51From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 25 March 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your pleasing Favour of Nov. 11 is now before me. It found me as you suppos’d it would, happy with my American Friends and Family about me; and it made me more happy in showing me that I am not yet forgotten by the dear Friends I left in England. And indeed why should I fear they will ever forget me, when I feel so strongly that I shall ever remember them! I...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 28 October 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library I did not receive your Letter of the 26th till I came home late last Night, too late to answer it by the Return of that Post. I see very clearly the Unhappiness of your Situation, and that it does not arise from any Fault in you. I pity you most sincerely: I should not, however, have thought of giving you Advice on this Occasion if you had not requested it,...
53From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 10 August 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received yesterday my Papers. I had sent for them before to Mr. Stanley’s, but Peter found no one at home. It has however been of no Damage to me, except being so long without the Pleasure of reading your agreable little Letter that accompanied them. We are to set out this Week for Holland, where we may possibly spend a Month, but purpose to be at home again...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 26[–27] January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library I wrote a few Lines to you by Dr. B. and have since seen your Letter to Jona. by which I have the great Pleasure of learning that you and yours were well on the 17th. What is become of my and your dear Dolly? Have you parted? for you mention nothing of her. I know your Friendship continues; but perhaps she is with one of her Brothers. How do they all do? I have not...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 15 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Katherine N. Bradford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1956) I received your kind Letter of July 22. I wish you had executed your Project of taking a little Trip to see me this Summer. You would have made me very happy,—and might have bath’d your Children here as well as at Southampton, I having a Bath in my House, besides the River in view.— I like your motherly Account of them, and in...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 1262 (July 1, 1920), item 31; and American Art Association, Sale Catalogue (April 22–4, 1924), item 295. I received your kind Letter of the 23d of December. I rejoice always to hear of your & your good Mother’s Welfare, tho’ I can write but Seldom, Safe Opportunities are Scarce. Looking over some old Papers I find the rough Draft of a Letter which...
57From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 8 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arrived here yesterday in my Return from the North. This Morning I had the Pleasure of receiving yours of the 6th. I am sorry that my Engagements here will not permit to be in London on your Wedding Day, but I repeat my Wishes of Happiness to you on that Occasion, and pray that you may have many Returns of that Day each happier than its Predecessor, from...
58From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 12 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Figure to yourself an old Man with grey Hair appearing under a Martin Fur Cap, among the Powder’d Heads of Paris. It is this odd Figure that salutes you; with Handfuls of Blessings on you and your dear little ones. On my Arrival here, Mlle. Biheron gave me great Pleasure in the Perusal of a Letter from you to her. It acquainted me that you and yours were well in...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 26 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library In reading Mr Viny’s Letter when I receiv’d it, I miss’d seeing yours which was written behind it in a Corner. I thank you much for your kind Offer respecting my Grandson. I was fully resolv’d on sending him in September last, and engag’d Mr Jay, one of my Colleagues then going to England, to take him over in his Company: But when it came to be propos’d to him, he...
60From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 13 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your very kind Letter by Mr. Whitefoord, with the Books, which I think a judicious Collection, and hope the Reading of them by my Grandson may have a good Effect, in rendring him more worthy of the Happiness you are providing for him, in the Education of your Daughter. I suppose the Letter I had sent to you before Mr Whitefoord came here the...
61From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 26 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received in its time your kind Letter of Feb. 22. I am sensible of the Prudence of your Advice, respecting my coming to England, and shall follow it.— Accept my Thanks for that, and for your kind Invitation to Cheam when I do come; but the little left of Life at my Age, will perhaps hurry me home as soon as I can be quit of my Employment here. I should indeed...
62From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, [late 1771?] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete?): American Philosophical Society Voltaire in his Questions sur l’Encyclopedie , which I have been reading this Morning, gives Translations of several Greek Epigrams into French, to show that the latter Language was as capable of Correctness as the former. I had a mind to try if [I could] not render them more concisely in English, [but have] not succeeded; but you (or some of...
