3551To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 11 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of Sept. 1. by Way of Philadelphia, I duly received, which is all I have been favoured with a great While: I congratulate you on your safe Return from Germany. I will do what is possible with B Mecom. With Respect to a new Supply of Types, I should either have been more explicit at first, or wrote again about them: But amidst the Manifold Distresses,...
3552Note on Post Office Accounts, 2 April 1768, to 3 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AD (copy): Historical Society of Pennsylvania [The credit entries, running from April 2, 1768, to March 17, 1769, are of money received by Franklin and Foxcroft from American post offices. In round figures the receipts from James Parker in New York were £2,439, from Philadelphia £312, and from smaller places (Talbot Court House, presumably Talbot, Md.; Rhode Island, presumably Newport; and...
3553To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 12 June 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote thee on the 9th which sent by Express after Capt. Egdon, but He not reaching the Vessell have deliverd them to Capt. Falkner, by whom thou’l receive this. We on the 10th. had the Pleasure of finding thou had wrote a Letter to the Commitee of Correspondence, which at once Stoppd the Virulence of the P--ry P--ty and gave them reason to Apprehend, that...
3554To Benjamin Franklin from George Wythe, 23 June 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society If our attorney gen[eral shall become speake]r of the house of burgesses, and thereby h[is post is vacant, as in] all probability will be the case, the govern[or will propose me] to succeed him; and that recommendation, I [am very sure] will be more effectual, were some of those great per[sons] to whom it must be addressed, to know that such a...
3555Poor Richard, 1742 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1742. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1742 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) This is the ninth Year of my Endeavours to serve thee in the Capacity of a Calendar-Writer. The Encouragement I have met with must be ascrib’d, in a great Measure, to your Charity,...
3556Self-Denial Not the Essence of Virtue, 18 February 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 18, 1734/5. To the Printer of the Gazette . That Self-Denial is not the Essence of Virtue. It is commonly asserted, that without Self-Denial there is no Virtue, and that the greater the Self-Denial the greater the Virtue. If it were said, that he who cannot deny himself in any Thing he inclines to, tho’ he knows it will be to his Hurt, has not the...
3557To Benjamin Franklin from George Read, 14 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from William T. Read, Life and Correspondence of George Read (Philadelphia, 1870), p. 23. From your known goodness, and the knowledge you have of me and my family, I have presumed to beg the favor of you to apply to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury on my behalf, for the appointment of Collector of the Port of New Castle, made vacant by the death of Mr. William...
3558The Speech of Miss Polly Baker, 15 April 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The General Advertiser , April 15, 1747. When Franklin wrote The Speech of Miss Polly Baker is not now known, though 1746 is a likely date. How a copy found its way to London is also a matter for speculation. All that is certain is that the earliest printing of the piece yet discovered was in a London newspaper, the General Advertiser , of April 15, 1747. Within a week five London...
3559John Dickinson and Others: Protest against the Appointment of Benjamin Franklin as Agent, 26 October 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser , November 1, 1764. After the minority members of the Assembly had failed to get their reasons for opposing Franklin’s appointment as agent entered on the minutes, October 26 (see above, p. 407), they sent their statement to William Bradford for publication in the Pennsylvania Journal with the following introductory note: “Mr. Bradford...
3560On Governor Bernard’s Testimony to the Loyalty of Massachusetts, 17 September 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , September 17, 1773 As I gather from a very sensible Piece, entitled “ Rules and Orders for reducing a great Empire to a SMALL One ,” published in your Paper of Saturday last, that the Inhabitants of the Province of the Massachusetts Bay had all their Arms (which were bought of us with their own Money, and with which they fought so successfully in our glorious...
3561To Benjamin Franklin from James Johnson, [28 April 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from George Everett Hastings, The Life and Works of Francis Hopkinson (Chicago, [1926]), p. 122. The Bishop of Worcester presents his Respects to Dr. Franklin and begs the favour of Him to let the Inclos’d to Mr. Hopkinson go in his Packet when He has an opportunity of sending to Philadelphia. For James Johnson, Bishop of Worcester, whose kinship to the Hopkinson family...
3562Deed of Trust for the Loganian Library, 25 March 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Commissioner of Records, City of Philadelphia; abstract: American Philosophical Society On Aug. 28, 1754, William Logan and James Logan, sons of James Logan, deceased (above, I , 191 n), his son-in-law John Smith, and Hannah Smith, his surviving daughter, together with Israel Pemberton, William Allen, Richard Peters, and Benjamin Franklin, executed a deed of trust establishing the...
