1Samuel Chandler to James Hamilton, William Allen, Richard Peters, Benjamin Franklin, Conrad Weiser, and William Smith … (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Horace W. Smith, Life and Correspondence of the Rev. William Smith, D.D. (Philadelphia, 1880), I , 40–2. William Smith delivered this letter to Governor Hamilton a few days after he returned from England on May 22. Hamilton communicated it at once to the others named in it. Franklin, Peters, and Weiser were about to set out to Albany, so no meeting could be held...
2A Committee of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 20 October … (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia It is with much satisfaction we received Intelligence from our Friend David Barclay, by his Letter of the 27th Augst. That, “by Order of the Court of Chancery there is transferred to you, for the use of the Pennsylvania Hospital, Seven thousand, six hundred and thirty four pounds 11 s. 1 d. three per Cent reduced Bank Annuities, Also that...
3The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 29 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia Esteemed Friends John Fothergill Benjamin Franklin David Barclay We have lately received from our Friend David Barclay on Your behalf the State of the Accounts relating to the mony received by you for the Use of the Pennsa. Hospital, and of the Payment of the Bills drawn on you by the Managers, a Ballance remaining in favour of the Hospital,...
4A Committee of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 16 May 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital have been expecting to hear from you by every Vessel that has arrived at this place from London within many months past, but being disappointed of that pleasure, are apprehensive some Obstacle has occasioned a delay of your receiving from the Bank, the Monies arising from the unclaimed shares of the...
5The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 4–7 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia This accompanies duplicate of our last since which we have received Benja. Franklin’s favour of the [ blank ]. In pursuance of what we proposed, we have since drawn on you the following Bills at thirty days sight vizt. No.1 payable to James Pearson for £100. 2 ditto to ditto 100. 3 ditto to ditto 175. £375. 4 ditto to Joseph King sign’d by...
6The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 4 January 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia <January 4, 1773: In accordance with the letter of Jan. 1 from their committee, they have drawn on the recipients for £700 sterling in four bills of exchange in favor of John Clark, three for £200 each and one for £100. > The Board was continuing its earlier policy of investing in mortgages; Clark had obtained one for £1,137 10 s. ,...
7The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 6 April 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS (minutebook copy): Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia <Pennsylvania Hospital, April 6, 1773: Notification that ten bills, nos. 23 through 32, have been drawn on Franklin, Barclay, and Fothergill, to be paid from the account of the contributors to the Hospital. The bills are: two of Feb. 6 in favor of Charles Stewart, £365 sterling in all; one of Feb. 19 and three of March 12 in favor of...
8To Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and David Barclay from a Committee of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital … (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society <Pennsylvania Hospital, June 3, 1771. Last year’s committee sent them, a few weeks ago, a resolution of the contributors and a power of attorney to receive the funds due the Hospital from unclaimed shares of the Pennsylvania Land Company; copies of both are enclosed. Although the needs of the Hospital are acute, the Managers dare not draw any of the money...
9A Committee of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 1 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia We are now deputed by a Board of Managers of this Hospital to inform you, That it is agreed to draw on you for the further Sum of Four thousand pounds Sterling as Opportunities offer to dispose of our drafts, and to put out the money on Interest on good and Sufficient Securities, which from our present prospect we expect will be Effected in...
10To Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and David Barclay from a Committee of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital … (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia <Philadelphia, May 3, 1771. When the managers learned from Fothergill that the money allotted to the Hospital from the unclaimed shares of the Pennsylvania Land Company is payable as soon as attorneys are authorized to receive it, they convened a meeting of the contributors on April 30 last, which passed a resolution empowering them to issue...
11The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 18 January 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Minutebook copy: Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia <January 18, 1773: A copy of their previous letter is enclosed. They have now drawn further on Franklin, Barclay, and Fothergill for £1,250 sterling in three bills of exchange, one in favor of Joseph Mitchell for £600 and two in favor of Joseph King for £300 and £350 respectively.> Presumably that of Jan. 4 above. For the little we know...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Lord Dartmouth to Franklin, William Bollan, and Arthur Lee, 23 December 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Public Record Office <St. James’s Square, Friday, December 23, 1774: A note in the third person asking them to meet him at his house at ten the following morning. > To learn how the King had received the petition from the Continental Congress; see the following document.
13The Continental Congress to Franklin, William Bollan, Edmund Burke, Charles Garth, Arthur Lee, Thomas Life, and Paul … (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress This letter from the Congress over the signature of its president carried to England the official news, so long awaited, of what had happened in Philadelphia. The letter was drafted at the end of the session by a committee of two and approved on the last day, October 26. Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Congress, enclosed it in a covering letter of the same date...
14From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin or John Fothergill, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been for weeks past meditating a Voyage to London, which would be attended with very great inconvenience, to sell my Estate in St. Christophers, as a long lease thereon is now almost expired, when a presumptious thought occurred, that if you would condescend to look down from Affairs of the highest publick concern, to an Affair of the highest private...
15From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook copy): Historical Society of Pennsylvania Please to be refered to what I wrote you the 27th. Ulto, on considering the possibility of your not obtaining £6,500 Sterl. for my Estate the Sum by which you were then limited, and as I would not have my purpose mared by failing of the above sum, and in Case you cannot obtain an intermediate Sum I even consent to take Six Thousand...
16Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 2 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania You’ll please to be refered to what I wrote you some Months past respecting the Sale of my Estate in St. Christophers, since which I have not been favoured with any answer but an obliging kind Letter from Doctor Franklin informing that you had appointed a meeting to converse on that subject, so that I am ignorant of the steps you have...
17From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania However reluctant a man may be within his sprere of action to give trouble to another, yet the circumstance of distance of place lays him under an indispensable necessity, and when that happens his first thought leads to the object of his confidence, and he is exercised therein in proportion to the trust he is to repose. I have motives...
18From Daniel Roberdeau to Benjamin Franklin, John Fothergill, and Charles Pearce, 27 February 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society If by this time you have not succeeded in [the sale of my Plantation,] according to what I wrote you the 27th. Feby. and 20th. March, as [I am anxious to] transfer my Property from the West-Indies to the more eligible Situa[tion of my] own residence, and as a last effort, although I have little doubt that by [the time] this gets to your hands, that you will...
19To Benjamin Franklin from the Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature to Franklin and John Fothergill, 8 November … (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society The Subscribers Managers of the Contributions for promoting the Culture of silk in Pennsylvania, having purchased in the course of the last Season and procured to be reeled at the Filature erected here such a quantity of Cocoons as have produced about 155 lbs. of raw Silk proper for Exportation, are encouraged from your known Partiality to the productions of...
20Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 12 March 1763 (II) (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library The Accomptant General of this Office, having now finished his observations (for which I prepared you in my other Letter of this date) upon the state of your Accounts, and His Majesty’s PostMaster General having adopted the same; I am Commanded to observe to you, that your last Account for about Four Years ending with August 1761, being sworn to in London in April...
21Edward Shippen to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 2 July 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society I Received your Favour of the 29th Ulto. and had the perusal of yours to Mr: George Ross of the same Date which we answered this Morning jointly. Francis Campbel Esqr: and Mr: John Piper of Shippensburg I think I could Take the Liberty to Recommend as Honest Men and very proper Persons to under Take the Management of a Post office in that Town....
22Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 4 October 1768 (Franklin Papers)
MS extract: Public Record Office Extract of a Letter from Anth Todd Esqr. to Messrs. Franklin and Foxcroft Dated General Post Office October 4th. 1768. You will see by the inclosed Abstract of a Clause relating to Ship Letters what steps have been lately taken to carry the same effectually into execution, and the Honourable Commissioners of the Customs have been pleased to direct their...
23Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 12 March 1763 (I) (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library His Majesty’s Post Master General having been pleased, at the same time, They have thought fit to lay down the Correspondence with His Majesty’s Islands in the West Indies, to Establish Four Packet Boats of 130 Tons each, with 18 Hands, in order to continue a Monthly Correspondence between Great Britain, and the Continent of America, in time of Peace; and until...
24Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 12 March 1763 (III) (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library Inclosed I send you, by Command of His Majesty’s PostMaster General, the Copy of a Letter just received from General Murray Governor of Quebec; as likewise the Copy of a Memorial inclosed therein from the British Merchants residing in That Government; by which they plainly appear to labour under many difficulties for the want of a safe and Speedy Conveyance of...
25William Dunlap to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, [October? 1764] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter and the two that follow directly concern the settlement of accounts between the deputy postmasters general, Franklin and Foxcroft, and William Dunlap, postmaster at Philadelphia from 1757 until 1764, in which year he was replaced by Franklin’s brother, Peter. Since it is not known precisely when Peter Franklin took over the post office in...
26From Anthony Todd to Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft, 13 August 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library I am glad to acquaint you that the Postmaster General are very well satisfied with Mr. Franklin’s Letter of the 1st. and your joint Letter of the 10th. of June. The several proposed Regulations and Improvements which you mention, have met with Their entire approbation, and They wait your own Time for making the ample Report you mention at the End of this Summer...
27To Benjamin Franklin from John Pownall, 4 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Pownall presents his respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklyn and shall be greatly obliged to him if he can give him any Information as to the person and [ illegible ] mentioned below. One -- Dimsdale died in the Province of Pensylvania in 1764 or 1765. possessed of a Plantation there, which he left by will in general Terms to his relations in the North...
28To Benjamin Franklin from W. Masters, [1769?] (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Though I have not the honour of an intimate acquaintance with you, yet your character of humanity and benevolence, and the intimacy that subsisted between you and my Father, and especially the desire of contributing to the Peace and Happiness of an old Neighbour whom for several Years I have found an honest worthy industrious Man, imboldens me to give you...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Augustus Gottlieb Spangenberg, 29 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives of the Moravian Church, Bethlehem When I think of the Multitude of Things, which now surrounds you; I wish that God may be with you; and then surely all will go well and prosper in your Hands. As you like to keep Mr. Edmonds a little longer, he being a good Hand to you; and as he himself is very willing to assist you in what he can; it would be ungenerous of us to take him from...
30To Benjamin Franklin from John Whitehurst, 18 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The natural tendency of philosophical minds to promote useful knowledge, seems to render an apology to you quite needless for the favour I’m going to request. I’m inform’d Sir, that the truely eminent Artist Mr. West is one of that Class of men who cultivates the Science he professes for the Sake of the Art only. A most laudable example indeed. A Young...