From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Peters, 5 June 1755
To Richard Peters
ALS: Stanford University Library
Thursday June 5. 55
Sir
I sent Mr. Burd’s Letter and yours which were given me by the Speaker yesterday, to Mr. Fox, who lives nearest to me of any of the Members of Assembly.5 I am not well enough to go about the Town in this extreme hot weather; but some of the Members having been kind enough to visit me, I find they are of Opinion that the Application to them is quite improper. As they have had no Meeting on the Occasion, and some of them decline meeting at all on an Affair which they think no way belongs to them to meddle with, I can say nothing farther, than, that I am, very affectionately Yours &c.
B Franklin
P.S. I will send to enquire for the Letters, and when I get them will send them to you.
Addressed: To / Richard Peters Esqr
Endorsed: B. Franklin 5 June 1755.
5. Peters reported to the Council, June 2, on his inspection of the frontier roads and visit to Braddock’s camp (see above, p. 49), and laid before them a letter from James Burd, May 31, assuring them that his gangs were eager and asking for arms or a guard. Pa. Col. Recs., VI, 395–7, 403–4. On June 4 Peters wrote Speaker Isaac Norris, enclosing Burd’s letter, which Norris sent to BF, who in turn sent both letters on to another member of the Assembly, Joseph Fox. Next day, prompted by the governor, Peters impatiently asked Norris for an answer; Norris referred the demand to BF, who replied in the letter printed here. I Pa. Arch., II, 345. On June 12 Governor Morris ordered that 12 or 15 muskets should be bought and sent to Burd, but only six could be found in the city. Pa. Col. Recs., VI, 409, 415.