3563“F.B.”: On the Paving of Chancery Lane, 4 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 4, 1766 While there is no certainty that Franklin wrote this squib, the editors agree with Verner W. Crane ( Letters to the Press , pp. 44–5) that “the probability . . . is strong enough to justify its inclusion” among his writings. The style and lightness of touch are characteristic; his interest in street paving appears several...
3564Minutes of the Provincial Commissioners, 20 July 1764 (Franklin Papers)
MS : Massachusetts Historical Society The provincial commissioners named in the Supply Act of May 30, 1764, assumed their duties almost at once. Their activities in directing the recruitment, maintenance, and disposition of the troops authorized by the provincial government are reflected in part by the pay orders they approved (above, pp. 221–4) and by the commissions and orders Governor Penn...
3565Advertisement of Godfrey’s Almanacs, 19 January 1731 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 19, 1730/1. Godfrey’s Almanacks for the Year 1731. Done on a large Sheet of Demi Paper, after the London manner. Containing the Eclipses, Lunations, Judgment of the Weather, the Time of the Sun’s Rising and Setting, Moon’s Rising and Setting, Seven Stars Rising, Southing and Setting, Time of High-water, Fairs, Courts, and Observable Days. With...
3566Report on a Debate in the House of Lords, [11 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , June 1–8, 1767. I attended a late Debate in the House of Lords, and it gave me great Uneasiness to find much Resentment against the Colonies in the Disputants. The Word Rebellion was frequently used. Lords T—t, T—e, S—h, and others, were against you, and Lord Sh——e, the Duke of G—n, and Lord C——n, your Friends. They said what...
3567To Benjamin Franklin from Ann Penn, 16 September 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you are Recoverd. from your late fatigue and indisposition, my dear Springett has been very Ill of a fever I had 2 the most Eminent Physicians to attend him. He is better, but is very weak. I have him in the Country for the air, he would write to you himself but it would fatigue him to much, but joyns with me in in our best wishes for your self and...
3568Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 11 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 21. While Morris and his Council were considering the governor’s message to the Assembly of November 8, Conrad Weiser arrived with Scaroyady and other Indians who came with pleas of action to defend the frontier lest the few still loyal Indians defect or become the victims of their armed and...
3569From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [27 September 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract reprinted from [Jared Sparks, ed.,] A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 277–9. I have mentioned the Ilinois affair to Lord Shelburne. His Lordship had read your plan for establishing a colony there, recommended by Sir William Johnson, and said it appeared to him a reasonable scheme, but he found it did not...
3570Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 18 November 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1755–1756 (Philadelphia, 1756), p. 29. After Braddock’s defeat, deteriorating relations with the Indians became one of the most troublesome and pressing concerns of the Pennsylvania authorities and an added source of conflict between the governor and the Assembly. William Penn had established the policy of fair play toward the...
3571Memorandum: Preliminary Conference with the Indians, 26 September 1753 (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Peters, Norris, and Franklin were commissioned on September 22 to meet the Indians at Carlisle and they proceeded to the westward immediately. They reached the house of Conrad Weiser, the province interpreter, on the Tulpehocken on September 24 and, setting out next morning and making all speed, they covered sixty miles and rode into Carlisle on the...
3572“The Spectator”: The Duke of York’s Travels, 10 May 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , May 15, 1765 I have observed all the News-papers have of late taken great Liberties with a noble Personage nearly allied to his Majesty. They have one Day made him Commander of a Fleet in the Mediterranean; again in the Channel; then to hoist his Flag on board a Yacht, and go on a grand Commission to Copenhagen; then to take a Tour to Brunswick, and so parade...
3573Order in Council, 2 September 1760 (Franklin Papers)
DS (two) and copy: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission On July 4, 1760, Francis Eyre, Robert Charles and Franklin’s solicitor, drew up and presented on behalf of his clients a petition to the King in Council asking to be heard in opposition to the Board of Trade report on the nineteen Pennsylvania acts. Then Eyre prepared “long Observations on the Report being 8 close Brief Sheets,...
3574From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am excessively hurried, being every Hour that I am awake either abroad to speak with Members of Parliament or taken up with People coming to me at home, concerning our American Affairs, so that I am much behind-hand in answering my Friends Letters. But tho’ I cannot by this Opportunity write to others, I must not omit a Line to you who kindly write me so many. I...
3575Passages for Priestley’s History of Electricity, [1766] (Franklin Papers)
Drafts: American Philosophical Society As other documents in this volume show, Franklin was one of several friends who read sections of Joseph Priestley’s History of Electricity while it was in preparation during 1766, offered information and suggestions, and on occasion submitted revised or expanded phraseology at various points. Among Franklin’s surviving papers are two sheets containing...
