81Report of a Committee on By-Laws for St. John’s Lodge, [5 June 1732] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, Abstract of the Proceedings … 1885 , pp. 37–9. The Committee you have been pleased to appoint to consider of the present State of the Lodge, and of the properest Methods to improve it, in obedience to your commands have met, and, after much and mature Deliberation, have come to the following Resolutions: 1. That since the excellent...
82[Louis Timothée?] to the Reader, 24 June 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Philadelphische Zeitung , June 24, 1732. Wiewohl ich geglaubet hätte, dass sich unter denen teutschen Einwohnern dieses Landes mehr Liebhaber solten gefunden haben, die dieses zumahl vor junge Persohnen so nützliche werck, die ausgabe der Zeitungen nehmlich, befördern, und dazu mit anstehen würden; so erstrecket sich doch die anzahl derer die sich dazu unterschrieben haben vor jetzo...
83Query to the Casuist: A Case of Conscience, 26 June 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 26, 1732; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. I am puzzled with a certain Case of Conscience, which I would gladly have well solved; and if the acute Gentleman who has sometimes in your Paper assum’d the Name of Casuist , would undertake the Discussion, it will exceedingly oblige, Your Friend and Reader, &c. The Case is this; Suppose A...
84From the Casuist: A Case of Conscience, 3 July 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 3, 1732; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The Case of Conscience propos’d to me in you last Gazette, does not require much Consideration to give an Answer. It should seem that the Proposer of that Case, is either no Christian, or a very ill instructed one; otherwise he might easily have learnt his Duty from these positive Laws of...
85Anti-Casuist: A Case of Conscience, [3 July 1732] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Anti Casuist says: I allow the Heighnousness of the Crime, &c. Whether I am a Christian or a Man of Reason, I am not unjustifiable in doing it, from these Considerations. If my Wife commits Adultery with him, she thereby dissolves the Bond of Marriage between her and me, and makes us two separate and single Persons. The Laws of every Country and even...
86Anthony Afterwit, 10 July 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 10, 1732; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. I am an honest Tradesman, who never meant Harm to any Body. My Affairs went on smoothly while a Batchelor; but of late I have met with some Difficulties, of which I take the Freedom to give you an Account. About the Time I first address’d my present Spouse, her Father gave out in Speeches, that...
87Celia Single, 24 July 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 24, 1732; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. I must needs tell you, that some of the Things you print do more Harm than Good; particularly I think so of my Neighbour the Tradesman’s Letter in one of your late Papers, which has broken the Peace of several Families, by causing Difference between Men and their Wives: I shall give you here...
88Alice Addertongue, 12 September 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , September 12, 1732; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. I was highly pleased with your last Week’s Paper upon Scandal , as the uncommon Doctrine therein preach’d is agreeable both to my Principles and Practice, and as it was published very seasonably to reprove the Impertinence of a Writer in the foregoing Thursdays Mercury , who at the...
89Joseph Breintnall to Peter Collinson, 7 November 1732 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum; also MS Minute Book: Library Company of Philadelphia Your Goodness in assisting Mr. Hopkinson in the Choice and Purchase of our Books, and the valuable Present you have so generously made us, demand our most grateful Acknowledgements. An Undertaking like ours, was as necessary here, as we hope it will be useful; there being no Manner of Provision made by the Government...
90Reply to a Complaining Reader, 9 November 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 9, 1732. As you sometimes take upon you to correct the Publick, you ought in your Turn patiently to receive publick Correction. My Quarrel against you is, your Practice of publishing under the Notion of News, old Transactions which I suppose you hope we have forgot. For Instance, in your Numb. 669, you tell us from London of July 20. That the...
91Agreement between Louis Timothée and Directors of Library Company, 14 November 1732 (Franklin Papers)
DS : New York Public Library Memorandum of Agreement indented and made the fourteenth Day of November Anno Dom. One thousand seven hundred and thirty two between Louis Timothée of the City of Philadelphia Gentleman Of the one part and Benjamin Franklin Robert Grace Thomas Godfrey William Maugridge John Nicholas John Jones junr Hugh Roberts Anthony Nicholas William Parsons and Henry Pratt a...
92On Colds, 30 November 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 30, 1732. From all Parts of this Province, and even from Maryland, People complain of Colds, which are become more general than can be remember’d in these Parts before. Some ascribe this Distemper to the sudden Change of Weather into hard Frost, which we had about the middle of November; but others believe it contagious, and think ’tis...
