151To Benjamin Franklin from [Charles Norris and Thomas Leech], 1 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania We have now to Acquaint You that by a Resolve of the House of Assembly of this Province the last week We were Ordered Imediately to draw on You for the Parliamentary Grant Allotted for this Province by the Lords of the Treasury for the 1758. And We are now preparing the Bills of Exchange and Geting all things in readiness for that purpose. We are in...
152From Benjamin Franklin to John Hunter, 9 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I am extreamly concern’d at the News of the Death of my dear Friend Mr. Hunter, with whom I had so long liv’d and transacted Business with the most perfect Harmony. It was the more surprizing to me, as his last Letters mention’d an entire Freedom from his old Complaints, and a perfect Establishment of his Health. His Death is not only a Loss to his Friends; I think it...
153William Franklin to Sarah Franklin, 10 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Copy (incomplete): American Philosophical Society In the summer of 1761 Franklin took his customary annual trip for health and pleasure. This time, instead of traveling in Great Britain, he made his first visit to the Continent, journeying through the Austrian Netherlands and the Dutch Republic (now Belgium and the Netherlands). This letter gives the only extensive surviving account of the...
154From Benjamin Franklin to William Coleman, 12 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
LAS: Yale University Library I have received your obliging Favours of July 16. and Augt. 15. for which I thank you. The Transit I think would not have appear’d at Philadelphia, if any body had been ready there to observe. It is so far West, that Venus was off the Sun’s Disk before he rose there. I send you Ferguson’s Book on the Subject to which I was a Subscriber, and also a large Scheme of...
155To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 19 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I find my Last of the 30th of September mist the Packet by which it was intended so that having since that Date received yours of 7th August and and Letter from the Executors of R. Partridge by which they Order and direct the Settlement of their Accounts here I retract my former Order to pay them the Ballance of R P. Account as it will suit...
156To Benjamin Franklin from the Trustees of the General Loan Office: Bill of Exchange, 20 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with blanks filled in: The Franklin Inn, Philadelphia At Thirty Days Sight of this our Fourth per Exchange (our First, Second and Third, of the same Tenor and Date, unpaid) pay unto John Reynell or Order, Three hundred Pounds Sterling, for Value received, and charge it to the Province of Pennsylvania; but if it is not paid at said Thirty Days Sight, then pay Interest on...
157From Benjamin Franklin to William Cullen, 21 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from John Thomson, An Account of the Life, Lectures, and Writings of William Cullen, M.D. (Edinburgh and London, 1859), I , 140. I hear, that since I had the pleasure of seeing and conversing with you on the subject, you have wrote some of your sentiments of Fire, and communicated them to the Philosophical Society. If so, as it may be some time before their publication,...
158From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 21 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Scottish Record Office It is long since I have afforded myself the Pleasure of writing to you. As I grow in Years I find I grow more indolent, and more apt to procrastinate. I am indeed a bad Correspondent; but what avails Confession without Amendment! When I come so late with my Thanks for your truly valuable Introduction to the Art of Thinking, can I have any Right to enquire after your...
159From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 29 October 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My dear Polly’s good Mama bids me write two or three Lines by way of Apology for her so long omitting to write. She acknowledges the Receiving two agreable Letters lately from her beloved Daughter, enclosing one for Sally Franklin which was much approv’d (excepting one Word only) and sent as directed. The Reasons of her not Writing are; That her Time all...
160From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Bessborough, [October 1761] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Calling at the Board this Morning, I was informed that Application had been made by Governour Fauquier for a Commission to his Secretary as my Colleague in the American Office. It is my Duty to acquiesce in your Lordship’s Pleasure if after reading this you should think proper to gratify the Governor by such an Appointment. But I conceive that the...
161To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 4 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society I received yours, (Via New-York) relating to the order of Forty Pounds Sterling, in Favour of Mr. Palomba, which is paid, at the Rate of Seventy per Cent. Exchange, that being the Exchange the Trustees of the Loan-office drew for. Remember me kindly to your Son, and tell him, I received his by Palomba, but never heard any thing of the Letter he...
162To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 4 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I sent by Captain Hervey bound to Hollyhead and by Wm. Fisher to Bristol Originals and Duplicates of Mine of the 30th Septr. and of the 19th of Octobr Last which inclosed First and Second Bills of Exchange for £97 10 s. 8 d. Sterling. I now remit the Third Bill drawn by JL and JS. on G. Bailey and A. Drummond Physicians in Bristol for the...
163To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 9 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had rather you should find me deficient in any Point than that of Gratitude; therefore I will not delay acknowledging your Favour of the 29th. tho I am not prepar’d to write to you, having made very little Improvement lately in any kind of Study. I cannot recollect what word in my Letter to Miss Franklin was so unfortunate to meet your Disapprobation. I...
164To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 16 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Benja. Franklin By Captn. Bradford } Infra Nover 16 [1761] Above is the Substance of my Last. I now send the Second Bill of Exchange No. 121 for £100. Sterling drawn by the Trustees on your Self. Please to Credit my Account Current with That Sum. I am afraid our last Assembly have been too precipitate in drawing These Bills but it is now too...