3576To Benjamin Franklin from George Croghan, 25 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I did myself the Honour of writing to you, on the 12th. of December and inclosed you, a Copy of my Journal and Transactions, with the several Western Nations of Indians, that I met with, in my Tour to and from the Ilinois Country; Since which I have had the Pleasure of hearing, that his Majesty’s Troops have obtained,...
3577Extracts from the Gazette, 1745 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 1 to December 31, 1745. [ Advertisement ] Lost on Friday, the 21st of December, 1744, betwixt Frankfort and Philadelphia, a Fowling-Piece, mounted with Brass, Dutch Make, a black Barrel, with a pretty wide Bore. Whoever has found it, and will return it to the Printer hereof, shall be sufficiently rewarded. [January 1] After a long Dearth of News,...
3578To Benjamin Franklin from George Maddison, [1766–1773]6 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society G. Maddison called to acquaint Dr. Franklin that the Packets for America do not go from the Gen. Post Office till Saturday night. George Maddison (1747–1783) had been brought into the Foreign Office of the Post Office by 1765 by his uncle, Anthony Todd, secretary of the Post Office. In 1773 Maddison entered the diplomatic service and was posted to the Hague,...
3579On Absentee Governors: II, 27 August 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , January 2–9, 1769, from The Public Advertiser , August 27, 1768. There are some advocates for the Ministers so extremely forward, that they cannot wait till they obtain a true information of facts. Even Daylight unluckily is very much in the dark himself. The truth is, that NOT ONE of the officers he mentions, except Sir Jeffery Amherst, have been...
3580Remarks on a South Carolina Currency Scheme, 31 May 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , May 31, 1733. As there are frequently Things published in the neighbouring Provinces, which to see would be agreeable to my Readers, but being of too great a Length, I have been obliged either to retail ’em Piecemeal, which disjoints or breaks the Connection of Thoughts, or wholly to omit them; I am therefore lately advised to abstract and give the...
3581An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-Places, [15 November 1744] (Franklin Papers)
An Account Of the New Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-Places: ... Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin. 1744. (Yale University Library) According to his autobiography, Franklin invented the Pennsylvania fireplace in 1742, but the winter of 1739–40 is a more likely date. Writing of it in the summer or fall of 1744, he says that he and his family and friends have enjoyed its warmth “for...
3582Physical and Meteorological Observations, Conjectures, and Suppositions, 1751 (Franklin Papers)
AD (incomplete): American Philosophical Society; draft: Library of Congress; printed in Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LV (1765), 182–92; and Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 182–92. This paper, read in the Royal Society on December 23, 1756, though not printed until 1765, is quite likely the one Franklin told James Bowdoin on...
3583Bill to the Proprietors, 30 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Friends Library of the Society of Friends, London; also copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania March 30, 1757 An example of the extent to which Franklin had conducted his printing, stationery, and bookselling business on credit is the bill he rendered to the Proprietors, March 30, 1757, before leaving for England. It includes 97 items running from 1734 to 1745; except for three undated...
3584[Other Courant Essays Possibly by Franklin, 1723] (Franklin Papers)
Franklin’s contributions to the New-England Courant were not limited to the fourteen letters of Mrs. Silence Dogood. After he had revealed himself as their author and “began to be considered a little more by my Brother’s Acquaintance,” he was doubtless occasionally invited or emboldened to do another piece. When James Franklin was in prison, Franklin “had the Management of the Paper,” which...
3585To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 13 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
LS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society Mr. Sherwood was not removed for any offence he had given, but by the Management of the East Jersey Proprietors in the Council, who have long wanted to have the Agent they employ appointed Provincial Agent. They took Advantage of Sherwood’s Letters about the Stamp Act, which were very short and trivial, and produced some of Mr. Wilmot’s which...
3586Constitutions of the Academy of Philadelphia, [13 November 1749] (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania; another MS version: University of Pennsylvania Archives This document was drawn up by Franklin and Tench Francis. The final and official version, spread on the Trustees’ Minutes and printed here, contains corrections and additions by Franklin and his insertion of James Logan’s name at the head of the list of trustees. It is of further...
3587Petition to the Treasury from Franklin and Others for a Grant of Land, 4 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AD (copy): Library of Congress The formation of the Grand Ohio Company in the early summer of 1769 had begun a flurry of activity among its principal promoters. The original request to the Privy Council for a grant of 2,400,000 acres, to be carved out of the territory ceded to the crown by the Indians in the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, had been referred to the Board of Trade. After a five-month...
3588American Longevity, [15 December 1767] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , Dec. 12–15, 1767. I have often heard it remarked, that our Colonies in North America were unhealthy and unfavourable to long life; and more particularly so upon their first settlement. In opposition to this groundless notion, I here send you two paragraphs taken from the Pensylvania Gazette of July 16, and the New-York Gazette of August 27, giving an account...
