1To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Dalrymple, 17 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer Mr. William Whitchurch finding his Health much impaired by his assiduous application to his Business has been induced to make a Voyage to America; I believe you are not unacquainted with his Works as a Writing Engraver and if he finds the Climate agrees with him and that he can find suitable occupation he may remain at Philadelphia and I hope may...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 17 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As Major Trent is the Bearer of this Letter, it is the less Necessary for Me now to be very particular in my Communications. I presented, as you desired, your Respects to Lord Camden, and his Lordship requested Me to tell You, that He should have been much pleased to have seen you, before you embarked; That the Chancellor’s Decission in your Case is...
3Franklin, Thomas Walpole, Samuel Wharton, and John Sargent: Power of Attorney to William Trent, 11 April 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The promoters of the Walpole grant in London were becoming more and more unsure of obtaining it. Franklin’s ostensible withdrawal from their group in January, 1774, had had no perceptible effect in forwarding their cause, and their chance of success diminished as war drew nearer. They waited for over a year. Then in the spring of 1775 they apparently...
4Speculation on the Speed of Ships, 5 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
MS : Library of Congress During his homeward voyage Franklin took time off from writing his journal of the peace negotiations in London to return to a question that had intrigued him for years: why do westbound ships have a longer crossing of the Atlantic than eastbound? Almost three decades earlier he had advanced a tentative answer in terms of the earth’s rotation; he now sketched a new one...
5To Benjamin Franklin from John Foxcroft, 4 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your very agreable favour of the 4th. of Janry. I rec’d by the last Packet informing of your having drawn on me for the Ballance of our Acct. as it Stands in your Books a Copy of which I rec’d by a Ship Via Philada. Mr. Bache will inform you that at his desire the Bill was paid in Philadelphia when due. The Acct. as you say may be easyly rectify’d when we...
6To Benjamin Franklin from William Lee, 3 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you the other day about an hundred pounds which the Constitutional Society here had orderd to be given for releif of the poor sufferers in Boston and now inclose you Mr. Olivers letter respecting that business. I presume you are fully informed from other hands of all the public transactions here since you left us. Therefore shall only beg you to...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Warren, 3 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (facsimile): Massachusetts Historical Society Altho’ I have not the pleasure either of a personal or epistolary acquaintance with you, I have taken the liberty of sending you by Mr. Dana a pamphlet which I wish was more deserving of your notice. The ability and firmness with which you have defended the Rights of Mankind and the Liberties of this Country in particular have rendered you dear...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 1 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; draft: British Museum I wrote you in Septr and Aug: last, and it is a great While indeed since I have had the Pleasure of a Line from you. The Anxiety and Distress bro’t upon us by the Port Bill and other Acts, and the Troops and Ships of War station’d here have been great; and much Art and Pains have been employ’d to dismay us, or provoke us to some...
9Note on Franklin’s Sketch of How to Force a Wheel Round by Gunpowder, [before March 1775?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society For some years we have been trying and failing to answer two questions about this sketch: why and when was it made? The device as described would obviously never produce continuous rotation, if that was the intent; and a wheel that turned in spasms would have limited use. As for the date, no clue to it has appeared in the edited correspondence; one may of...
10To 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...
11To Benjamin Franklin from James Kinsey, 26 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the favor of Mr. Wister I transmitt the Votes and Laws of the last Session of Assembly, Which I hope will be delivered safely to you together with this inclosing a Duplicate of the petition to the King. In my last I Stated Mr. Wilmotts Affair fully, hope he will see by it that the Colony has not been to blame and that he will speedily receive his Money....
12To Benjamin Franklin from Josiah Quincy, Sr., 25 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society My dear Son has repeatedly acknowledged your friendly Reception and Patronage of him, since his Arrival in London: Be pleased, therefore, to accept of my gratefull Sense of your Goodness to him; with my ardent Wishes, that your united Endeavors to preserve your native Country from impending Ruin may be attended with Success. You would hardly be perswaded...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin: Journal of Negotiations in London, 22 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress When Franklin at long last set sail for home, memories of the past months were churning inside him. He spent much of the voyage recounting, in the guise of a letter to his son, the events that had crowded upon him since the previous summer and particularly since early December. He had with him a mass of papers with which he documented his journal; the bulk of...
14Franklin’s Remarks on Judge Foster’s Argument in Favor of the Right of Impressing Seamen, [before 17 September 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Copy with autograph additions: Library of Congress Sir Michael Foster (1689–1763) was one of the most respected jurists of the eighteenth century. In 1743 he was recorder for the city of Bristol, a judicial post that required him to prosecute criminal cases such as the one which led to his discussion of the Royal Navy’s right to impress or forcibly recruit sailors. On April 25, 1743, Alexander...
