1381To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 28 September 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This will Convey to thee an account of this Places Breaking through the non importation agreement which happened on the 20th by a Large Majority of the Votes of the Subscribers about 5 to 1. I am Sorry it has So happend but it is only what Might have beene Expected from the first and what I Realy Did Expect and thiarefore Wold not Meddle in it for I always...
1382To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, 28 September 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am honoured with your favour of the 11th. June which lais me under great obligation; I should not have been so tardy in my reply but that I have for some considerable time past been greatly afflicted in my wife’s Illness the latter part of her pregnancy and since her delivery occasioned by repeated Accidents which very much endangered...
1383To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 28 September 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Yesterdy I received your Favor of 16 May ult with Relandi Analecta Rabbinica you was so obliging as to send me. For which please to accept my Thanks. One of the Tracts I wanted is contained in Relandi Hist. Hebraea. I am sorry to have given you so much Trouble. I could wish for an Answer from Mr. Dow——as I have a very great Thirst after Oriental Antiquities. With...
1384Daniel 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...
1385To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Parker, 6 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since writing the foregoing My Daughter is returned from Philadelphia without the Comptrollers Books: Mr. Foxcroft Intends to bring them himself; when he does shall Answer yours as particularly as I can. I received yours with a protested bill of Mr. Vernon. Your Letter and bill I (by the Next post) sent to Mr. Foxcroft; who I suppose (and make no Doubt)...
1386To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 9 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your very kind favours I duly received and should have answered them respectively, only that I waited in expectation of transmitting the sum then supposed necessary, trust however to your goodness to excuse the omission being at that time disappointed; your unparralell’d kindness in so readily complying with the request (through me) of the Assembly demands...
1387To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 10 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania This will be deliver’d to you by Mr. William White for whose Parents, as well as himself, I have a particular Regard. His Arrant to London is with Design to finish his Studies in Divinity, and to obtain Orders in the Church. If great Goodness and Rectitude of Heart, improved by a virtuous and liberal Education, and free from the Vices and Licentiousness...
1388To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 11 October 1770: Four Letters of Introduction (Franklin Papers)
ALS : (1) Historical Society of Pennsylvania; (2) and (4) American Philosophical Society; (3) Yale University Library In early October, 1770, four young men left Philadelphia together for London, two to study law and two to seek ordination in the Church of England. All were family friends of the Franklins, and for each Deborah wrote a note of introduction to her husband. The notes were written...
1389To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Fitzmaurice, 12 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You must do Doctor Hawkesworth and me the Justice to believe that we were very much mortified at being deprived of the pleasure which we were happy in the thought of enjoying from your Company here. What has added to our mortification has been the being deprived of that satisfaction which God forbid but that we sho’d enjoy with the rest of our fellow...
1390To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 12 October 1770: Two Letters of Introduction (Franklin Papers)
ALS : (1) Historical Society of Pennsylvania; (2) University of Pennsylvania Library The Bearer Mr. Phineas Bond, Son of Doctr. Phineas Bond of this City, is desirous of finishing his Education at the Temple; and for that Purpose now visits London. I have a particular Regard for his Parents, and from a considerable Acquaintance with his Conduct during his Apprenticeship, he also claims my...
1391To Benjamin Franklin from Ebenezer Kinnersley, 13 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : the Royal Society I received your Favour of March 18. I thank you for speaking to Mr. Nairne; he has now sent a Thermometer that pleases. The English School has indeed been discouraged, and, in Consequence, declining; Particulars would be too tedious to mention now; I have been almost determined to seek my Fortune abroad again. The Conducting Quality of some Sorts of Charcoal is indeed...
1392To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 14 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pennsylvania Historical Society I did myself the pleasure of writing you a few Lines the other day per packet. Mr. Thomas Hopkinson has strongly sollicited to be the Bearer of a few Lines, and tho’ I am conscious that any Introduction of him from me to you, will have but little Weight, yet I cannot help complying with his Request. I must at the same time trouble you with the inclosed...
1393To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 14 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pennsylvania Historical Society I have bin so much taken up of Laite I Cold write only a line or two which I desired Billey to in close in his letter to you, to tell you that when he and mrs. Franklin is in town I am much taken up; the laste I got Mr. Beach to excues me to you for we had Several friends in the house and this day I am told Folkner Sailes on Satter day. So I muste write...
1394To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Rush, 14 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania The many Advantages which I derived from your Friendship Whilst in London have emboldened me to take the Liberty of recommending to your friendly Notice the Bearer of this Letter——my Brother who proposes to spend two Years in the Temple in Order to finish his studies in the Law. The Civilities you confer upon him will add greatly to the very many Obligations...
1395To Benjamin Franklin from Israel Pemberton, 17 October 1770: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania [Oct. 17, 1770. Is going on a long journey and wants Franklin to pay the balance due from five years’ ground rent of property in Pewter Platter Alley. The total rent was £101 5 s. , of which Franklin had paid £60 in 1769, leaving £41 5 s. due.] A wealthy Quaker merchant, for whom see above, V , 424 n. BF had bought the property in 1764 from James...
