11From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 2 October 1770: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S. &c. (quarto ed., London, 1817–18), III , 319. I see with pleasure that we think pretty much alike on the subjects of English America. We of the colonies have never insisted that we ought to be exempt from contributing to the common expences necessary to support the...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 27 March 1773: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 313. Je compte que notre Poke-Weed est ce que les Botanistes appellent PHYTOLACCA . Cette plante porte des bayes grosses comme des pois: la peau en est noire, mais elle contient un suc cramoisi. C’étoit ce jus évaporé au soleil en consistence d’extract que l’on employoit. Il causoit...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 4 May 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 312. Ce jeune Docteur est mort, et toutes les notes qu’il avoit faites de ses curieuses expériences ont été perdues par je ne sçais quel accident entre nos amis le Chevalier Jean Pringle, et le Docteur Huck; mais il paroit que ces Messieurs, s’ils ne retrouvent pas les papiers, comptent...
14From Benjamin Franklin to [Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg], [10 March 1773] (Franklin Papers)
AL (mutilated and incomplete draft): American Philosophical Society; translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 311. [ Torn ] Instant, [ torn ] read carefully [ torn ] much Importance [ torn. ] Page 18. line 14. [ torn ] électrisé en plus [ Torn
15From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 4 December 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Franklin’s crossing on the Reprisal with his two grandsons, William Temple Franklin and Benjamin Franklin Bache, was imprinted on his memory as long as he lived. He “was badly accommodated,” he wrote years later, “in a miserable vessel, improper for those northern seas, (and which actually foundered in her return,) was badly fed, so...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 26 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Last Night I received your Favour of the 19th per Post, which I think is the best Conveyance for our Letters without any direct Address; for I perceive that not only the little Piece which I sent on the 4th Inst. but a long Letter of the 8th. have miscarried. With the first I only thank’d you for the Square of 11000, and made a short Remark of some...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg and Thomas-François Dalibard, [on or before 25 May 1773] (Franklin Papers)
Translation printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed. Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 332–4. Ma réponse à vos questions sur l’attendrissement des viandes par l’électricité ne peut être fondée que sur des conjectures; car je n’ai pas des expériences suffisantes pour garantir les faits. Tout ce que je puis donc dire pour le présent, c’est que je suppose qu’on peut employer...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 10 March 1773: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 277–9. Quant au magnétisme qui semble produit par l’électricité, mon opinion actuelle est que ces deux puissances n’ont aucun rapport l’une à l’autre, et que la production apparente du magnétisme n’est qu’accidentelle. Voici comment on peut l’expliquer. 1º. La terre est un grand...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 29 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I wrote to you by favour of M. Poissonnier, on the 22d Instant, since which I have received yours of the 20th. with some more Sheets. I have now gone through all that are come to hand, and the following are all the Corrections that occur to me to propose for your Errata, some of which are scarce worth Notice. Premiere Partie Page 295 line 11. from...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [End of April 1773?] (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 327–9. Vos observations sur les causes de la mort, et les expériences que vous proposez pour rappeller à la vie ceux qui paroissent tués par le tonnerre, montrent également votre sagacité et votre humanité. Il paroit que la doctrine de la vie et de la mort en général est encore peu...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [March? 1773]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 258–61. J’appréhende bien de ne pouvoir trouver le tems de faire sur cette matiere toutes les recherches et les expériences qui seroient à désirer. Je me bornerai donc à faire ici quelques remarques. La pesanteur spécifique de quelques corps humains, par comparaison avec celle de...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 28 May–1 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete draft): American Philosophical Society; incomplete translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), 1, 321. I have received your Favour of the 13th Instant with several Packets of the Sheets. I have examined more of them, and hope to finish examining the rest before next Post, when I shall send you what Remarks have...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Barbeu-Dubourg, 13 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Having begun the affair of our Loan by the Means of our friend M. Ferdinand Grand Banker Rue Monmartre, he is in possession of all the Particulars relating to it, and can fully satisfy the Curiosity of the Person who enquires thro’ you. I need only mention in Answer to your 8th Query, that the Money borrow’d being to be laid out in France for Arms Ammunitions Soldiers...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Barbeu-Dubourg, 19 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress The great Point is to obtain the Consent of this Government to the making such an Equipment as is proposed. We apply’d yesterday for that Consent, and hope to have an Answer today. If favourable, your friend shall be gratified with a Commission immediately, on giving the necessary Security to observe our naval Regulations, and not to commit hostilities against any...
25From Benjamin Franklin to [Barbeu-Dubourg], [after 2 October? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress You know, my dear Friend, that I am not capable of refusing you any Thing in my Power, which would be a real Kindness to you or any Friend of yours: But when I am certain that what you request would be directly the contrary, I ought to refuse it. I know that Officers going to America for Employment will probably be disappointed: That our armies are...
26Four Letters of Introduction for Joseph Priestley, 20–21 August 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (drafts): Library of Congress In late August Joseph Priestley left with his patron, Lord Shelburne, for a Continental tour. It included the Low Countries and the Rhineland and ended in October in Paris, where Priestley demonstrated some of his experiments with gases and discussed them with Lavoisier in the first meeting between those two giants of chemistry. Franklin gave Priestley...