3589To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Pownall, 20 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am scarce forgiven by Lady Fawkener for not bringing you down with me to this place. She bids me say that she had flattered her with the hopes of seing you here. I have told her of your promise to come at Xmass and if you don’t keep your word I shall be ruined. You was so good to say that you would forward the enclosed for me. Pray be so good you will...
3590Accounts with William Bradford, Jr., 1741–55 (Franklin Papers)
MS : American Philosophical Society; MS Account Book: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Franklin’s business relations with other printers are suggested by a bill he submitted to the younger William Bradford and by Bradford’s account with him. Franklin’s bill covers the period from October 27, 1741, when he lent Bradford £1 10 s. , to September 22, 1747, when the bill he submitted amounted to...
3591To Benjamin Franklin from [Henry] Hope, [June? 1766] (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library We humbly ask your pardon for not waiting on you ourselves, if it had been possible for either of us, it would not have been ommitted; That however we may enjoy the happiness of your agreable Company, we kindly begg the favour of Seing you att dinner to morrow, your cordiall acceptance will very much oblige Gentlemen, Your most obedient humble Servants...
3592Library Company: Acceptance of the Charter, 3 May 1742 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Haverford College Library The increasing property of the Library Company suggested that the time had come to incorporate it. On June 21, 1739, Rev. Richard Peters informed the Directors that the Proprietor was willing to grant a charter, and he proposed to have one drafted for their perusal. “This Discourse of Mr. Peters’s was very pleasing to the Directors present,” the minutes noted....
3593Franklin and Hall: Notice to the Public, 26 February 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 26, 1754. Our Subscribers in Virginia, are desired to pay their respective Ballances due for this Gazette, to William Hunter , Esq; of Williamsburgh; those on the Western Shore of Maryland, to William Young , Esq; of Baltimore County; and those on the Eastern Shore, to Thomas Ringold , Esq; of Chester Town; their several Accounts being left with...
3594Dialogue between Two Presbyterians, 10 April 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 10, 1735. Franklin was deeply involved in 1735 in the controversy about the Reverend Mr. Samuel Hemphill. Ordained in Ireland, coming with recommendations from the Presbytery of Strabane, Hemphill was received by the Synod of Philadelphia, September 21, 1734. In Ireland a charge of unorthodoxy had been made against him, but was found to be...
3595Poor Richard Improved, 1753 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris … for the Year of our Lord 1753: … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall. (Yale University Library) This is the twentieth Time of my addressing thee in this Manner, and I have reason to flatter myself my Labours have not been unacceptable to the Publick. I am particularly pleas’d to...
3596“N.N.”: First Reply to Vindex Patriae, [28 December 1765] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , December 28, 1765. This is the third of Franklin’s letters in the Gazetteer that Goddard reprinted in The Pennsylvania Chronicle, and Universal Advertiser , Feb. 9–16, 1767, and that Franklin later acknowledged he had written. It is a reply to a letter in the Gazetteer , Dec. 23, 1765, signed “Vindex Patriae.” For the most part, that...
3597A Letter to a Friend in the Country, [25 September 1735] (Franklin Papers)
A Letter to a Friend in the Country, Containing the Substance of a Sermon Preach’d at Philadelphia, in the Congregation of The Rev. Mr. Hemphill, Concerning the Terms of Christian and Ministerial Communion. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin at the New Printing-Office near the Market. 1735. (Yale University Library) The Pennsylvania Gazette advertised September 18 that this sermon...
3598Notes on Reading an Account of Travel in China, [1762?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society These notes in Franklin’s hand appear to have been memoranda jotted down during the reading of some unidentified account of travel in the Far East. The listing of the eclipses suggests that the date was not earlier than 1762, though Franklin’s reading might well have taken place considerably later. Painted Candles, of what are they made? Vinegar of Liche,...
3599To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 26 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of writing thee, on the 25th. Ulto, since when We have not had the satisfaction of receiving any of thy Favours. Various have been the Reports spread through the Continent, respecting the Repeal of the Stamp-Act; and as often as they arrived sometimes in favour and other times against Us, we were acted upon, by our Fears, and different...
3600To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 1 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society In mine of the Third of March, Via Belfast, by Captain Henderson, I told you Mrs. Franklin had of me Fifty Pounds, for the Purchase of a Bill from Mrs. Stevens. On the 18th of February One Hundred Pounds, towards paying for the Purchase of the Lot; and that on the Tenth of March I was to give her One Hundred Pounds more, for the last mentioned...