151[On Freedom of Speech and the Press, 17 November 1737] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 17, 1737, and following issues. Duane ( Works , IV , 319–40) and, on his authority, though less certain, Sparks ( Writings , ii, 285–311), printed this long historical essay with its examples drawn mainly from Roman and English history. It is signed “X.” No evidence, internal or external, persuades the present editors that Franklin wrote it.
152[Causes of Earthquakes, 15 and 22 December 1737] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 15 and 22, 1737. An earthquake felt in the Middle Colonies on December 7, 1737, was the occasion for publishing these essays. Duane printed them ( Works , IV , 380–91), as did Sparks and Bigelow, but Alfred Owen Aldridge has shown them to be almost verbatim reprints from Chambers’ Cyclopaedia; or, an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences .......
153Poor Richard, 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1738. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1738 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) My good Man set out last Week for Potowmack, to visit an old Stargazer of his Acquaintance, and see about a little Place for us to settle and end our Days on. He left the Copy of his...
154Extracts from the Gazette, 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 3 to December 28, 1738. [ Advertisement ] To accommodate the Publick . There will be a Stage Waggon set out from Trenton to Brunswick, twice a Week and back again, during next Summer. It will be fitted up with Benches and cover’d over so that Passengers may sit easy and dry. And Care will be taken to deliver Goods and Messages safe. Note. The said...
155A Defense of Conduct, 15 February 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 15, 1737/8. Dr. Evan Jones, “chymist” at the Golden Paracelsus’ Head in Philadelphia, had a simple-minded apprentice Daniel Rees, who thought he wanted to be a Mason. With several cronies, one a renegade Mason, Jones, thinking to have some agreeable sport, set up a burlesque initiation ceremony, complete with scandalous oath of allegiance to...
156From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah and Abiah Franklin, 13 April 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have your Favour of the 21st of March in which you both seem concern’d lest I have imbib’d some erroneous Opinions. Doubtless I have my Share, and when the natural Weakness and Imperfection of Human Understanding is considered, with the unavoidable Influences of Education, Custom, Books and Company, upon our Ways of thinking, I imagine a Man must...
157From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Franklin, [May 1738?] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Letter of the 4th of May in answer to mine of April 13. I wrote that of mine with a Design to remove or lessen the Uneasiness you and my Mother appear’d to be under on Account of my Principles; and it gave me great Pleasure when she declar’d in her next to me that she approv’d of my Letter and was now satisfy’d with me....
158Agreement of Directors of Library Company, 22 May 1738 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Massachusetts Historical Society We the Subscribers, Directors of the Library Company for the current Year, do agree to attend all our appointed Meetings, at ½ an Hour past Eight in the Evening until the first Meeting in August inclusive, And from that Time ’till November at Eight in the Evening And from that Time ’till May ensuing at Seven in the Evening, And that for every Failure we...
159From Benjamin Franklin to John Ladd, 12 June 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Historical Society of Haddonfield (N.J.) I send you the Ladies Library and the other two Vols. of Don Quixote. The Homers I have are done by Pope. The Iliads are in 6 Vols. 12mo price 45 s. The Odysseys 5 Vols. 12mo price 37 s. 6 d. I will not part with them till I hear from you. I am Sir Your most humble Servant John Ladd (d. 1770), of Gloucester Co., N.J.; surveyor; justice of...
160Directors of Library Company to John Penn, 8 August 1738 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minute Book: Library Company of Philadelphia The Library Company of Philadelphia beg leave to return their most hearty Thanks for your noble Benefaction of an Air Pump with its costly and curious Apparatus. Useful and necessary as that excellent Invention must be to a Society whose View is the Improvement of Knowledge, we might have been long without this Advantage if your judicious...
161To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Morgan, 5 October 1738 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society If my Manuscripts be not gone before this comes to you; I have one Small Amendment (which happened thro’ too much hast). It is not far from the beginning, where I compare the Heat on Jupiter and the Earth. In Stead of Jupiter near 100 times as large in its Face to the Sun; it should be above 100 times &c. This yet makes my Argument the better. However it matters not...
162To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Morgan, 11 October 1738 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society Please to fasten this to the Manuscript of Philosophy. And if it be gone, be so kind as to inclose it to the Royal Society by another Ship. You will oblige Your Friend and Servant Addressed: Mr Benjamin Franklin Post Master in Philadelphia A Second The additions referred to, written on the back of the letter, were to be attached to the MS mentioned in Morgan’s letter...
163From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Corin, 22 December 1738 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Please to let the Bearer Stephen Potts have a pair of Leather Breeches, and charge them to the Account of your Friend Isaac Corin’s account with BF appears in Ledger D (see below, p. 232). He inserted an advertisement for a runaway servant in Pa. Gaz. , Sept. 23, 1731. Stephen Potts (d. 1758) was a member of the Junto, a book-binder, bookseller, and in his...
164Poor Richard, 1739 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1739. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1739 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) Encouraged by thy former Generosity, I once more present thee with an Almanack, which is the 7th of my Publication. While thou art putting Pence in my Pocket, and furnishing my Cottage...
165Extracts from the Gazette, 1739 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 4 to December 27, 1739. [ Advertisement ] Benjamin Franklin, Printer, is removed from the House he lately dwelt in, four Doors nearer the River, on the same side of the Street. [January 11] We hear from the Head of Timber-Creek in the Jerseys, That a Woman there has lately had Five Children, all born alive, within the space of 11 Months, by two...
