1From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 1 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was of the 1st. of May, since which I am favour’d with yours of the 13th. of February and 10th. March. We are oblig’d to you for deferring the propos’d Stamp Act. I hope, for Reasons heretofore mention’d, it will never take Place. We see in the Papers that an Act is pass’d for granting certain Duties on Goods in the British Colonies, &c. but...
2Power of Attorney to James Parker, 5 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Bureau of Land Records, Department of Internal Affairs, Harrisburg Know ALL Men by these presents That I Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia Printer being now about to depart for England and the Time of my Return uncertain and there being long Accounts of Partnership unsettled between David Hall of the same place Printer and myself which partnership is now near expiring and the...
ADS : American Philosophical Society Benjamin Franklen to Benja. Humphreys Dr. £ s d To Two steel spendels For the Harmonica 4: 0: 0 Humphreys was almost certainly a Philadelphia artisan, but nothing more is known about him. See Above, p. 426.
4From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 2 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office We have just receiv’d some important News from Presqu’isle on Lake Erie, which it is my Duty to take this first Opportunity of communicating thro’ you to his Majesty’s Postmaster General. The Public Papers, before this can come to hand, will have inform’d you, that Sir William Johnson had held a Treaty at Niagara, and concluded a Peace with all the Indian Nations or...
5From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Bernard, 21 February 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I ought sooner to have answered yours of the 23d past, but the dangerous Riots and Tumults we have lately had here, took up all our Attention. I hope Mr. Bernard is well with you before this Time. As our Navigation was stopt by the Ice, and it was uncertain when our River would be open, and a good Vessel offer for Boston, I thought it might be best for...
6To Benjamin Franklin from George Price, 7 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I would be wanting in Gratitude if I did not make some Acknowledgement for the honour of your Letters to Messrs: Timothy and Lemprie: My Name barely mentiond in them by you would have been sufficient but the Additional Compliment on my behaviour makes me as much at a loss how to Thank you as to restrain my Vanity. Mr: Timothy receiv’d me very kindly, but I...
7Henry Bouquet to John Penn and the Provincial Commissioners, 4 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: British Museum There being too few of His Majesty’s Regular Troops in this Department to act offensively against the Enemy, till they are joined by the Thousand Men granted by this Government, I request that you will please to give the necessary orders to compleat, arm, and Cloathe these Troops as soon as possible. The king’s Arms formerly lent to this Province having not been returned,...
8From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 19 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I sent you some time last Fall a Set of Chinese Prints, or rather Prints taken from Chinese Pictures, relating to the Culture of Silk in that Country. I hope they got to hand, tho” I have not heard of your Receiving them. My Brother brought me from you, Æpinus’s Pieces. I thank you for your Care in returning them. He tells me you would like to have one of the new...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Edmund Quincy, Junior, 5 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had not deferrd doing myself the Pleasure of writing you for some time past on the Subject I mentiond to you when here, but the Loss of my Wife, besides several Avocations has prevented, nor should I have troubled you now, but to inform you that I publish’d in Edes & Gills paper last Post Day a Letter from my Bro’ Huske to the Committee of Merchants here;...
10From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Franklin, 8 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Copy or transcript: American Philosophical Society Three hundred friends and admirers accompanied Franklin from Philadelphia to Chester, where he embarked on the King of Prussia , Capt. James Robinson, on Nov. 7, 1764. As he boarded the ship, he “was saluted by a Number of Cannon, and the Huzza’s of the People; and an Anthem was sung … suitable to the Occasion.” The text of the anthem is said...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 20 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Favour of June 30. but no Line by this Pacquet. Things are here as they have been for some time past: Except that the Proprietary Party begin to doubt the Success they promis’d themselves at the next Election. Mr. Allen has exerted himself in the House to persuade a Recall of the Petition, but as far as I can perceive, without the least...
12From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 14 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society When I left London, I promis’d myself the pleasure of a regular Correspondence with you and some others of the ingenious Gentlemen that compos’d our Club. But after so long an Absence from my Family and Affairs, I found, as you will easily conceive, so much Occupation, that philosophical Matters could not be attended to; and my last Summer was almost wholly taken up in...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 17 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Lehigh University Library I receiv’d your Favour per Capt. Walker, which I shall answer fully per Hammet, who sails in about ten Days. I think I am slighted lately per Mr. Becket. Pray enquire and tell me the Reason, that if I have been in fault I may amend. I left some Receipts with you for Subscription Monies to Books. I wish you to enquire about them, particularly Stewart’s Athens. My...
14From Benjamin Franklin to John Ellicott, 23 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The London Hospital Since the Receipt of your Letter of Jany. 8th. 1763. I have been twice at New York, and at York in Virginia; at both which Places I made all the Enquiry I could, in the time I was there; after the Elizabeth Holland mention’d in Capt. Holland’s Will; but not learning any thing, I desir’d Mr. Colden, Postmaster of New York, and Col. Hunter of Virginia, to make farther...
15To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 12 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society; ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society I observe by the last Papers that your Assembly have again appointed you one of their Agents in Great Britain: which without doubt, is much to the mortification of the party, whose spleen has been lately gratified by your not being returned a member of the present assembly. I am very glad the...
