1601Robert Hunter Morris to the Assembly Committee, 19 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I herewith send you a letter I received on fryday last from Genl. Braddock desiring my assistance to Mr. Leslie who he has sent into this Province to Purchase a quantity of oats for the use of the army under his command, part of which Mr. Leslie tells me he has given directions to contract for in the back countys. I cannot but think it will be for the...
1602Answers to Franklin’s “Hints,” [before 4 February 1775] (Franklin Papers)
Copy (?) and copy: Library of Congress Barclay and Fothergill, after their long conference with Franklin on December 6, carried copies of his “Hints” to Lord Hyde and Lord Dartmouth respectively. For almost two months no word came from Whitehall, and the rejection of Chatham’s conciliatory plan by the House of Lords on February 1 persuaded Franklin that he would hear no more of negotiation. He...
1603The 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,...
1604William Strahan: Bill and Receipt, 31 December 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania £ s. d. 1759. Enquiry concerning the Indians, 11¾ Sheets March No. 1000 at £1 3 s. 13 16 For 23½ Reams of Paper for Do. at 13 s. 15 5 6 Working Description of the Map 7 6
1605John Webbe: Defense Renewed, II, 4 December 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , December 4, 1740. As it is the indispensible Duty of every Man to defend his Reputation from unjust Calumny, I was, therefore , obliged to step forth to vindicate mine, from the injurious Insinuations in the Gazette . But, notwithstanding the Attempt to destroy my Character, on which my Livelihood entirely depends, I was extremely careful , in my...
1606Pennsylvania Assembly: Appointment of Franklin as Agent to Go to England, and His acceptance, [28 January 1757–3 … (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1756–1757 (Philadelphia, 1757), pp. 75, 76, 78. The sequence of events resulting in the appointment of Franklin as agent to represent the Assembly in England in its disputes over the instruction on the taxation of proprietary estates and related grievances is indicated by the following extracts from the Assembly Journals. The...
1607John Webbe: The Postmaster and the Mercury, 18 December 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , December 18, 1740. A Particular must imagine himself to be of mighty Consequence, when he thinks his private Differences deserve to be decided at the public Tribunal. But when he is dragged there against his Inclination, every one must acknowledge that he has a Right to be heard in his Turn. This was my Case in Respect to the Scandalous Accusation,...
1608James Parker: First Report on the Franklin and Hall Account, 14 June 1765 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Haverford College Library In accordance with Franklin’s power of attorney, Nov. 5, 1764 (above, XI , 441–3), James Parker undertook a detailed examination of the financial records of Franklin & Hall well in advance of the expiration of the partnership agreement and the dissolution of the firm, scheduled to take place on Feb. 1, 1766. He began the examination in the latter part of February...
1609William Whately’s Chancery Suit: III. Exceptions to Franklin’s Answer, [after 19 April 1774 and before 28 June 1774] … (Franklin Papers)
Summary of incomplete copy: American Philosophical Society The plaintiff’s exceptions are, to the best of our knowledge, the last extant pleadings in the case; and the copy breaks off in the middle. Madocks, Whately’s counsel, entered the exceptions later than the rules of the court permitted; on that ground Sayer, acting for Franklin, argued that they were inadmissible. The court overruled...
1610A 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...
1611The 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...
1612The 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. ,...
1613Ezra Stiles: List of Franklin’s Honors, 11 July 1763 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Yale University Library During his stay at Newport in July Franklin had an opportunity to renew acquaintance with his old friend Ezra Stiles, now minister of the Congregational Church there, and to engage in conversations with him. On July 11 Franklin showed Stiles some of the papers which reflected the recognition accorded him, in America and abroad, for his scientific achievements....
1614James Parker: Second Report on the Franklin and Hall Accounts, 22 August 1765 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Haverford College Library August 22, 1765 After James Parker had sent Franklin a first report on his examination of the Franklin & Hall accounts in June (above, pp. 176–82), he went about other business for two months or so and then resumed his examination in the latter part of August. Apparently he did not spend much time at it, for his second report was for the most part merely a...
1615The Society of Arts: Notice of Committee Meeting, 10 June 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society In the Franklin Papers there are a number of printed notices of committee meetings at the Society of Arts (above, VI , 187 n), an organization to which BF was devoted as his attendance record—some fifty-odd appearances at meetings between 1759 and 1762—attests. At various times he sat on the Committees of Agriculture,...
1616By Peter Hinrich Tesdorpf: Poem, [April? 1769] (Franklin Papers)
MS translation from German: American Philosophical Society Upon the unvaluable Contrivance, of Mr. Francklin, k: to carry of the Lightening. Hail! thou art blessed! said lately the Moon to the Earth, Thy Wish was for a Francklin, and Heaven granted him to be. He arose, that Godlike Man, and delivered thy Seat, like the Happiness of the Angels from the danger of Lightening. He surmounts the...
