1To Benjamin Franklin from Franklin and Samuel Wharton: Memorial to Congress, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
DS : National Archives This memorial from Franklin and his long-time partner in western land ventures Samuel Wharton recapitulates the history of their efforts to establish a legitimate title to lands they had purchased in the unsettled area south of the Ohio River. Their enterprise originated in 1768 as an attempt by a group of Pennsylvania merchants, the “suffering traders,” to obtain land...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 21 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send you the News Paper. The Spanish Declaration was not made on Tuesday, But I have a Letter, which says, That it was to be deliver’d on Wednesday. They write from London, That the New York Mail brings Advice,—of General Clinton’s detaching three thousand Men upon an Expedition (to sail the 8th of May) and That Genrl Washington supposing it to be to...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 8 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Messrs. Neave desire me to acquaint your Excellency, That They return to Diepe on Tuesday Morning early, and That They intend to wait upon you To Morrow Morning, In Order to take the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. They would be particularly obliged to Mr. William Franklin, if He would be so kind, as to prepare two sets of the usual Deposition. I...
4To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 29 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: American Philosophical Society The Memorial of Samuel Wharton of Philadelphia respectfully sheweth. That Thomas, and Robert Burdy left England about twelve Months ago, and settled at Diepe with Messieurs Richard Neave & Son, intending, when an Opportunity offered to go and settle in Pennsylvania, One of the said United States. That the...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 3 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the Bearer Captain All, I have sent you and Mr. Dean the parliamentary Register, The Remembrancer, News Papers &c., And I beg leave to mention to you, (As Captain All desires it, And as I can, with great Truth do it) That his Duty to his Employer has obliged Him to stay much longer here, Than was agreable to Him; But That he has steadily maintained, and...
6To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel Wharton], 3 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have sent you two other Parcels of News papers by Mr. Thornton. I am with the Sincerst Regard dear Sir Yours most affectionately. Identified by the handwriting.
7To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 14 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Little did I expect to address you again from any part of this Kingdom, But you will hear from your other Correspondents, The Cause of Commodore Jones returning to L’orient. I will not attempt to describe the Horrors of the dreadful, or as the Seamen express it,— unequalled Tempest, We have been in, nor the miraculous Delivery from Death, We have had.— We...
8To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 9 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I return the american paper with many Thanks. Inclosed, you have the London packet, containing part of Mr. Galloway’s extraordinary Evidence. A Gentleman, a Native of the united States, writes July 2d,— That Sir Charles Hardy sailed out of the Channel with thirty One Sail of the Line, and if the Wind continued Easterly a few Days, several more Ships would...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 14 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: American Philosophical Society I Am sorry to have Occasion to write you on the Subject of all the Letters, which are addressed to you by this Courier. Captain Jones, Messrs. Moylan and Nesbit will inform you of the particulars of the outrageous Behaviour of Captain Launday, and the (original) Officers, and Crew of the Alliance, in taking Possession of Her. I will take the Liberty...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 23 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society As some Matters have occur’d, since your Departure, Which it may not be disagreable to you, to know, I borrow an Hour, from Business, to communicate Them to you. The Corporation of this City, met yesterday and agreed upon an Address to the Proprietors. What the Particulars of it, are, I have not yet been able to Obtain, But I learn generaly; That...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 29 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Wharton presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and returns the Journals of Congress, and News papers with Thanks. He does not find any Paper upon the Subject of back Lands. Upon Enquiry, and looking over his Invoice Book, He finds, That Copper in Sheets, was in the year 1770, from 87/6 to 90/ Sterling per hundred;— of 112 pds. to the hundred. Mr....
12To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton et al., 26 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives We understand some Persons in the Town have written to the Ministers of France, That the Americans, who are here approved Captain Landais’ Conduct in Possessing Himself of the Frigate Alliance, which you had committed to the Charge of the Honorable Commodore Jones. For the sake of Truth, and undeceiving those,—Whom such Misrepresentations may have deceived,— We think it...
13[Samuel Wharton to Edward Bancroft] with a Postscript to Franklin, 10 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am still without any of your Favors, although two Mails arrived Yesterday. I am wholly at a Loss to account for your not answering my several Letters, and can only ascribe it to Illness, or an Interception of Yours. I will however persevere in my Correspondence, While, I think, There is a possibility, of my being any Ways useful. The Report of ten thousand...
14To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [on or after 7 April 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Wharton presents his Respects to his Exellency Mr. Franklin, & sends Him the News paper, and a correct List of all the regular Forces in Ireland. The letter He has just received from a Friend; Who has the best Opportunity of officialy , acquiring a State of the Army. Mr. Wharton did not receive A News paper by the last post. Addressed: A’ Son Excellence /...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 23 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I inclose three News papers just received by way of Amsterdam. The postage cost Fourteen Livres.— All Papers are intercepted, which come by Way of Ostend; And I could wish your Direction, as to my Friend’s continuing to Send Them, Via Amsterdam. I am with the utmost Respect & Esteem Dear Sir Your Excellency’s most obt. & most humble Servant Addressed: A’...
