Regiments now in the Service either against Crown Point or at Oswego. And I have been informed that Mr. Stevens (or Stevenson) at Albany has...
2517From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Ray, 26 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your very agreable Line [of] the 2d. Inst. in which you tell me you would write me a long Letter, but that you expect soon to see me in Boston. I know not now when I shall enjoy that Pleasure, being more involv’d in publick Affairs than ever: so that I cannot be so long out of the Province as such a Journey requires; therefore, dear Girl, write...
2518Pennsylvania Assembly: Address to the Governor and Reply to the Governor’s Message, 31 August 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 134. In undertaking his responsibilities as governor, Denny summoned the Assembly to the council chamber on August 24 to hear a speech reminding it of his duty to protect the province, of the special responsibility of Pennsylvania in the war, since it had been declared in consequence of French...
2519From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Pownall, [August? 1756] (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Huntington Library I have some Suspicions that one OFarrel, an Irish Roman Catholick, may possibly be the Writer of those Letters, by the account I remember to have heard of him. I think his Name is O Farrel, but may be mistaken; however he may be known by this Description; He is a tall lusty Man, kept a Tavern at Frederic Town in Maryland, where he ingratiated himself with General...
2520Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital: Address to William Denny and Reply, [1 September 1756] (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Pennsylvania Hospital At its meeting on Aug. 28, 1756, the Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital noting that “it may be expedient to address our new Governor Denny on his arrival,” appointed Franklin, Evan Morgan, Israel Pemberton, and Samuel Rhoads to draft the message. The Board approved it on September 1 and waited on Denny as a body the same afternoon to present the...