1To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 13 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society For having it in my power to Answer with precision the numerous questions which are askd me by all sorts of people Concerning the Aerostatique Experiment which such as they may be are suggested by every newspaper now printed here & considerd as a part of my duty to Answer is an Obligation for which I am indebted to you & an Obligation of no small Extent I...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 28 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am in truth much indebted to you for the favor you have done me in transmitting the Copy of the Procès verbal on Mr Montgolfiers experiment, which I have this moment receivd. The Experiment becomes now interesting in no small degree. I laught when Ballons of scarce more importance than Soap bubbles occupied the attention of France but when men Can with...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 7 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Yesterday Evening I opend the Session of the Royal Society by reading to them your two Communications upon the subject of the Aerostatique Machines lately executed in France & I can Assure you without Flattery that an Evident pleasure was visible in the manner in which they receivd your return (as they Considerd it) to Philosophical amusements after...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 13 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; AL (draft): Royal Society Willing as much as is in my Power to Clear the R. Society & myself from our share of the Charge of Illiberal treatment towards you with which I fear this Countrey may too justly be accusd, I take my Pen with no small Pleasure to inform you that I am instructed by the Council of the Royal Society to Present to you in their name...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 23 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library After the Storm which has agitated the Royal Society since Christmas with no Small degree of Violence We have drop’d into a flat Calm. It seems as if the debates have exhausted the annual supply of genius or at least skimmd off the Cream of it as nothing very interesting appears either in Presence or Prospect. The best papers we have had is Dr. Blagdens...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 9 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Friendship which I have Experiencd from you in your so speedily sending me Accounts of the Progress of the new Art of Flying which makes such rapid advances in the Countrey you now inhabit I beg to acknowledge with real gratitude. I wish I had more than gratitude something(?) to Communicate in return but times must Come when I shall be able to repay the...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Banks, 19 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should long ago have returnd answers to your two Favors had I met with any thing in the Way of Science worthy of being Communicated to you little improvement has taken place in the course of these two months past & as I have resided all that time in Lincolnshire I have not been put into posession of the detail even of that Little. The Whole of the middle...