1To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, [May 1770] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am much obliged to you for asking Sir John Pringles opinion about Franklin, it has made me easier, but if it please God to spare him to us, intend having him Inoculated again when he has done cutting Teeth. I take the earliest opportunity of telling my dear Papa I have altered my intention of going to Jamaica, it never was Mr. Baches design to setle there....
2To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 30 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We are all much disapointed at your not coming home this Fall. I was in great hopes of seeing and presenting you with two of the finest Boys in the World, do not let any thing my dear Sir prevent your coming to your Family in the Spring for indeed we want you here much. I give you many thanks for the very eligant Silk, I never knew what it was to be proud...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 2 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had sett this day apart to write you a long letter, but my little Will has been so much indisposed as to take up all my time and attention, he is now in a sweet Sleep, but its so late that I can only tell you how much pleasure your desire of hearing from me gave me and to asure you I will write fully and have my Letter ready for the next Opportunity. I...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 23 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Musée national de la coopération franco-américaine, Blérancourt, France We have been impatiently waiting to hear of your Arrival for some time. It was seventeen weeks Yesterday since you left us, a day I never shall forget, how happy shall we be to hear you are all safe arrived and well. You had not left us long before we were obliged to leave Town. I never shall forget nor forgive them...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 22 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is the first opportunity I have had since my return home of writing to you. We found the House and Furniture in much better order than we could expect, which was owing to the care the Miss Cliftons took of all we left behind. My being removed four days after my little Girl was born made it impossible for me to remove half the things we did in our...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 17 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I did myself the pleasure of writing a long letter to you very lately, but am afraid it is taken as I beleive many of yours are, I am unwilling to think you neglect us, tho Mr Ingersolls coming from France without letters from you has given me great uneasyness, he lodged too in the same house with little Ben, and not a line from him, I hope soon however to be made...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 14 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Every body seems to be sorry that Mr Gerard is going to leave Philada. but particularly this Family whose esteem he has entirely gain’d, he is kind enough to take charge of a Box of Squirril skins for Temple in which is a parcel of news papers for you, and a peice of homespun Silk which I have long wish’d to send you for the Queen whose...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 25 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We wrote to you fully some days ago, but Mr Gerard staying longer than he expected gives me an opportunity of telling you we still continue well, and of sending you some more Newspapers, it has been my earnest wish that Mr G: might be detaind a few days longer still, as I wanted him to stand Godfather to a little stranger that is hourly expected, and is to...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 2 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Letter will be handed you by Coll Fluery, who is not only a Hero but a man of merrit, the same which took the Standard at Stony point, he is a favorite of General Washingtons, and Baron Stuben’s the latter of which Gentlemen introduced him to Mr B: and me, one of the papers you sent over was to enquire him out, he says he has wrote often to his...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 14 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Friend and neighbour Mrs Wistar has been to request Mr Bache would write a few lines to introduce Mr. Ashton to you, as he is not at home I take that liberty, Mr Ashton has been in partnership with Mr John Gibson, and bears the Character of a very worthy good man, it will not be long before he will return and I hope will bring us the pleasing accounts of...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 2 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was willing to take the latest day of Mr Myer’s staying to write to you, as my little Boy was then in the small Pox, that I might have it in my power to tell you it was over. It is and very happily, I happened to miss the time of Mr M.’s going, so that he only took a small letter of recommendation, which I had given him before— this will be handed to you...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 9 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have been much disapointed so many Vessels have arrived lately and not one single line from you, and if a Mr Esra Johnes had not called to let me know how you all did, we should not have heard wether you were well or not, the account he gives us of your health and spirits is very pleasing to us—tis but a few days since I came from Mr Duffields, were I have been...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 14 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your letter by Capt Read has afforded us great Pleasure, tis’ a long time since we have been made so happy, our little Benjamins improvement has delighted us, Your answer to his letter is one of the best in the world, William shall get it by heart, and I hope they will neither of them ever forget it— the letter you mention to have wrote telling us Benny had...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 23 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library We were made very happy by Temples Letter informing us You were perfectly well since your last fit of the Gout. I hope you may long continue so— The things you sent me by Ct. Smith came to hand safe he arrived in Boston, and I got them brought in a Waggon that was comming, almost all the goods in the same Waggon got wet Crossing the North River, I had the good...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 12 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Major Franks, a young Gentleman who has been in the American Army since the beginning of the War, will deliver you this, I beg leave to introduce Him to your notice and Friendship, he can acquaint you all about the Children and Family, as he very frequently saw us all together— there is a Vesel to sail in a few days by which I shall write largely,...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 17 July 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you lately by the Ship Delaware Capt Prowl, and by Major Franks, which letters I hope may get safe to hand, this will be delivered to you by the Son of an Old Friend by whom Mr Bache has wrote, his Fathers kindness to me in your Absence when I was ill of the Measles, and afterwards in sending his Carriage every day for me to ride I shall never...