15Memorandum for Mrs. Stevenson, [on or before 20 March 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Dr. William Hewson, Philadelphia, Pa. (1957) Franklin, like so many travelers embarking on a long voyage, had been unable to deal with everything before his departure; and as usual Mrs. Stevenson took care of tidying his affairs. But she was much more deeply involved in them than this memorandum indicates. He left owing her four years’ rent at £100 per annum, and she covered additional...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I leave Directions with Mrs. Stevenson to deliver you all the Massachusetts Papers, when you please to call for them. I am sorry that the Hurry of Preparing for my Voyage and the many Hindrances I have met with, prevented my meeting you and Mr. Bollan, and conversing a little more on our Affairs before my Departure. I wish to both of you Health and Happiness,...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Votre derniere lettre m’ayant eté remise par Mr. Williams m’a fait un plaisir singulier. L’avantage qu’il a de vous appartenir de si près formoit un prejugé bien favorable pour lui, sa physiognomie ne previent pas moins en sa faveur, les qualités de son esprit et la douceur de ses moeurs y repondent parfaitement. Il se fait aimer generalement icy des hommes...
18To Benjamin Franklin from John Fothergill, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and extract: Library of Congress Be kind enough to take the charge of the inclosed and convey them at thy leisure. [ Deleted ] is a staunch Anti American. I have received a letter from him to day by way of Liverpool which hurts me much. Get him, Jas. Pemberton and two or three more together, and inform them, that whatever specious pretences are offerd, they are all hollow and that to get a...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 18 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Dr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Todd, and sends the above Extracts of Letters from Mr. Foxcroft to show what reason Dr. F. had to suppose the Accts might now have been settled. In reply to the preceding letter. Above, Nov. 2, 5; Dec. 7, 1774; Jan. 4, 1775.
20David Barclay to James Pemberton, 18 March 1775: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extracted from ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania This letter and Fothergill’s to Dartmouth above, February 6, seem to be the only comments by British negotiators on why their efforts failed. Whereas Fothergill expressed his despair before the game was played out, Barclay retained some hope until after the middle of February. The plan that he produced on the 16th elicited a number of...
21From Benjamin Franklin to [Peter P. Burdett], 17 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Being about to embark for America this Line is just to take leave wishing you every kind of Felicity, and to request that if you have not yet purchased for me the Theatrum Machinarum , you would now omit doing it, as I have the Offer of a Set here. But if you have purchased it, your Draft on me will be duly paid in my Absence by Mrs. Stevenson, in...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 17 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: General Post Office, London Mr. Todd presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin and sends him an extract of a Letter to Messrs. Foxcroft and Finlay of the 9th. of Decr. last concerning the Balance remaining in his Hands to which he has not as yet received an Answer, but makes no doubt when it comes it will clear up every Difficulty in settling his Accounts finally with this...
23To Benjamin Franklin from John Whitehurst, [before 16 March 1775] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in the Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions …, LXV (1775), pp. 277–9. Presuming the mode of raising water by its momentum may be new and useful to many individuals, induces me to send you the inclosed plan and description of a work, executed in the year 1772, at Oulton, in Cheshire, the seat of Philip Egerton, Esq. for the service of a brewhouse and other offices, and is found to...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Bessborough, 16 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library Dr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Lord Bessborough, with Thanks for the obliging Invitation, which he should embrace with Pleasure, but that he expects to be at Sea on that Day in his Way to America, being to embark on Sunday next. He wishes sincerely to Lord Bessborough every kind of Felicity, and shall always retain a grateful Sense of the many...
25Proposed Memorial to Lord Dartmouth, 16 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ADS and copy: Library of Congress; draft and copy: American Philosophical Society Franklin’s patience was finite, and its limits had been reached. Failure of the negotiations he may have taken in stride, for British intractibility was too familiar to leave him much hope of compromise; but British arrogance was something else again. On March 16 he was in the gallery when the House of Lords...
26To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, 16 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress D: Barclay’s respects, and acquaints Dr. Franklin, that Dr. Fothergill desires the favor of his Company Tomorrow Evening at half past 7 Clock, when D B will meet him if that Time is agreable to Dr. Franklin. Addressed: Doctr. Franklin / Cravenstreet Endorsed: March 75 The purpose of this last meeting was a sad one, to send word by BF to their American friends that the...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Walpole, 16 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Library of Congress Franklin’s anger at the ministry did not rob him of all circumspection. Before he sent the above memorial to Dartmouth he showed it to Thomas Walpole, who “lookt at it and at me several Times alternately, as if he apprehended me a little out of my Senses.” The American asked him to get a second opinion from Lord Camden; Walpole did so, and returned the...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 14 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office, Edinburgh Purposing to embark for America in a few Days, I cannot depart without taking Leave of my dear Lord Kaims, to whose Civilities and Friendship I have been so much oblig’d, and for whom I shall ever retain the sincerest Esteem and Affection. I congratulate you cordially on the Success of your last Work. It does you great Honour. I hear it every where well...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Humphry Marshall, 13 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library I duly receiv’d your Favour of Novr. the 26th, but having mislaid it, I postpon’d answering it till I should find it, not recollecting perfectly what were the Books you wrote for. I now send the Nautical Almanack for the current Year; that for 1776 is not yet publish’d. The Philosophical Transactions, if you mean a compleat Set, will cost near £30. Therefore not...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 13 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : National Archives, Washington I have some Thoughts of going with Osborne; but as I may be disappointed in that, I write a few Lines, to acquaint you, that the Petition of the Congress has lain upon the Table of both Houses ever since it was sent down to them among the Papers that accompany’d it from above, and has had no particular Notice taken of it; our Petition to be heard in support...