1617The College of William and Mary: Degree of Master of Arts, 2 April 1756 (Franklin Papers)
MS : American Philosophical Society; two copies: Yale University Library Quum in Charta regia nobis concessum et confirmatum fuit, ut eos, qui se Literis et Studiis suis praecipue ornarunt, Gradibus academicis decoremus: Quum volumus in hujusmodi Honorem imprimis evehi Virum inclytissimum, quo nobis et Juventuti Virginiensi Exemplum valde egregium proponamus; Quumque Benjaminum Franklin...
1618City of Edinburgh: Admission as Burgess and Gild-Brother, 5 September 1759 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society; two copies: Yale University Library Edinburgh The Fifth day of September One Thousand Seven hundred and fifty nine Years The Which Day In Presence of The Rt. Honorable George Drummond Esquire Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, George Lind, Andrew Simpson, John Learmouth and John Mansfeild Baillies of the said City John Carmichaell Dean of Gild and the...
1619The Burgh of St. Andrews: Freedom of the Burgh, 2 October 1759 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society; two copies: Yale University Library Apud Civitatem Sancti Andreae Secunda die mensis Octobris anno partus Salutiferi Millesimo Septingentesimo quinquagesimo nono. Quo Die Magistratuum illustris ordo et Honorandus Senatorum Coetus Inclitae Civitatis Sancti Andreae Indebiti amoris et affectus tesseram Erga virum valde generosum Benjaminum Franklin Armigerum...
1620The 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...
1621City of Glasgow: Admission as Burgess and Gild-Brother, 19 September 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Yale University Library At Glasgow the nineteenth Day of September one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine years: The which day in Presence of the Right honourable John Murdoch Esquire Lord Provost of the said City Archibald Ingram Walter Brisbane and John Robertson Baillies thereof Colin Dunlap Dean of Gild and sundry of the Gild Council of said City Benjamin Franklin Esquire...
1622Oxford University: Record of Degree of Doctor of Civil Law, 30 April 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS Register of Convocation, University Archives: Oxford University The “Heads of Houses” at Oxford University had voted, Feb. 22, 1762, to confer on Franklin the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law “whenever He shall please to visit the University.” Above, p. 59. The ceremony took place at a special Convocation on April 30, 1762. No copy of the diploma survives and the only official record...
1623From a Reader to the Printer, 11 April 1734 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 11, 1734. Tho’ your News-paper is sometimes as empty as those of others, yet I think you have for the most part (tho’ you were once in one particular a sad Offender) had the Modesty to keep it pretty clear of Scandal , a Subject that others delight to wallow in. These People, probably from some Corruption in themselves, and possibly from their own...
1624James Franklin: Indenture of Apprenticeship, 5 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form, with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society This Indenture Witnesseth, That James Franklin late of Newport in Rhodeisland, but now of Philadelphia in Pennsilvania Hath put himself, and by these Presents, doth voluntarily, and of his own free Will and Accord, put himself Apprentice to Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia, Printer to learn his Art, Trade,...
1625John Webbe: Defense Renewed, I, 27 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , November 27, 1740. The principal End proposed by the Plan of a Magazine, lately published in this Paper, was to lay open the Nature of the Constitutions of the several Colonies, and to give a monthly Account of the Alterations made in each, with the Reasons inducing the Legislature for making such Alterations. The Materials, for executing the first...
1626Robert Hunter Morris to Franklin and Hall, 19 March 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1754–1755 (Philadelphia, 1755), p. 73. Governor Morris’ immediate response to the foregoing message was to demand that the printers eliminate Robinson’s letters from the printed House journals. He told the Council the next day why he had done it, pointing to the dangerous consequences of publishing in full letters from the...
1627John Webbe: The Detection, 17 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , November 20, 1740. Franklin’s advertisement of the General Magazine , November 13, accused John Webbe, to whom as prospective editor he had revealed his scheme in confidence, of carrying the idea to Bradford in order to get ahead of Franklin and reap the advantage personally. Webbe responded immediately with this defense and countercharge. The second...
1628Bill from Alexander Annand, [December 1743] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Mr Benjamin Franklin to Alexr Annand Dr To James and William Franklins Schooling from Decr 12th 1738 [to] Decr 1739 £6 00 0 To Wms Do from Decr 12th 1739 to Decr 1743 12 00 0 To firing £1 2 s. 01 02 0 To Ovids Epistles 3 s. 00
1629Board of Trade to the Privy Council Committee, 1 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Copies (two): Historical Society of Pennsylvania On Feb. 2, 1759, the Privy Council referred Franklin’s petition on behalf of Teedyuscung to its Committee on Plantation Affairs, which referred it in turn to the Board of Trade on April 12. The Board conducted a hearing, May 15, attended by Franklin and his solicitor, Joshua Sharpe, and by the Proprietors with Paris. The next day the Board...
