1From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 22 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I received yours of May 16. with the Box of Books, and have already delivered and forwarded most of them as directed. I supply’d Dr. Fothergill with the wanting Sheet. I approve much of the Letter’s being in English. I forwarded your Letter to Mr. White, Son of Taylor White, Esqr late Treasurer of the Foundling Hospital (now deceas’d)...
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 4 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Huntington Library I received the Box containing eleven Copies of the Transactions sent me by order of the Society, and have already delivered most of them as directed. There should be more care taken by the Binder in collating the Sheets, particularly of Books sent so far. The Book for the Society of Arts had one Sheet twice over, and the Duplicate was return’d to me on a Supposition...
3From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 18 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have had but one Line from you since your Arrival in England, which was a short one, via Boston, dated October 18. acquainting me you had wrote largely by Davis. Davis was lost, and with him your Letters, to my great Disappointment. Mesnard and Gibbon are since arriv’d here, and I hear nothing from you; which I should tell you chagrins me not a...
4From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 27 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Having wrote you fully via Bristol, I have now little to add. Matters relating to the Academy remain in Statu quo. A Majority of the Trustees, I find, would be glad to see a Rector establish’d there, but they dread entring into new Engagements ’till they are got out of Debt; and I have not yet been able to bring them over to my Opinion, that a good...
5From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 19 April 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of the 11th Instant, with your new Piece on Education, which I shall carefully peruse; and give you my Sentiments of it as you desire, per next Post. I believe the young Gentlemen, your Pupils, may be entertain’d and instructed here in Mathematics and Philosophy to Satisfaction. Mr. Allison (who was educated at Edinburgh, or...
6From Benjamin Franklin to William Smith, 3 May 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr. Peters has just now been with me, and we have compar’d Notes on your new Piece. We find nothing in the Scheme of Education, however excellent, but what is, in our Opinion, very practicable. The great Difficulty will be, to find the Aratus , and other suitable Persons, in New York, to carry it into Execution; but such may be had, if proper...