6001To Benjamin Franklin from Miss Martin, 20 January 1772: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <General Post Office, January 20, 1772; a note in the third person. Asks Franklin to accept a copy of an Irish almanac which she has received that day. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson join her in compliments.> She has not appeared before, and no other correspondence of hers with BF is extant. We have discovered little about her except that she knew him reasonably well....
6002To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Martin, 14 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope the time is not at any great distance, when I may Shake of my Gouty foot and make you a Visit. Till that happy event Comes round I must pray leave to referr you to the bearer Mr. Nathl Dowse for all particulars relative me and mine as well as touching Himself. I am with Respect Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant Notation: S. Martin March 14 78...
6003To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Mary, 15 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You may have been informed by M. le ray de Chaumont of the event which procured me the honor of calling upon your Excellency. The Minister of the Marine has granted me my passage upon the first vessels which would go to North America. I do not think that in those that are arriving now in Brest there are any bounded for that part of the world. M. Pellerin,...
6004To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Maseres, [1772] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr: Maseres presents his compliments to Dr: Franklyn and sends him two more copies of the collection of Quebec instruments and the draught of a toleration-act; of which he desires the doctor to transmit one set to his son, Governour Franklyn of New Jersey, and the other to Mr: Galloway, of Philadelphia, the speaker of the house of Assembly, with Mr: Maseres...
6005To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Maseres, 26 October 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having had occasion to mention the Abbé Reynal’s account of the European colonies, and to quote a passage from it in my French memoire written in defence of my draught of an Act of parliament for settling the laws of the province of Quebec, I thought it a proper compliment to him to send him a copy of that Memoire. In return for this civility he has sent me...
6006To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Maseres, 17 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am much obliged to you for the favour of your letter and the remarks on my proposal, concerning which this is what I have to say. In page 46, I think it unnecessary, and rather inconvenient, to limit the expence of these grants in the act of parliament itself. I hope it will be as small as possible, and mean that these grants should be printed with blanks...
6007To Benjamin Franklin from Nevil Maskelyne, 11 December 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Greenwich, December 11, 1769. The Astronomer Royal asks Franklin, when he next writes to Philadelphia, to inquire of Owen Biddle about the exact distances between the observation points for the transit of Venus. Maskelyne cannot make Biddle’s two accounts agree with each other, or with the distances given by Mason and Dixon in their survey. He is also...
6008To Benjamin Franklin from Nevil Maskelyne, 27 December 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I think I desired the favor of you lately by letter, that when you wrote to Philadelphia you would desire Mr. Owen Biddle and Mr. Joel Bayley to take the trouble to determine the difference of meridians of Philadelphia and Norriton, in order to connect all the observations made by the three setts of observers together. I should be glad if you would also...
6009To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge des Commandeurs du Temple, 24 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society A la Gloire du Grand Architecte de L’Univers La R∴ L∴ Saint Jean Sous Le Titre distinctif des Commandeurs du Temple A L’O∴ de Carcassonne Au trés digne trés Vertueux, & très Respectable frére Docteur Franklin, Ministre, Plenipotentiaire des Etats unis de L’Amérique auprés de la Cour de france à L’O\ de Paris S∴ F∴ V∴ T∴ T∴ C∴ & T∴ R∴ f∴ A La reception de...
6010To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge des Commandeurs du Temple, 17 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society A La Gloire du grand Architecte de Lunivers. d’un lieu éclairé ou regnent le Silence, la paix et La Charité La Loge reguliere des Commandeurs du Temple Seante A Lorient de Carcassonne. Lan de La V∴ L∴ 5782 et Le. 17e. Jour du 5me. mois Au Trés Digne Tres Vertueux et Tres Respectable Frere Franklin Ministre des Etats unis de L’amerique au pres de La Cour de...
6011To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge des Commandeurs du Temple, [18 September 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A L’O∴ de Carcassonne d’un lieu éclairé, ou regnent le silence, la paix et la charité. Le 18e du 7e mois de l’an de la V. L∴ 5780 A La Gloire du Grand Architecte de l’univers La Loge Réguliere de st Jean de Jerusalem sous le titre distinctif des Commandeurs du Temple Au très digne très vertueux & très réspectable Frére Docteur Franklin, Ministre...
6012To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge des Neuf Soeurs, [before 6 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania L∴R∴L∴ Des neuf Soeurs, Est convoquée pour le 6 du 12eme. mois D∴ L∴ D∴ L∴ V∴ L∴ 5778 à 5 heures précises. Pour affaires. Vous êtes prié d’y venir augmenter les douceurs de l’union fraternelle. Et pour le 12. du 12eme mois à 10 heures du matin il y aura reception, conçert à une heure très précises, Banquet, &c. Je suis par les N∴ C∴ D∴ F∴ M∴ V∴ T∴ H∴ et...
6013To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge des Neuf Soeurs, [before 21 May 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The Nine Sisters had known nothing but tribulations since they had held, on November 28, 1778, a grandiose commemoration of Voltaire—with Franklin’s rather rash participation. The American may not have gauged the intensity of anger aroused in the Church by Voltaire’s anticlerical pronouncements and the problems confronted by Louis XVI, who was both a Mason...
6014To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge des Neuf Soeurs, [10 January 1780] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Ne vous en prenez qu’à vous même de l’empressement avec lequel La Resp. Loge des IX Sœurs desire de vous posseder lors de la fête publique qu’elle doit célébrer le Samedi, 29 de ce mois , et qui serait privée sans vous de son principal ornement. Votre présence seule lui donnera un eclat, sur le quel elle a quelque droit de compter après le vœu, qu’elle...