93Poor Richard, 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1733. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1733, … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Reprinted from the copy of the first impression in the Rosenbach Foundation. A copy of the third impression is in Historical Society of Pennsylvania.) A successful almanac was a valuable source of income to a...
94Extracts from the Gazette, 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 4 to December 31, 1733 Yesterday, being Market Day, Watt who was concern’d in the Counterfeit Money, as mentioned in one of our late Papers, receiv’d part of his Punishment, being whipt, pilloried and cropt. He behaved so as to touch the Compassion of the Mob, and they did not fling at him (as was expected) neither Snow-balls nor any Thing else. We...
95Slippery Sidewalks, 11 January 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 11, 1732/3. Walking the Street on one of these late slippery Mornings, I caught two terrible Falls, which made me, by way of Precaution for the future, get my Shoes frosted before I went home: for I am a stiff old Fellow, and my Joints none of the most pliant. At the Door before which I fell last, stood a Gentleman-like Looby, with a couple of...
96Directors of Library Company to Thomas Penn and Reply, 16 May 1733 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Friends Library, London; also MS Minute Book, Library Company of Philadelphia; printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , May 31, 1733. Franklin and the Directors of the Library Company had learned that the Proprietor would welcome an address praying his “Countenance and Protection” of their young institution, and on May 14 a committee composed of Franklin, Thomas Hopkinson, William Coleman,...
97Agreement of Directors of Library Company, 28 May 1733 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania We the Subscribers hereto, Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia, do hereby agree and promise each one of us with and to the rest that we will endeavour at all Times hereafter to duly attend at the Monthly Meetings of the said Directors and at such intervening Meetings as shall at such Monthly Meetings be by the Directors present agreed on....
98Remarks on a South Carolina Currency Scheme, 31 May 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , May 31, 1733. As there are frequently Things published in the neighbouring Provinces, which to see would be agreeable to my Readers, but being of too great a Length, I have been obliged either to retail ’em Piecemeal, which disjoints or breaks the Connection of Thoughts, or wholly to omit them; I am therefore lately advised to abstract and give the...
99Receipted Bill to the Proprietors, 25 June 1733 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Friends Library, London 1. For printing 5 Sheets at 30 s. per Sheet £ 7 10 – 2. For Paper 5 Ream, and 5/6 of a Ream at 20 s. 5 16 8 3. For Stitching 500 Books, and pasting the Maps at 6 s. per Hund. 1 10 – 4. For cutting the Mapp in Wood
100A Scolding Wife, 5 July 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 5, 1733. In the copy of this issue of the Gazette in the Yale University Library a typographical error in the essay has been corrected in a hand that appears to be Franklin’s. The presumed source of this correction and the style of the essay are the reasons why the editors believe it may have been written by Franklin. ’Tis an old Saying and a true...
101On Ill-Natured Speaking, 12 July 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 12, 1733; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. To the Printer of the Gazette . ’Tis strange that among Men, who are born for Society and mutual Solace, there should be any who take Pleasure in speaking disagreeable Things to their Acquaintance: But such there are, I assure you, and I should be glad if a little publick Chastisement might be...
102[A Meditation on a Quart Mugg, 19 July 1733] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 19, 1733. This essay was first printed by Smyth ( Writings , 11, 198), who considered it a “highly characteristic production.” The present editors, however, believe that the essay is not sufficiently characteristic of Franklin’s style to be attributed to him. No external evidence of authorship has been found and it is therefore omitted here.
103On Literary Style, 2 August 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , August 2, 1733; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. To the Printer of the Gazette . There are few Men, of Capacity for making any considerable Figure in Life, who have not frequent Occasion to communicate their Thoughts to others in Writing; if not sometimes publickly as Authors, yet continually in the Management of their private Affairs, both...
104Power of Attorney to Deborah Franklin, 30 August 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society Know all Men by these Presents, That I Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, Printer have constituted, made and appointed, and by these Presents do constitute, make and appoint my trusty and loving Friend [Friend struck out ] Wife Deborah Franklin to be my true and lawful Attorney, for me and in...
105Half-Hour’s Conversation with a Friend, 16 November 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 16, 1733. Andrew Hamilton, speaker of the Assembly, recorder of Philadelphia, and a trustee of the Loan Office, was one of the most powerful public figures in Pennsylvania from 1727 until his death in 1741. Resentful and jealous enemies bitterly attacked him in Bradford’s American Weekly Mercury , especially during the campaign of 1733. These...