16To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel Wharton], 13 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I have sent to the Care of my Friend Dr. B, a stilton Cheese, which I hope may approve acceptable to you, and Mr. Dean. With the sincerest Respect for both of you, I am, dear Friend, Yours affectionately Addressed: A / Monsr. / Monsr. François / Passy. Notation: S.W. 13 Feb. 78 Identified by the handwriting like his letter above of Nov. 21. The bearer was...
17To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel Wharton], 21 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Desire of a particular Friend, Who is afflicted with a dropsical Complaint, and Who has seen published in our papers a Prescription said to be given by You (used by Dr. Gardan of South Carolina) to the French Physicians, for the Cure of that Disorder, I beg the Favor of you to communicate the prescription, with proper Directions, to my Friend Monsr....
18To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 23 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I find a Disposition among several of my Friends to lend Money to the United States, And I am desired by One of Them, to request the Favor of you to furnish Me with the Manner, in Which the Loans must be made, and inform Me, What Interest The United States give. Mr. Thornton waits, so that I have not Time to add More, Than my hearty Congratulations On the...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 2 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer hereof is Mr. Robert Mease of Alexandria in Virginia, Who proposes to visit several Places in France on a mercantile Plan, and to pass some Time in paris. You are so well acquainted with the Devotion of his Family to the great Cause of our Country, That it is unnecessary for me to say,— Mr. Mease has zealously exerted Himself, during the present...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [19 May 1769]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Dated merely Friday; probably May 19, 1769. A note in the third person: is sorry to inform Franklin that the New York mail, according to Mr. Todd, was made up and dispatched on Wednesday night, when the letters for the governors were received from the various officers. The Captain sails for New York on Monday. ] We are assuming that Wharton referred to...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 2 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the Bearer Mr. Pringle I have sent you the News Papers, Parliamentary Register &c., and I beg leave to trouble you with Copys of Letters, which have passed between Mr. Williams and myself on the Subject of an aspersion of my Character. I am just informed, That above a Month ago Mr. Williams unkindly communicated this Calumny to Dr. Smith, and That it has...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [10 January? 1770] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was informed late last Night, That a Number of your and my Letters were lying at the New York Coffee House and Therefore I went into the City early this morning and have taken up all I could find. I send by my Boy, yours. I [am] always very respectfully your Very affectionate Friend. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin The dating is purely conjectural. Capt....
23To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [16 July 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send inclosed the News paper, and am informed by some Friends in London, That two Transports are arrived from New York in short Passages, & bring such Accounts as incline People in general to think, That General Provost has been beaten near Charles Town, with the Loss of his Artillery &c. They don’t mention any other Particulars. I am respectfully, and...
24To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel Wharton], 2 December 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Copy (incomplete): American Philosophical Society As soon as I heard, That Sir William Johnson had received the King’s Orders to settle the Boundary with the Six Nations, I set off with Captain William Trent (The legal Attorney of the Traders, who suffered, as well by the Encroachments of the French in 1754, as by the Indians in 1763) for the Mohocks Country, But on our arrival at Albany, we...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [10 November? 1769]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Dated merely Friday afternoon; probably November 10, 1769. A note in the third person, to send Franklin the American newspapers received that day in the New York mail. Has heard nothing by the packet; expects a letter from “his Friend” by Capt. Jeffries, who was to sail from Philadelphia on Oct. 7.] A New York mail reached London on Nov. 10; London Chron. ,...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [19 July 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send the News Paper, and a short Note from a Friend.— The packet, which was bringing the Mail of the 6th Instant, was taken by an American Privateer, and carried into Dunkirk. The News from South Carolina, in the News Paper, of the Success of General Lincoln, I think, bears strong Marks of Authenticity upon the Face of it. I am with great Respect Dear Sir...
27To Benjamin Franklin from [Samuel] Wharton, [16 November? 1769] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Wharton presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin and will be much obliged to Him, If He will be so good as to take an early Opportunity of explaining to Governor Pownall, Abraham Mitchel’s base Conduct; As Mr. Wharton finds the Governor and his Brother have read the Affidavit in the Gazeeteer and He is afraid, it may make an injurious Impression on Them,...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 28 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send under Cover the News Paper, and learn by several Letters, which I received yesterday from London, That the Ministry and People were under very great Apprehensions of an Invasion, and the Destruction of their Commerce. One of our Friends writes me, That Orders were dispatched to Sir Charles Hardy to return immediately with the Fleet under his Command;...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 22 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Wharton presents his Compliments to Mr. Franklin & sends the News Paper, containing the Spanish Declaration of War. Mr. W’s Friends write Him, That the Merchants & Stock Jobbers keep the Price of Stocks, from an Opinion, That Spanish War was a good Thing & would produce great Quantitys of Silver & Gold. Almodóvar’s declaration was published in London...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 5 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have at last the Prospect of leaving this Country, as Commodore Jones has every Thing on Board, and a favorable Wind is springing up. The Brigantine Duke of Leinster, Capt. Souder, & the Brigantine Luke, Capt. Clark for Philadelphia, and a french Lougre for Maryland sail under Convoy of the Ariel. If at any Time I can be any ways useful to you in america,...