165From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Norris and Thomas Leech, 17 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; LS duplicate, New Jersey Historical Society I have this Day received from each of you, a Notification, (dated Octob. 1. 1761) that by a Resolve of the Assembly, you are ordered immediately to draw on me for the Whole of the Parliamentary Grant to our Province for the Year 1758. As I had acquainted the House from time to time, thro’ the Speaker, with...
166To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 17 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I received your favor of 20 Feb. and 8 April last, the former inclosing Dr. Pringles paper on an extraordinary meteor, and the later Mr. Kennicotts papers relating to the Hebrew Bible. I am infinitely[?] obliged to you for introducing me to so valuable acquaintance as Dr. Pringle, several of whose curious papers I perused in the Phil. Trans. and whose...
167From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Ringgold, 26 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft (incomplete): American Philosophical Society This note serves to introduce both the present document and the one immediately below. Lord Baltimore, the Proprietor of Maryland, and his governors and supporters in the province continuously and successfully thwarted the desire of the House of Delegates to appoint an agent to represent its interests and point of view in England independently...
168From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Tilghman, William Murdock, Matthew Tilghman, Charles Carroll, Thomas Ringgold, and John … (Franklin Papers)
ALS not found; reprinted from National Intelligencer , July 7, 1824; draft (last part only): American Philosophical Society In mine of the 7th of August to Mr. Ringold, I acknowledg’d the Receipt of yours of May 9th, which had then just come to hand, but without the mentioned Address. Soon after, taking the Opportunity of the Vacation of Business in the Public Offices here, I went abroad and...
169Account of Sales of Stock, [26 November 1761] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Sold for Benj: Franklin Esqr 1761 Novbr. 26 £700 4 per cents to Wm: Morris at 83½ £584. 10 – £1000 to J. Ruddell at 83⅜ 833. 15 – £1200 to S: Cazalet at 83⅜ 1000.
170To Benjamin Franklin from James Brown, 27 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have sent herewith a letter of Attorney to be Executed by you before two Witnesses to empower me to transfer the Fifteen Thousand Pounds 4 per Cents. as I could not do it without, you’ll please to return it per Bearer as it must be lodg’d at the Bank this afternoon—£8000 being sold for to morrow morning and must be done then as the Persons who bought...
171To Benjamin Franklin from Henton Brown, 28 November 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I did not fully speak to the Proposition respecting the £3000. as I had not any discourse with my Son respecting it in which affairs we always consult and act in concert. We have now considered the proposition maturely and think it of that nature that when thou comes to reconsider it in all its parts must appear a Thing not eligible for us. First...
172From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [November? 1761] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragments only): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] Billy is now down at Bath. Inclos’d is a Letter I have just receiv’d from him inviting me there. But I must not at present leave London, as I daily expect Bills drawn on me by the Trustees. I shall be glad to receive from you, and hope it is on the Way, an Account of what is due on Mr. Spoffords Mortgage, as I have...
173From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas-François Dalibard, 9 December 1761 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; translation of extract reprinted from Gazette d’Epidaure, ou Recueil de Nouvelles de Médecine , III , no. XI (Feb. 6, 1762), 81. (Bibliothèque Nationale) Il y a quelques années que la guerre a interrompu notre correspondance. Mon ami le Docteur Shippen partant pour voir Paris, j’ai profité de cette occasion pour vous communiquer l’extrait ci-joint d’une Lettre que j’ai reçûe de...
174From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Babcock, 10 December 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have been favour’d with yours by your valuable Sons, on whose promising Worth I congratulate you and good Mrs. Babcock. I should be glad to see them oftner than I do. But young Men find in England, Amusements more agreeable than the Company of old ones. The Colonel is gone down with my Son to Bath, where I last Night had the Pleasure of hearing they were both...
175From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 10 December 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Glassboro (N.J.) State Teachers College Enclos’d are some Letters for you, left with me by Mr. Strahan. I have some Time since bespoke the Brevier you last desired, and hope it will now soon be ready. In your last you desire to know my Mind about Remitting, the Price of Bills being so high with you. What Money I have here is chiefly in the Funds, from whence I cannot withdraw it for...
176From Benjamin Franklin to Edmund Quincy, 10 December 1761 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society I should sooner have answer’d your obliging Letter of Jany. 9. but that I hoped from time to time I might be able to obtain some satisfactory Answers to your Queries. As yet I have done little, that kind of Information being look’d upon as a Part of the Mysteries of Trade, which the Possessors are very shy of communicating. But I think I am now in a Train...
177To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 30 December 1761 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library I once more attempt to reach you with a Letter, which the Fate of war has I suppose hitherto intirely prevented. We are extremly sorry to know that Mr. Pitt has resigned the Seals: and have scarcely yet learned enough about the Earl of Bute (except from Scotsmen) to form an Idea of him. The only obnoxious Thing in Mr. Pitts Character that any in this Country...
178To Benjamin Franklin from Miss Ralph, 31 December 1761 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Miss Ralphs best respects wait upon Dr. Franklin, she with Pleasure, informs him that her Pappa, as the Doctor Said, yesterday, was out of Danger; but, he remains very Low, and weak, She is very Sorry, that she had not the Pleasure of seeing Dr. Franklin, a Tuesday; but, she having set up all Night, was oblig’d, to go to Bed, in the Morning. She desires...