16Pennsylvania Assembly: Instructions to Richard Jackson, 22 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1763–1764 (Philadelphia, 1764), pp. 105–6. A quorum of the Assembly gathered on September 11 to begin the short final session before its dissolution. The next day Speaker Franklin laid before the House an extract from the journal of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, June 13, 1764, together with the letter to himself...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 14 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you on the 8th Instant, intending that Letter via Bristol, but it goes with this. The Bill I mention’d is since come down with an absolute Refusal, as the Proprietary Instructions were not comply’d with, to have his Town Lots exempted, and his best located unimprov’d Lands rated no higher than the lowest of the People’s. The House, extreamly...
18Pennsylvania Assembly: Resolves upon the Present Circumstances, [24 March 1764] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1763–1764 (Philadelphia, 1764), pp. 72–4. As soon as the Assembly had considered on March 10 the governor’s message of the 7th rejecting the £50,000 supply bill and had appointed a committee to bring in a new £55,000 bill, it named a second committee of eight members, including Franklin, “to draw up and bring in certain...
19To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Moffatt, 24 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I return you thanks for sending me Dr. Heberdens method of inoculating the small pox of which perhaps to you it may not be necessary to say that it bears every mark of Jud[g]ment candour and benevolence. The attention and regard shewn to this treatise in New England by the Authority and these in practise especially at Boston lately will to some very well...
20From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 25 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I wrote a few Lines to go to you via Liverpool; but they were too late for the Ship, and now accompany this. I gave Mr. Parker a Power of Attorney to act for you and myself, with respect to Mecom’s Affairs, who has, under Oath, surrendred all he possess’d into his Hands, to be divided proportionably between us and his other Creditors, which are chiefly Rivington...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 13 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Thy very kind Letter of the 9th. Instant I [had the pleasure] of receiving yesterday the Contents whereof afforded Matter of real Satisf[action, and] on being shewn to my honoured Father gave Him that just Sensation, which [warms the] Breast of every true Friend. I have done myself the pleasure of visiting [thy Wife] and Daughter since thy departure; Who...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 23 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society I wrote you from New Castle, the Substance of the Address of the Lower Counties’ Assembly, In which they inform the Crown, That altho they are Governed under the Same Charter with the People of Pennsylvania, yet that their Laws are different. Will it be amiss to inform the Crown, shoud our Intended Change meet with any Obstructions from this...
23Pennsylvania Assembly: Message to the Governor, 22 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1763–1764 (Philadelphia, 1764), pp. 64–5. The Assembly passed its £50,000 supply bill on February 24 and delivered it to Governor Penn. He held it until March 7 when he sent it back with a message of rejection. It was expressly contrary to the decree of the Privy Council of Sept. 2, 1760, he said, particularly in the following...
24Explanatory Remarks on the Assembly’s Resolves, [29 March 1764] (Franklin Papers)
Broadside: Library Company of Philadelphia On March 30, 1764, the day after the Pennsylvania Gazette printed the recent messages between the governor and the Assembly and the twenty-six Assembly “Resolves upon the Present Circumstances,” Joseph Galloway wrote to William Franklin enclosing “a Copy of your worthy Father’s Remarks on our Assembly Resolves. No answer has yet been attempted by the...
25From Benjamin Franklin to the Freemen of Pennsylvania, 28 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Printed broadside: Library Company of Philadelphia; draft (fragment): American Philosophical Society Governor Penn had asked the Assembly for a militia bill on Feb. 4, 1764, and the House sent him one on the 28th. After conferring with his Council the governor returned the bill on March 12 with a series of proposed amendments, but when the House considered the matter on the 17th it took no...
26To Benjamin Franklin from John Canton, 29 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Favour of the 14th of March came to my Hands the 15th of May last, and gave me great pleasure. The first Experiment of Mr. Kinnersley’s which you mention, is, as you observe, a beautiful one to see; and I think, fully proves that the Fusion of Metals by Lightning is not a cold Fusion. I have myself, several times, melted small brass Wire by a Stroke...
27Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft: Commission to James Parker, 10 July 1764 (Franklin Papers)
DS : University of Pennsylvania Library Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft Esquires His Majesty’s Deputy Postmaster General of all his Majesty’s Dominions on the Continent of North America. To all to whom these Presents shall come: Greeting. Know ye That we the said Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft reposing special Trust and Confidence in James Parker of Woodbridge in New Jersey ,...
28To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, 17 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Charles Russel the Bearer hereof applies to me for a few Lines to Make him known to you. He is Son of the Honourable James Russel Esquire of Charlestown. Comes home to perfect His practice as a Physican, in one of the Hospotals, and being a Gentleman of good Character here I Beg Leave to recommend Him to your Civilities as a Stranger in the City of...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, 23 November 1764 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society As some Matters have occur’d, since your Departure, Which it may not be disagreable to you, to know, I borrow an Hour, from Business, to communicate Them to you. The Corporation of this City, met yesterday and agreed upon an Address to the Proprietors. What the Particulars of it, are, I have not yet been able to Obtain, But I learn generaly; That...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 29 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In my last I inform’d you that the Agreement between the Governor and Assembly was not likely long to continue. The enclos’d Paper will show you that the Breach is wider now than ever. And ’tis thought there will be a general Petition from the Inhabitants to the Crown, to take us under its immediate Government. I send you this early Notice of what is...