1396To Benjamin Franklin from the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 19 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania , 1770–1771 (Philadelphia, 1771), p. 210. In Pursuance of the Directions of the House of Assembly to the Committee of Correspondence, we inclose you their Resolves, appointing us that Committee, and you the Agent to solicit and transact the Affairs of this Province in Great-Britain for the ensuing...
1397To Benjamin Franklin from Harvard College, 22 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William C. Lane, “Harvard College and Franklin,” Colonial Society of Massachusetts Publications , X (1907), 237. That the Thanks of this Board be given to Dr. Franklin for his repeated good Services to this College, and particularly in his Care of a valuable achromatic Telescope lately received thro’ his hands: and that Professor Winthrop Transmitt this Vote to Dr. Franklin. For...
1398To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 26 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (transcript): the Royal Society I think myself happy in an opportunity of giving you a species of pleasure, which I know is peculiarly grateful to you as the father of modern electricity , by transmitting to you an account of some very curious and valuable improvements in your favourite science. The author of them is Mr. Henly, in the Borough, who has favour’d me with the communication of...
1399To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 26 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from the Massachusetts Historical Society Proceedings , XV (1878), 12–13. I received your favors of June 6 and July 9 at the same time. I am very glad to find your admirable invention of Lightning Rods is coming into fashion in England, and cannot but think your circulating particular directions for making them, by the magazines will greatly promote the use of them. I have on all...
1400To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Cushing, 31 October 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society In pursuance of the directions of the House of Representatives of this His Majesty’s Province, I have the pleasure to Inform you that they have made choice of you as their Agent in Great Britain for the purposes mentioned in the Vote which I now transmit you. I am directed also to acquaint you that the House will write you more fully by the next...
1401To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 6 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum My State of Health, and Excursions upon that Account into the Country must be my Excuse for not taking an earlier Notice of your very obliging Packet of 8th June, for which I return you my particular Thanks. Your Letter and Replies to Mr. Strahan’s Questions gave me great Pleasure, tho the closing and prophetic Part coming from one so capable of discerning amidst...
1402To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 6 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Massachusetts Historical Society These instructions introduced Franklin to the boiling cauldron of resentment in Massachusetts. Anger was directed at more than the troops in Boston—at what the colonists took to be the helplessness of the civil authority before the military, the secret and false reports sent home, the subordination of the legislature to an executive controlled by...
1403To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Foxcroft, 10 November 1770: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1770. Encloses a bill of exchange from the Quebec post office for £50 and will send the duplicate by Capt. Osborne. ] John Foxcroft’s brother and the Philadelphia postmaster. Peter Osborne, Falconer’s successor as the master of the Pa. Packet ; his sailing was announced in Pa. Gaz. , Nov. 29, 1770.
1404To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum I wrote you the 6. Inst. acknowledging the Receit. of your very obliging Packet of June 8th. and mentioning the Use I have made of your Letter &c among some of the leading Men in our H. of Represent. in whom I could confide. They agreed with me that your Principles were incontestible, your reasoning clear and conclusive, and supported by History and Fact. The King...
1405To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 15 November 1770: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from “Memoir of Thomas Gilpin,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XLIX (1925), 314–15. Politics are now rather at a low ebb: nor do I expect they will revive; it will take some time to restore the public agitation and eradicate the remembrance of what has passed: the cause of injury is yet fresh and like a man that has been prompted to delirium time must be...
1406To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 16 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I Clos’d my letter I Received your Verry agreeable favour adviceing of the good fortune of Our Cousin Nancey in her Maraige too Capt. Clark. We Wish them all Happiness We are much Pleased With the Connection. Our Young folks are aquanted With his Late Uncles Famley that Lives at Salem. I Will take Particular Care to have a thrrough Repaire to the...
1407To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 21 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the liberty to trouble you with a line the last post, and being but just able to finish my letter in time, I recollect a mistake in the catalogue of books wanted, which I beg you would rectify as follows, I also very much want De la Hire’s diffirens Accidents de la vue . But I should think it might be got without a public advertisement. I have...
1408To Benjamin Franklin from John Bartram, 24 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have thy Kind letter of August the 26th before me which Comforted me as comming from my dear intimate ould friend. The pamphlet and espetially the picture of my dear Peter was very acceptable, and now I am furnished with four of our worthies Lineus, Franklin Edwards and Collinson (but I want Dr. Fothergill,) to adorn my new stove and lodging room which I...
1409To Benjamin Franklin from [Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg], 25 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu dabord deux, puis cinq exemplaires de la traduction que vous avez daigné faire faire de mon petit Code, et je ne puis assez vous en remercier. Il est si bien rendu en Anglois qu’on auroit pu facilement en faire passer la version pour un original, et il est imprimé tout au mieux. [La seule] faute bien remarquable mais sans consequence, c’est à la...
1410To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Life, 30 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Life presents his Complements to Dr. Franklin and acquaints him that the Georgia Acts are referred to Mr. Jackson, that Mr. Life has told Mr. Jacksons Clerk that Mr. Life wishes to have an Attendance on Mr. Jackson before he makes his Report, that Mr. Life ever since he received the Papers, has been very busy in some Conveyancy that must be executed by...