166Subscription to Christ Church, 7 May 1739 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Dorr, A Historical Account of Christ Church, Philadelphia (New York and Philadelphia, 1841), pp. 71–2. Whereas, the Episcopal church of Philadelphia, having been long built, and much out of repair, as well as too small for the convenient seating of the congregation, it was therefore resolved, by two several vestries, in the year seventeen hundred...
167To Benjamin Franklin from Josiah Franklin, 26 May 1739 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Duane, Works , I , 4–5. As to the original of our name there is various opinions; some say that it came from a sort of title of which a book, that you bought when here, gives a lively account. Some think we are of a French extract, which was formerly called Franks; some of a free line; a line free from that vassalage which was common to subjects in days of old:...
168Ledger D, 1739–47 (Franklin Papers)
MS Account Book: American Philosophical Society Ledger D, like Ledger A & B (see above, I , 172), throws a fitful light on Franklin’s income, especially from his printing business, and contains incidental information, usually trivial but sometimes significant, on the purchases of some 900 of his customers. A tall, narrow book of 400 pages, bound in parchment, Ledger D contains accounts of...
169To Benjamin Franklin from Simon Meredith, 29 July 1739 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Please to let my Son Hugh Meredith have the Sum of Eight pounds and place the Same to the Account of your Real Friend And very Humble Servant [ Receipted: ] Receiv’d the above Eight Pounds per me July 30. 1739 [ Receipted: ] Borrowed and receiv’d also of Benjamin Franklin Six pounds more per me £6. —. — Father of BF ’s former partner, Hugh Meredith. See...
170To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Spotswood, 12 October 1739 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 11, 1740. The Part which your Predecessor, Mr. Andrew Bradford, has acted with respect to the Post-Office Accompts, is no longer to be born with . The Deputy Post-Masters in Great-Britain account every two Months with the General Post-Office there; and I am obliged every half Year to have the Accounts of the General Post-Office in...
171Poor Richard, 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1740. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1740 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) You may remember that in my first Almanack, published for the Year 1733, I predicted the Death of my dear Friend Titan Leeds, Philomat. to happen that Year on the 17th Day of October, 3...
172Extracts from the Gazette, 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 3 to December 25, 1740. We hear from Georgia by Way of New-York, that the Reverend Mr. Whitefield arrived there in good Health, about the 20th of January; and that he had immediately set 30 Hands to Work about the Orphan House. [February 28] The News of the taking of Porto Bello is confirm’d from all Parts, but the Accounts of the Action are so...
173To Benjamin Franklin from William Dewees, Jr., 26 January 1740 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Sent you Last week 7½ Reemes of Large Printing Paper and 8 Reemes of Brown Ditto and Now Send you by the Same Barrer 12 Ditto of Corse printing which I would have you Place to the Cr. of Yours William Dewees, Jr. ( c. 1712–1777), operated a paper mill in Cresham township on the Wissahickon near Philadelphia after 1736. BF’S accounts with him are in Ledger...
174Note on Closing the Concert Room, 8 May 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette May 8, 1740. Dancing parties and concerts by a musical club, both taking place in a room kept by the dancing-master Robert Bolton, gave pleasure to some of Philadelphia’s wealthier citizens. But to George Whitefield and his enthusiastic followers music and dancing were “devilish diversions” and, as such, should be suppressed. Accordingly his traveling...
175Statement of Editorial Policy, 24 July 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 24, 1740. George Whitefield’s doctrine and eloquence had sensational effects throughout the colonies. One of those who resisted him, strongly disapproving his excessive religious emotionalism, was Ebenezer Kinnersley, a Baptist lay preacher in Philadelphia. In a sermon on July 6, 1740, Kinnersley expressed abhorrence of “Enthusiastick Ravings ... that...
176James Franklin: Indenture of Apprenticeship, 5 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form, with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society This Indenture Witnesseth, That James Franklin late of Newport in Rhodeisland, but now of Philadelphia in Pennsilvania Hath put himself, and by these Presents, doth voluntarily, and of his own free Will and Accord, put himself Apprentice to Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia, Printer to learn his Art, Trade,...
177Advertisement of the General Magazine, 13 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 13, 1740. The American Weekly Mercury , November 6, 1740, printed a long, ambitious “Plan of an Intended Magazine,” to be called The American Magazine, or A Monthly View of The Political State of the British Colonies . John Webbe, who was to be the editor, probably composed it, though it was signed by Andrew Bradford. Each issue would contain four...
178John Webbe: The Detection, 17 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , November 20, 1740. Franklin’s advertisement of the General Magazine , November 13, accused John Webbe, to whom as prospective editor he had revealed his scheme in confidence, of carrying the idea to Bradford in order to get ahead of Franklin and reap the advantage personally. Webbe responded immediately with this defense and countercharge. The second...
179To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 26 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from A Select Collection of Letters of the late George Whitefield, M.A .... (London, 1772), I , 226. I thank you for your letter. You may print my life, as you desire. God willing, I shall correct my two volumes of sermons, and send them the very first opportunity. Pray write to me by every ship, that goes shortly to Charles-Town. I shall embark for England, God...
180John Webbe: Defense Renewed, I, 27 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , November 27, 1740. The principal End proposed by the Plan of a Magazine, lately published in this Paper, was to lay open the Nature of the Constitutions of the several Colonies, and to give a monthly Account of the Alterations made in each, with the Reasons inducing the Legislature for making such Alterations. The Materials, for executing the first...