1To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 17 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I received your favor of 20 Feb. and 8 April last, the former inclosing Dr. Pringles paper on an extraordinary meteor, and the later Mr. Kennicotts papers relating to the Hebrew Bible. I am infinitely[?] obliged to you for introducing me to so valuable acquaintance as Dr. Pringle, several of whose curious papers I perused in the Phil. Trans. and whose...
2To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 29 September 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), p. 434. There is an observation relating to electricity in the atmosphere, which seemed new to me, though perhaps it will not to you: However, I will venture to mention it. I have some points on the top of my house, and the wire where it passes within-side the house is furnished with...
3To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 6 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed from extract in Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America … (London, 1769), p. 485. I have read in the Philosophical Transactions the account of the effects of lightning on St. Bride’s steeple. ’Tis amazing to me, that after the full demonstration you had given, of the identity of lightning and of electricity, and the power of...
4To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop: On Observing the Transit of Venus, 6 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
AL (extract): The Royal Society The observations of the transit of Venus in 1761 had not fulfilled the widespread hope of establishing the solar parallax, and thereby the mean distance between the earth and the sun. The hope grew, however, as scientists of many countries prepared to improve and expand their observations of the transit of June, 1769. Although John Winthrop was no longer well...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 26 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from the Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings , XV (1878), 12–13. I received your favors of June 6 and July 9 at the same time. I am very glad to find your admirable invention of Lightning Rods is coming into fashion in England, and cannot but think your circulating particular directions for making them, by the magazines will greatly promote the use of them. I have on all...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 4 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I received your favor of Septr. 18. I return you many thanks for Dr. Priestly’s Piece on impregnating water with fix’d air. If this should prove an effectual remedy for the sea-scurvy, it would be indeed a most important discovery. I am extremely concerned to hear, that Dr. Priestly is so meanly provided for, while so many [ blank ] are rolling about here in...
7To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 31 December 1773: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Library of Congress I concur perfectly with you in the Sentiments expressed in your last. No considerate Person, I should think, can approve of desperate Remedies, except in desperate Cases. The People of America are extreamly agitated by the repeated Efforts of Administration to subject them to absolute Power. They have been amused with Accounts of the pacific Disposition of the...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 28 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I did my self the honor to write you, 13 Septr last, by Mr. Quincy, acknowleging the receit of several curious Pamphlets, for which am much obliged to you, and beg the favor of you to present my respectful Compliments to Sir John Pringle, and Mr. Henley, for the particular honor they have done me, in sending me their curious Productions. Since that, I...