106Articles of Agreement with Louis Timothée, 26 November 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Articles of Agreement indented [and] made the 26th Day of November Ao. Di. 1733 Between Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pensilvania Printer of the one Part and Lewis Timothée of the said City Printer (now bound on a Voyage to Charlestown in South Carolina) Of the other Part: Whereas the said BF and LT have determined to...
107Poor Richard, 1734 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1734. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1734 … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market (Yale University Library). Your kind and charitable Assistance last Year, in purchasing so large an Impression of my Almanacks, has made my Circumstances much more easy in the World, and requires my grateful...
108Extracts from the Gazette, 1734 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 8 to December 26, 1734. [ Advertisement ] A Servant Lad’s Time for near Five years to be disposed of, on Reasonable Terms. He is by Trade a Taylor, and can work very well. Enquire of the Printer hereof. [January 30] Saturday last a Marriage was consummated between Wm. Allen, Esq; one of the Principal Merchants of this City; and Mrs. Margaret...
109Agreement between Directors of Library Company and William Parsons, 14 March 1734 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Memorandum of Agreement indented [and] made the Fourteenth Day of March Ao.Di. 1733/4 Between Benjamin Franklin Wm. Rawle Thos. Godfrey Hugh Roberts Anthony Nicholas Thos. Cadwallader John Jones Henry Pratt and Thos. Hopkinson a Committee of Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia for and on Behalf of the said Company Of the one Part and Wm....
110Sarah Read to Benjamin and Deborah Franklin: Bargain and Sale, 9 April 1734 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society This document and the two which immediately follow record the first transactions in the drawn-out process by which Franklin put together the various parcels of land on the south side of Market Street (also called High Street) between Third and Fourth Streets which became the site of his home. The plot involved here, corresponding to the later No. 318 Market...
111Sarah Read to Benjamin and Deborah Franklin: Release, 10 April 1734 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society; also copy: Office of Recorder of Deeds, Philadelphia This Indenture made the Tenth day of April in the Seventh Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c Annoque Domini One thousand Seven hundred and Thirty Four between Sarah Read of the City of Philadelphia...
112Benjamin and Deborah Franklin and John and Frances Croker to Sarah Read: Lease, 11 April 1734 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Morris Duane, Philadelphia, on deposit in Historical Society of Pennsylvania (1957) This Indenture made the Eleventh day of April in the Seventh Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c Annoque Domini One thousand Seven hundred and Thirty Four Between Benjamin Franklyn of the City of...
113From a Reader to the Printer, 11 April 1734 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 11, 1734. Tho’ your News-paper is sometimes as empty as those of others, yet I think you have for the most part (tho’ you were once in one particular a sad Offender) had the Modesty to keep it pretty clear of Scandal , a Subject that others delight to wallow in. These People, probably from some Corruption in themselves, and possibly from their own...
114Bill to Thomas Penn, 18 May 1734 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Honorable Thos. Penn Esq. Dr. 1734 May 18. For printing and Paper of 200 Cases at 2 d. per. £1 13 4 For a Supplement to the same 5 Mr. Steel { For 300 Warrants a 1 d. per. 1 5
115Thomas Godfrey to the Printer of the Gazette, 15 August 1734 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , August 15, 1734. The Germans, an industrious and indefatigable People, have been always famous for their Penetration into the more dark and abstruse Parts of Learning, such as border upon Magic not excepted. Of this Nation was the renowned Agrippa, Dr. Faustus, and several others that might be named. Their Skill in the most subtle and mischievous Arts, not...
116Admission of John Mifflin to Library Company, 27 August 1734 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Such of the Directors of the Library Company as approve of John Mifflin’s being admitted a Member are desired to shew their Consent by subscribing their Names hereto B. Franklin Hugh Roberts John Jones Junr Thos. Hopkinson 1734 Fras. Richardson Thos. Cadwalader Wm Rawle Philip Syng Junr Thos Godfrey Wm. Coleman John Mifflin (1715–1759), Quaker merchant;...
117From Benjamin Franklin to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, 28 November 1734 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Abstract of the Proceedings … 1871 , pp. 356–7. Right Worshipful Grand Master and Most Worthy and Dear Brethren, We acknowledge your favor of the 23d of October past, and rejoice that the Grand Master (whom God bless) hath so happily recovered from his late indisposition: and we now, glass in hand, drink to the establishment of his...
118From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Price, 28 November 1734 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Abstract of the Proceedings … 1871 , p. 357. I am glad to hear of your recovery. I hoped to have seen you here this Fall, agreeable to the expectation you were so good as to give me; but since sickness has prevented your coming while the weather was moderate, I have no room to flatter myself with a visit from you before the Spring,...
