1To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 15 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In reply to your favor of the 5th: instt. I send you the Extract from the English translation of Kæmpfer’s history of Japan Vol. 2nd. Book 5. c. 6. p. 444–5, as follows. “The candles brought in at night, are hollow in the middle; the wick, which is of paper, being wound about a wooden stick, before the tallow is laid on. For this reason also the...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 23 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society It is long since I have heard from you. The present is the first opportunity I have had for writing to you by a private hand, & my ignorance of the party still prevents my being particular. You will receive herewith a parcel of books. I am sorry not to have another copy of the Cincinnati at hand, with one or two other pamphlets, but these shall come by...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 21 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I will not affront your grandson by supposing that I can inform you of any thing passing here at this moment more perfectly & fully than he himself can explain it to you. The same thing has been true during his whole stay here. I may say indeed of himself, what he will not be forward to tell you; that he has been relished & respected here; and has always...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 9 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete AL : American Philosophical Society Having heard that you have been told at Paris, that Lord Shelburne had used foul play about the instructions for removing the troops from New York, I have only to state as a fact, that Genl. Gray in a letter I have in my possession addressed to Lord Keppel, requests to know on what means he may depend for removing the troops from New York, which...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 8 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I beg to introduce to your kind regards one of my best respected friends, Mr Dugald Stewart, who though as yet little known out of Scotland, is one of the best known men in it. He stands in the very first class of their mathematicians & literary men. He has twice at a day’s warning taken up Dr. Adam Ferguson’s lectures in Moral Philosophy, & twice completely excelled...
6To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 24 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having an opportunity of writing you by the Dutch envoy from London, I cannot omit sending you a line to tell you that I see nothing more that is amiss here than you know of, notwithstanding Mr Knox & two or three people pretend that the Loyal Colonies are to have the trade to the islands. If you keep firm, & good humored, I hope you will in the end lose...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan: Two Letters, 16 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg permission to introduce to your warm civilities, Lord Daer, son of the Earl of Selkirk. He was introduced to me lately as a very valuable & philosophical acquaintance, & my short intercourse with him has confirmed every report I had heard of him. His political principles are well known, & very friendly to us. He means to stay some time at...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 7 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Massachusetts Historical Society I have received your several late favors by Mr Jonathan Williams & Mr. Penn, with many thanks.— I cut out such parts of your newspapers as I judged proper to have published here, & was about to send them to some printer, but young Mr H. Laurens coming at the moment, I put them into his hands, as his father was well enough acquainted with the...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 15 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A very respectable planter of Antigua writes to desire of Mr Manning, “as a particular favor, that he would procure for his son a letter to Dr Franklin, as he is desirous he should know one of the first characters this age has produced.” The young gentleman, Mr Mackinnen, who presents you with this letter is the person alluded to, and though he is...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 11 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society There seems still an indecision in public affairs, as far as relates to ministry, but every body is glad to stand upon the clear ground of a peace; so that you need not fear that your treaty will be shaken. I find every plan I had heard spoken of, was in a great state of ripeness, when I arrived in London; and the grandest ideas prevailing about free trade,...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 25 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The return of Mr White enables me to send you some of the articles you asked of me to procure. You will find the list inclosed, and in my next I will try to send you a bill of my disbursements, both now & formerly.— Mr Franklin’s glasses will be forwarded by Mr Storer, or earlier, if an opportunity offers. They would have gone now by Mr White, had I...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 31 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), I , 59–63. When I had read over your sheets of minutes of the principal incidents of your life, recovered for you by your Quaker acquaintance; I told you I would send you a letter expressing my reasons why I thought it would be useful to complete and publish it...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan and Samuel Vaughan, Jr., 29 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Messrs: Vaughan have the honor to present their respects to Dr: Franklin. A prior engagement obliges them with the most extreme regret to decline the pleasure of waiting upon him on sunday, agreeable to his kind invitation. Mr: Vaughan has the honor to inclose a list of some books sold by the same bookseller who furnished Mr V with the copy of the Politique...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 19 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress B V: presents his most affectionate respects to Dr. Franklin, and is unfortunately so engaged to day, as not to be able to accept of his kind welcome. B V’s brother acted for the best, but not being privy to circumstances, misunderstood him.— Tomorrow evening B V will however call at Passy, unless inconvenient to his friend, and directed otherwise. Addressed: A Monsr /...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 18 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 423–4. I cannot but in the most earnest manner and from recent circumstances, press your going early to Versailles to-morrow; and I have considerable reason to think, that your appearance there will not displease the person whom you address. I am of opinion...