1To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 6 June 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society The Happiness I enjoy’d last friday has afforded me pleasing reflections for the week past. I attended with delight to your kind Instructions, and my highest Amusement ever since has been to recollect them. You obligingly condescended to satisfy my Curiosity about the Barometer, and by your explanation I clearly conceived the cause of the rise and fall of...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, [late October? 1771] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Mother desires me to tell you that there are two Letters from New York and one from Philadelphia and three Packets of News Papers but she is afraid to send them as you have not receiv’d that Mr. Hewson sent you. I write in great Haste. We are all well. Yours affectionately The note might at first glance be dated at any time when BF was away from London...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 11 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society It was with great pleasure I h[eard of] your safe and happy arrival at Philadelphia; and [hearti]ly congratulate you and the dear Partakers of y[our Socie]ty, but you must all forgive me if I repine [that] you are oblig’d to enjoy it at so great a d[istance] from me. My Mother receiv’d yours of [ ? ] November and another a few days ago, of a...
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library <March 22, [1771–74 ]: a note in the third person, in Polly Hewson’s hand. Reminds Franklin that he has promised to dine with them next Thursday.> The Hewsons were married in July, 1770, and he died suddenly in May, 1774. The invitation could have been in any March between those dates, and according to our practice we are assigning it to the earliest...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 10 September 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I don’t know whether to say I fear or I hope this won’t reach you before you leave Holland, for I don’t care how soon we have you in our Island again, and I wish you had no Attachment ever to draw you from it again, that is I wish your Attachments were all here. My Mother wanted me to write another Letter to you while I was with her, but my Time was so...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 23 June 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You who are no Stranger to the Feelings of Humanity will readily conceive the anxiety of my Mind while I thought my Friend in Danger: It is only such a Situation as I was then in that can make me neglect your Favours. Upon examining the Barometer after I receiv’d your Letter, I found a small Crevice where the piece of hollow wood which covers the Mercury is...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 28 July 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the short stay my mother made here I could not find time to write a letter, therefore I hop’d my verbal acknowledgments would be accepted, yet I did not intend my pen should neglect it’s duty. I really am much oblig’d to you for the trouble you took to gratify me, and notwithstanding the frequency of my obligations to you I always have great pleasure...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 17 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You express’d an intention to pay us a visit the latter end of this week, and as I should be sorry to be disappointed of the pleasure of your company when you come, I write this to inform that we have an engagement of a long standing for to-morrow, and the next day we expect company to dine with us, which makes me wish you to defer coming till the beginning...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 27 April 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Had I never known you I could not have read those Writings you were so obliging to put into my Hands without entertaining the highest Esteem for you, but as I have had the Happiness of experiencing your Condescension and Candour Gratitude and Affection are join’d to my Esteem, and together fill my Heart with Sentiments I am not able to express. You assert...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 15 June 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am heartily glad you made up the quarrel without coming to blows; and as we hope to find you peaceable and happy, we all promise ourselves much pleasure in spending this day in Craven street. To my mortal day I shall remain Your dutiful and affectionate