63From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 29 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d yours of the 2d Inst. dated at Blackfriars. I had but just receiv’d the Wheels you mention. The Ice had prevented their coming up the River. I shall write to Mr Viney as soon as I can. In the mean time please to acquaint him that they came to hand well and that I like them.— I enclose a Specimen of a new Work by the Author of L’Ami des Enfans,...
64From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 17 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Herbert May, Washington, D.C. (1963) I received your kind Letter by Dr Shuttleworth. It always gives me great Pleasure to hear of the Welfare of you and yours. As to my self, I continue as hearty as at my Age could be expected, and as chearful as ever you knew me, hoping ere long to see Peace and my Friends, whose continued Regard for me after so long and so thorough an Acquaintance...
65From Benjamin Franklin to [Mary Hewson], 1 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Health and Prosperity, and many happy Years, to my dear Friend, and to her Children, for whom I send the three enclos’d little Books. Let me know if you have not the compleat Year.— Endorsed: Passy Jan 1 — 84 44 The October, November, and December issues of L’Ami des enfans. Berquin ceased publication of the series at the end of 1783. BF had evidently lost...
66From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 19 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will forget me quite, my dear old Friend, if I do not write to you now and then. I still exist, and still enjoy some Pleasure in that Existence, tho’ now in my 79th Year. Yet I feel the Infirmities of Age coming on so fast, and the Building to need so many Repairs, that in a little time the Owner will find it cheaper to pull it down and build a new one....
67From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 8 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I sent you sometime since 11 Pamphlets of the same kind with the enclos’d, supposing, as I had heard them well spoken of, that you who are so laudably attentive to the Education of your Children, might possibly find in them some Hints worth your Notice. I find the Work is to go on, and I will send you what comes out for the present Year, if you desire it. I...
68From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 8 July 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I thank you for your kind Letter of April 11th. It grieves me that the present Situation of publick Affairs, makes it not eligible for you to come hither with your Family, because I am sure you would otherwise like this Country, and might provide better here for your Children, at the same time that I should be made more happy by your Neighbourhood and Company. I...
69From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 10 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Your kind Letter of May 30. 79. came to my hands but a few days since, by Dr Ingenhausz, who has also brought the Milk pot. The Copper Vessel I received long ago. I hear that your Affairs are settled to your Satisfaction, on which I congratulate you with sincere Pleasure. You end your Letter with this endearing Expression of Friendship, “ I wish we...
70From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 7 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your kind Letter of the 9th past. I am glad that the little Books are pleasing to you and your Children, and that the Children improve by them. I send you herewith some more of them. My Grandson Bache has been four Years at School at Geneva; and is but lately come home to me here. I find Reason to be satisfied with the Improvement he has made in his...
71From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 27 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress The Departure of my dearest Friend, which I learn from your last Letter, greatly affects me. To meet with her once more in this Life, was one of the principal Motives of my proposing to visit England again before my Return to America. The last Year carried off my Friends...
72From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson with a Postscript to Dorothea Blunt, 25 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I came to this Place on Saturday night right well and untir’d with a 70 miles Journey that day. I met with your and my Dolly’s joint Letter which would have refresh’d me with its Kindness if I had been ever so weary. The Account you give of a certain Lady’s having entertain’d a new Gallant in my Absence, did not surprize me: For I have been us’d to Rivals;...
73From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 13 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your pleasing Letter of the 1st of May thro’ the hands of Mr Hodgson, and one since by Mr Oswald. You cannot be more pleas’d in talking about your Children, your Methods of Instructing them, and the Progress they make, than I am in hearing it; and in finding, that instead of following the idle Amusements, which both your Fortune & the Custom of the Age...
74From Benjamin Franklin to [Mary Hewson], [after 27 November 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I am sometimes apprehensive that my not Writing to you, may give you some Pain: but I have fear’d on the other hand that my Writing might subject you to greater Pain. Yet I cannot forbear desiring to know how you do from time to time, & wishing that you should know my Love for you & yours continues unchang’d and unchangeable. I have also great...