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 31 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I inclose you an extract of a letter from Dr. Priestley to my brother William, on the subject of his late supposed discovery. At the same time I inform you that I have procured a small glass jar, for the purpose of observing the cause of the phœnomenon of the small bits of tea-leaves, which you find whirled to the centre of the bottom of your breakfast cup,...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 27 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 412–13. I am so agitated with the present crisis, that I cannot help writing you, to beseech you again and again to meditate upon some mild expedient about the refugees, or to give a favourable ear, and helping hand to such as may turn up. Both sides agree...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, [5 November 1782 or later?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I find that I can go off with convenience very early on Thursday morning; and therefore if agreeable, should wish you to give me your letter for Mr: T: T: tomorrow evening , as it may furnish with me with a probable occasion of speaking to that gentleman about certain affairs. Mr: H:’s letter may come under cover to me by a courier.— The very moment a certain event...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 23 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Lest by some accident I should miss the opportunity of travelling with the courier, I sit down just to tell you that I am prepared to depart the instant I hear the commission is sealed, which by the Chancellor having been at Buxton has been for some days delayed. I have got together the different articles committed to my care to procure, and shall not...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 18 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The inclosed I believe is what you wished; and it is of the party’s hand writing. His account of himself may be natural, and it may be otherwise. But you of course will be the best judge. On Tuesday morning about 10 o’clock I shall bring the lady we spoke of to visit you, according to your kind permission.—The more I see of her, the more her appearance of...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 9 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society To avoid pressing you with conversation, & to shew how little I expect you to enter into any answer or dispute, I leave with you upon paper, my thoughts concerning your American confiscations; that you may take as much or as little of them as you please. I know of two principles, which your American friends will say influenced them in this matter;...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 9 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I beg to introduce to your acquaintance My friend Mr Benjn. Savage, a young Gentn., born in South Carolina. By some accident or other, his friends have chosen the wrong side of the question, though he has relations very warmly contending on the right side. Politics however do not much warp his mind, which is as candid a one almost as I ever knew; and...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 25 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg to introduce to your acquaintance my friend Dr. Lister, whom I first became acquainted with at Edinburgh, and who was there a good deal respected for his good character and assiduity, and who I find bears an equal character among his connections here in London. I know him to be a person of very amiable & honorable character in his private conduct,...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 7 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Bowen has by this time received your books, directed to Ostend.— May you go on with the work of peace for which you are so gloriously prepared by the spirit of sweet humanity & an enlarged mind. I think I may venture to say from a knowledge of characters that no liberality YOU introduce herein, will meet with a repulse; on the contrary, that it will meet...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 5 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My father having an immediate desire to purchase lands in America to the amount of £4000 by way of a beginning; and your friend Mr. E. Jeffries of the club of “honest Whigs at the London Coffee House,” being determined to appropiate £2000 in that line; and I believe another friend having determined upon a like adventure, of which he is soon to advertise us;...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 5 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have seen Mr. L—— [Laurens] since his return from Bath. He had received my Letter, but was so much incapacitated by his disorder having lain in his head, as to have written only one letter; and that, though a common one, & in reply to his physician, cost him three hours and an half.— He says that Indigo certainly was sent from America, by the young...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 9 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You must forgive an old letter, which you will receive by this conveyance: but it contains things which I have not mentioned to you before, and shews my intentions; and therefore I send it in its present state. I have three papers included along with it; one upon Fairy Rings, one upon the Inflammation of candles, and another upon the Riots at the time of...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 3 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A person has been named to me for some time past, as about to depart for Paris, by whom I designed writing in preference to the post; but as he delays, and you will think me dilatory in the mean time, I write under cover to M. le Grand. I communicated with Mr. Burke on the subject of your letter. He said that he had received it, but knowing that ministry...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, [before 19 November 1781] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have a letter with some philosophical papers which will reach you as soon as I find an opportunity, & by which you will be informed of the reasons of my long silence. In the mean time I proceed to give you some necessary intelligence. You perhaps have heard that I have made a connection in the family of Mr Manning, a West India merchant; & that Col...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 20 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I now fulfil a part of the promise I lately made you, of a communication upon the subject of natural history & philosophy. Arthur’s seat you know to be a considerable hill in the neighborhood of Edinburgh. While I was in that city, my excellent friend Professor Dugald Stewart informed me, that Dr. Hutton (one of the philosophical society of that place) had...