119Poor Richard, 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1735. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1735 ... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) This is the third Time of my appearing in print, hitherto very much to my own Satisfaction, and, I have reason to hope, to the Satisfaction of the Publick also; for the Publick is...
120Extracts from the Gazette, 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 2 to December 30, 1735. [ Advertisement ] Any Township or Neighbourhood in the Country, wanting a School-Master, to teach Reading, Writing, or Arithmetick, may hear of one well qualified by enquiring of the Printer hereof. [January 9] [ Advertisement ] By the Indulgence of the Honourable Col. Spotswood, Post-Master General, the Printer hereof is...
121On Protection of Towns from Fire, 4 February 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 4, 1734/5. Being old and lame of my Hands, and thereby uncapable of assisting my Fellow Citizens, when their Houses are on Fire; I must beg them to take in good Part the following Hints on the Subject of Fires. In the first Place, as an Ounce of Prevention is worth a Pound of Cure , I would advise ’em to take Care how they suffer living...
122A Man of Sense, 11 February 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 11, 1734/5. Franklin wanted his newspaper to instruct as well as inform, and sometimes published in it, he wrote in the autobiography, “little Pieces of my own which had been first compos’d for Reading in our Junto. Of these are a Socratic Dialogue, tending to prove, that, whatever might be his Parts and Abilities, a vicious Man could not properly...
123Self-Denial Not the Essence of Virtue, 18 February 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 18, 1734/5. To the Printer of the Gazette . That Self-Denial is not the Essence of Virtue. It is commonly asserted, that without Self-Denial there is no Virtue, and that the greater the Self-Denial the greater the Virtue. If it were said, that he who cannot deny himself in any Thing he inclines to, tho’ he knows it will be to his Hurt, has not the...
124Reply to a Piece of Advice, 4 March 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , March 4, 1734/5. In your Paper of the 18th past, some Verses were inserted, said to be design’d as a Piece of Advice to a good Friend. As this Piece of Advice, if it had been intended for a particular Friend alone, might have been as well convey’d to him privately; I suppose the Author by getting it publish’d, thinks it may be of Use to great Numbers of...
125Dialogue between Two Presbyterians, 10 April 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 10, 1735. Franklin was deeply involved in 1735 in the controversy about the Reverend Mr. Samuel Hemphill. Ordained in Ireland, coming with recommendations from the Presbytery of Strabane, Hemphill was received by the Synod of Philadelphia, September 21, 1734. In Ireland a charge of unorthodoxy had been made against him, but was found to be...
126Library Company to John Penn and Reply, [31 May 1735] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 5, 1735; also MS Minute Book, Library Company of Philadelphia. The Directors of the Library Company on October 14, 1734, named Franklin and William Coleman to draft an address to John Penn, recently arrived from England. Coleman prepared it, and submitted it to the Directors on October 21, but consideration was postponed until the spring of 1735, when...
127To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Morgan, 7 July 1735 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Sir, I have long expected to See the new Edition of The Temp. Inter. If it Sell like that which you last printed of mine, you may print many; for they are all gone and people enquire for more, and none to be had. I Sent, as you desired, the places marked in the Margin, where the Additions Should be Set. Have you the Manuscript of Additions, It refers to the...
128Observations on the Proceedings against Mr. Hemphill, [17 July 1735] (Franklin Papers)
Some Observations on the Proceedings against The Rev. Mr. Hemphill; with a Vindication of his Sermons. The Second Edition. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin. 1735. (Yale University Library) The Commission of the Synod of Philadelphia appointed to hear Jedediah Andrews’ charges against Samuel Hemphill met April 17. The evidence consisted of the testimony of witnesses and Hemphill’s...
129A Letter to a Friend in the Country, [25 September 1735] (Franklin Papers)
A Letter to a Friend in the Country, Containing the Substance of a Sermon Preach’d at Philadelphia, in the Congregation of The Rev. Mr. Hemphill, Concerning the Terms of Christian and Ministerial Communion. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin at the New Printing-Office near the Market. 1735. (Yale University Library) The Pennsylvania Gazette advertised September 18 that this sermon...
130A Defense of Mr. Hemphill’s Observations, [30 October 1735] (Franklin Papers)
A Defence Of the Rev. Mr. Hemphill’s Observations: or, an Answer to the Vindication of the Reverend Commission. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin at the New Printing-Office near the Market. 1735. (Boston Public Library) Franklin’s Observations on the Proceedings against the Rev. Mr. Hemphill (see above, pp. 37–65) was answered by A Vindication of the Reverend Commission of the...