1630James Logan to Franklin and Hall, 7 May 1748 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania As I intirely condemn your Publication in your last Gazette of J.F.’s Paper in relation to me, without my approbation which I should never have granted and impute it more as the forward Act of D. Hall than of you both together, I desire that you would publish this in your next Gazette that you may make me all the Amends that now lies in your...
1631A 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...
1632Pennsylvania Assembly: Thanks to Franklin, and His Reply, [31 March 1763] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1762–1763 (Philadelphia, 1763), p. 40. Pursuant to a Resolve of the Nineteenth of last Month, that the Thanks of this House be given to Benjamin Franklin, Esq; for his many Services not only to the Province of Pennsylvania, but to America in general, during his late Agency at the Court of Great-Britain, the same were this Day...
1633The University of St. Andrews: Degree of Doctor of Laws, 12 February 1759 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society; Latin copy and English translation: American Philosophical Society; two Latin copies: Yale University Library Little can be established with certainty about the circumstances under which Franklin received his first honorary degree in Great Britain and first doctorate. The minutes of the Senatus of the University of St. Andrews contain the following entry...
1634William Smith: An Answer to Mr. Franklin’s Remarks, [7 December 1764] (Franklin Papers)
[William Smith], An Answer to Mr. Franklin’s Remarks, on a Late Protest. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by William Bradford, at his Book-Store, in Market-street, adjoining the London Coffee-House. 1764. (Yale University Library) On December 7, 1764, precisely one month after Franklin had left Philadelphia, the printer William Bradford published an anonymous pamphlet replying to Franklin’s...
1635Receipted Bill to the Proprietors, 25 June 1733 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Friends Library, London 1. For printing 5 Sheets at 30 s. per Sheet £ 7 10 – 2. For Paper 5 Ream, and 5/6 of a Ream at 20 s. 5 16 8 3. For Stitching 500 Books, and pasting the Maps at 6 s. per Hund. 1 10 – 4. For cutting the Mapp in Wood
1636Account with James Parker, 1 May 1769, to 14 May 1770: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AD : Yale University Library [The accounts of Parker’s remittances as comptroller of the Post Office run from May 1, 1769, to May 14, 1770; the sixteen bills of exchange listed total £1,1899 19 s . 1 d . The endorsement, in Franklin’s hand, refers to Parker as the “late Comptroller.”] The details of these transactions appear above, XVI , 130, 159, 162, 180, 185, 186, 215–16, 269, and in...
1637William Daniell to Franklin and Hall, 29 June 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my Last to you I received your Favour advising of not receiving my paper which I assure Is not oweing to any Neglect as I Never Fail Sending them and am very Sorry they do not Come to your hands, for the Future shall Give more particular directions to the Captain that Carries them, I am Gentlemen Your most Humble Servant Addressed: To Messrs....
1638Thomas Osborne: Bill and Receipt, 27 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Benja. Franklyn Esqr. Bought of T. Osborne pd 1757 Decr. 6. Compleat Body of Gardening 1. 16 – Philiders fr. Book of Chess – 3. 6 Compleat Body of Husbandry 1. 15 –
1639The Privy Council: Order on Franklin’s Petition, 29 August 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Historical Society of Pennsylvania At the Court at Kensington the 29th: day of August 1759. Present The Kings most Excellent Majesty Arch Bishop of Canterbury Earl of Hardwicke Lord Keeper Viscount Falmouth Lord President Viscount Barrington Duke of Ancaster Lord Berkeley of Stratton Earl of Cholmondeley Mr. Secretary Pitt. Whereas Benjamin Franklin Esquire, Agent appointed by the...
1640Two Letters from Giambatista Beccaria, [after 11 August 1773] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete drafts: American Philosophical Society These letters were drafted in reply to Franklin’s of August 11, the preceding document, and were completed at some time between receipt of that letter and early March, 1774. Whether Beccaria sent them in draft is not clear, but only the drafts survive; and they pose an editorial problem. His earlier letters to Franklin, which have been...
1641The 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...
1642Franklin’s Reappointment as Agent for Pennsylvania, 15 October 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress <Extract from the journals of the Assembly, dated Oct. 15, 1774, and signed by Charles Moore, clerk: Franklin is appointed for the ensuing year.> See BF ’s acknowledgment to Moore below, Feb. 5.
1643The 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...