1From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress It is some time since I have had the Pleasure of hearing from you. I hope your Health is thoroughly established. Mr. Small often speaks of you with great Regard: I am glad to see by the News Papers that our Society have chosen him a Member. No Man more deserves it. Our Silk will be sold next Thursday. The Broker was with me yesterday and tells me he...
2From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress The Account of your Illness gave me great Concern, and I was glad to learn by yours of Nov 16. that you were mending. I hope by this time you are perfectly recovered. I have given you Credit for the Silk Committee’s Bill of £152 2 s. 9 d. and have paid Wheeler the 20 Guineas you ordered. I was in the Country when the Truss was sent by Mr. Hewson, to...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I am much concern’d to hear of your Illness, and hope that long before this time you have been able to execute your Intentions of Riding, and have recovered your usual Health and Vigour. I received your Favour of Oct 21. with the Bill enclos’d drawn by Order of the Managers for promoting the Culture of Silk, on me, for £152 0 s. 9 d. in...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I hope you received the Elastic Truss, and that it answered and gave Satisfaction. It gives me great Pleasure to understand by yours of Apr. 30 that the Assemblies have shown a Disposition to encourage the Produce of Silk. You can never overdo the Market here, and will soon be able to manufacture what you want for yourselves. Mr. Small...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 3 June 1772: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., Boston, 1836–40), VIII , 5 n. I have at length purchased Stringfellow’s right for you, or for you and Mr. James, as you settle it between you. As it was he that immediately recommended the business to me, I have sent the writings to him by this packet. The rights cost £110, and the charges were £5 15 s. 6 d....
6From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 5 May 1772: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., Boston, 1836–40), VIII , 4–5 n. You write, that, besides what was sent here, fifty-four pounds had been reeled at the filature of private persons, who are getting it manufactured into mitts, stockings, and stuffs. This gives me great pleasure to hear; and I hope that practice will be rather followed, than...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 6 February 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., Boston, 1836–40), VIII , 3–4. The trunks of silk were detained at the customhouse till very lately; first, because of the holidays, and then waiting to get two persons, skilful in silk, to make a valuation of it, in order to ascertain the bounty. As soon as that was done, and the trunks brought to my house, I waited...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 18 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Samuel Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania , XVI , No. 5 (August 1, 1835), 92–3. I wrote to you of the 4th instant per Gill, and sent you a Paper of Observations on your Specimens of Silk drawn up by Mr. Patterson, who is noted here in that Trade, with a Specimen of Italian Silk as a copy for our People to imitate. But they must not be discouraged if they should not...
9From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 4 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Samuel Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania , XVI , no. 5 (August 1, 1835), 92. I acquainted you some time since that I expected soon to obtain satisfactory Answers to your Queries relating to the Specimens of Silk you sent over; but I was disappointed till lately that I had a Meeting with Mr. Patterson, esteemed one of the best judges of that Commodity, who favoured...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 10 February 1771 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Samual Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania , XVI , no. 5 (August 1, 1835), 92. Franklin’s efforts to promote the growing of silk in Pennsylvania were slowly bearing fruit. In 1769 he had urged Dr. Evans to seek help from the province; this suggestion had been laid before the American Philosophical Society, which had duly petitioned the Assembly for financial aid. When...