6015To Benjamin Franklin from the Loge du Patriotisme, with a Note from Nogaret, 8 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La L∴ du Patriotisme regulierement assemblée pour arrêter ce qui Sera convenable à l’inauguration de Son nouveau Temple, laquelle doit Se faire Le mercredi 14e. jour de ce mois et S’occupant des moyens d’illustrer une fête aussi intéressante a unanimement député le T∴ ch∴ f∴ Nogaret vers vous pour vous engager à lui faire la faveur d’assister ce jour à Ses...
6016To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts Board of War, 8 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society We are honord with yours of the 17th February and made happy in being acquainted by it of the Alliance lately formed between his most Christian Majesty and the united States of America, in which, considering our Scituation, that young Monarch hath evidenced a dignity of Mind, which will be of more lasting honor than can be conferrd by a Crown....
6017The Massachusetts Board of War to the American Commissioners, 14 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: American Philosophical Society, Library of Congress Your esteem’d favours of the 21 December per Mr. Dean 12th. February per Capt. Senneville, and 17th of same Month per Capt. Courter, we had the Honor to receive. Agreeable to your request, we have furnished Capt. Courter with every necessary for his Journey to Congress, on which he set out the 7th. Instant, being the second day after...
6018To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts Board of War, 24 October 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Translation: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères <Boston, October 24, 1777, in French: Your public character and responsibilities justify our opening a correspondence to inform you of events since the happy days of Trenton and Princeton. The British have recently occupied Philadelphia and fought Washington at Germantown; our privateers are doing damage, but the middle states are...
6019The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 24 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Massachusetts Archives The Brigantine Penet John Harris Commander by Who you will receive this Letter has been taken up and fited out for a voyage to France solely with a Veiw of Conveying to you Authoritative Intelligence of the success of the American Army in the Northern Department. We sincerely Congratulate you upon this occasion and have the pleasure to Inform you that by...
6020The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 27 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS and copy: American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress We have lately received from the Secret Committee of Congress Seven Letters addressed to You, and they request that We would forward them by the quickest sailing Vessel to France. In Consequence of which We desired the Continental Agent here with all possible dispatch, to prepare one of the Continental Vessels for Sailing....
6021The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 5 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society The Marquis De La Fayette having taken leave of this Board, being soon to embark for France, We take this opportunity in justice to his Merit to express our high sense of that Gentlemans Attachment to the American Cause. His exertions & bravery in the Field do him great Honor, which we doubt not the whole Continent have a grateful Sense of, & the prospect of...
6022The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 9 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Archives; copy: Library of Congress We have just received from the Secret Committee of Congress Three Packets directed to the Commissioners of the United States at Paris. We now transmit them by Capt. Corbin Barnes Commander of the Scooner Dispatch bound for Nantz, a Vessel taken up by the Navy Board of the Eastern Department for...
6023The Massachusetts Council to the American Commissioners, 31 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress Above you have a Copy of our last, since which we have received from the Secrett Committee of Congress Three Letters addressed to you, and they request that we would forward them by any Vessel going to France, but under the Care of a discreet Person to be employed by us at Continental Expence to go Passenger. We have employed Mr....
6024To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts Delegates to Congress, 12 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Three LS and copy: American Philosophical Society The Papers enclosed will inform You of the unfortunate Loss of the American Brigantine Fair Play, with 18 of her Crew, on the 5th: Jany last, by the discharge of the Cannon of a two Gun Battery, near Port Louis in Guadaloupe— The Governor of the Island thinking it reasonable that the Owners should recieve a Compensation for their Loss,...
6025The Massachusetts General Court to the American Commissioners, 23 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress Agreeable to the Directions of the Genl. Assembly of this State, I do myself the Honor to transmit One hundred Copies of An Act intitled “An Act to prevent the return to this State of certain persons named and described and others who have left the same and joined our inveterate and Cruel Enemies;” in Order that the same may be...
6026To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts House of Representatives Committee of Correspondence, 31 March 1774 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: New York Public Library The leaders in Massachusetts, as this document testifies, were stimulated rather than satiated by destruction of the tea. They seem to have taken their text from the Psalmist, “they will go from strength to strength”; and the test of strength that they chose was the old issue of officials’ salaries. It had been coming to a...
6027To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts House of Representatives Committee of Correspondence, 17 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Maine Historical Society The House of Representatives of this Province after appointing you their Agent at the Court of Great Britain, directed us to correspond with you in the Recess of the Court upon matters that concern the Interest of the Province. In general there is nothing that will more promote the true Interest of this Province as well as Great Britain herself than a happy...
6028To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts House of Representatives Committee of Correspondence, 21 December 1773 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Library of Congress; LS : Harvard University Library; draft: Boston Public Library It has been the Expectation of many of the Colonists that the last Session of Parliament would have put a final end to those Grievances under which they had so long been oppressed, and against which they had so long, in vain, Remonstrated. They expected that the Revenue Acts would have been Repealed and...
6029The Settlement with Franklin for His Massachusetts Agency, [23 October 1775] (Franklin Papers)
DS and copy: Massachusetts Archives Ever since Franklin’s appointment in 1770 as agent of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, he had served his constituents without pay. They had authorized his salary time and time again, but the Governor had always refused, on instruction, to give his assent; and the agent conducted the colony’s business at his own expense. His principal outlay was...
6030To Benjamin Franklin from a Committee of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 13 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Virginia Library For many years the Massachusetts General Court had passed annual legislation that taxed the income of all royal officials residing in and paid by the province. In 1768 the customs commissioners, created by one of the Townshend Acts, were also assessed as resident officials. Although they argued that their salaries were exempt as coming from the crown, not...