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 19 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; AL (draft [partial]): Yale University Library The Gentleman who brings you this, I beleive you are acquainted with, as I have often heard him speak of you, he has been obliging enough to call on me, and has promised to deliver my letters into your own hands, Mr Morris’s Sons go under his care to Geneeva, how delighted little Benjamin will be to have...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 29 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have lately heard you were well, but do not often hear from you, many letters I beleive are taken, one of Benny’s to you, dated March last, was sent me out of New York by my Brother, who was well two weeks ago he tells me Sr Harry Clinton sent it to him suposing it to be from his son, but says your letter in which it was inclosed was lost— You have...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 1 October 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should think it wrong to let any opportunity slip without informing you of the Welfare of my little Family, they are well and lovely the Youngest, one Year old this day, and as an infant she is perfect, I have just weaned her, Willy a fine tall straight Lad, this week he began to go to dancing School, Betsy and Lous go to my Old Madam Marsh, how happy...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 3 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By this Vessel you will receive a tin and a Wooden box; both with grafts of the best new town Pippins which Mr Powell was obliging enough to procure, each of the grafts has a peice of the Old wood remaining to it, the wooden [ torn: box] was put up by him in a particular manner with wax and tallow, the other by Mr Bache according to your directions, Mr...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 1[–2] January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: University of Pennsylvania Library I do not know how I could employ myself more agreeably on the beginning of the new Year, than by writing to my dear Papa, wishing him many happy returns of it, and that I may live to begin and end many of them with him is my sincere prayer, who knows what a Peace may produce— In Mr Bache’s letter you desire I would continue my histories of the...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 2 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Restiff called to let me know he was going to France, I allways promiss’d him a letter when he return’d: he is an exceeding good Young Man, has been often at our House and can tell you how we all look—as I have just wrote you a long letter, and shall write you again in a few days by Coll Cambray, shall only add the Love and duty of an Afectionate...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 7 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Yesterday which was your birthday —and which I allways keep in the most festive Manner in my power—Willy & Eliza invited their Friends to a little dance, and made about sixty young folks, as happy as twas possible for People to be in this World. My children quite in an extacy, even little Deby had her share in the beginning of the evening— I have not the least...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache: Two Letters, with a Note from Richard Bache, 24 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society Coll Cambray, who we shall miss very much, is the bearer of this, he will tell you how all the Family do, I paraded all the Children to day on purpose for him to tell you how they look’d, and if he does not say they are fine and handsome, I know not were he will find his beauties—the news papers that came since Major Franks’ paket was made up I...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 27 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Translation: reprinted from Alexandre-Marie Quesnay de Beaurepaire, Mémoire, statuts et prospectus, concernant l’Académie des sciences et beaux-Arts des Etats-Unis de l’Amérique, établie à Richemond … (2nd ed., Paris, 1788), pp. 22–3. Avec cette Lettre, vous recevrez un projet pour une Académie Française qui doit s’ériger ici; c’est un plan fort étendu, & qui fera honneur au Monsieur qui l’a...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 8 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I cannot let Coll Cambray go without a line to you tho I sit up to write in bed— I have had a fit of the Bilious Cholic that lasted twenty four hours, it went off yesterday but has left me very weak and with a bad head ake, I hope a good nights sleep will quite restore me, and then I shall be able to write you a long letter by Mr Oster who goes in a day or...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 1 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our worthy Friend Mr Oster just now called to let me know he goes on board Ship amediately, as there is seldom a week passes, but he sees the Family two or three times, he will tell you how we all look, he caught me to day playing with the Children and rabbits, I see Betsy the day before yesterday she is with Miss Beckwith who is like to do extreamly well,...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 9 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Friends the Vaughan Family are now under our roof, the pleasure we take in entertaining every body that you love and that loves you, make us happy in their Company, they are come to settle among us, and what little I have seen of them promise a very agreable addition to our Society— My letter to day on their account will rather be short as I have a...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 5 November 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Most earnestly have I wished for the Definitive Treaty to arrive, and Congress to find a resting place, that they might then have time to recall you, and our little Family be once more joined, the Treaty I am told is come, but when Congress will settle no one can say, they have lost much of the Confidence of the People since they began to wander, your old Friend...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, [before 19 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will be handed to you by Major Du Pontier, Aid of your Friend Baron Stuben’s, who I shall thank you for your attention to, we have found him a very amiable young Gentleman, he will tell you how the Children all look, and what a delightful retreat I have brought them to, till a few days ago I flattered myself you would have been with us on Schuilkill...
31To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 20[–21] June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In full expectation of Dr Bancrofts calling on me before he embarks I write again tho I have just finished one for you, I did expect he would dine with us tomorrow and am disapointed to hear he cannot, for I love every one you love, and the Dr is so agreable and sensible, that every one must think favorably of him and like his Company, for his own sake, so...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, [on or before 20 June 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Major Depontiere I wrote you a short Letter the other day, it was at the very instant of my moveing, I had neither pen or wafer, I hope you will excuse the appearance it made, I thought you would be happy to hear I was well even if it were wrote in Greek Characters. My little Richard is most amaizingly recovered since we came out here and the whole...