1Poor Richard Improved, 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris … for the Year of our Lord 1765 : … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall. (Yale University Library) During Franklin’s first mission to England, 1757–62, he left the preparation of the annual issues of the Poor Richard almanacs to his partner, David Hall. When he returned to Philadelphia,...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 2 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Mr. Todd presents his Compliments to Mr. Franklin, and is greatly distressed for want of the Clauses, and desires he would send them by the Bearer. Addressed: To / Mr. Franklin Endorsed: Mauduit agt for the Massachusetts at the olive Tree near the Sun Tavern South Side of St Pauls Pump Court No. 4 two per Staim right hand S. Meredith Anthony Todd (above,...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 8 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I donte think the Packit will sail at the time but I write lest it shold and I shold be found wantting in my Duty and you be displesd. In the firste plase Salley is Come home Shee traveled the coldest day I ever felte or that I ever remember and staid at the ferry [?] house till the next day then walked over one halef of the river and then in the bote the...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 9 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your good Mama and myself are both of Opinion that the Christmas Gambols at Bromley last a great deal too long. We expected you three Days ago. Give my Compliments to Dr. Hawksworth, and tell him I have read three or four times, and every time with great Pleasure, his Dialogue in the Magazine between Mr. Sellaway and Friends in the Club. I call the Dialogue...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Bernard Ogden, 9 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Though not personally acquainted yet I presume upon thy goodness to trouble thee with these few lines, to desire what Information thou may have in thy power to give relative to an Affair in Philidelphia or its Environs, the distance of which from hence, and not knowing whom to apply to, I hope will plead my excuse with thee the case as follows, One Thos...
6John Penn and the Provincial Commissioners: Order to Pay Benjamin Franklin, 11 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Pay to Benjamin Franklin Esqr. or order the Sum of Fifty five Pounds in full of his Salary as a Commissioner appointed to dispose of and apply the late Grant from this Province of £55,000 to His Majesty’s Use. John Penn £55 — — Jos: Fox To Charles Norris } Lynford Lardner Mahlon Kirkbride Thos: Cadwalader and John Morton, Esqrs Jos . Galloway Janry 12th....
7From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 12 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your kind Letter of Nov. 22. and thank you for your good Wishes in my Behalf. I had, after a short Passage, the Pleasure of finding our Friend Strahan and all his Family well and happy; and my other Friends as cordial as ever. I am oblig’d to you for calling so often at our House, and doubt not a Continuance of your Friendly Offices towards my little...
8To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 14 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In Hopes you have received a Letter from me since your Leaving us, which I sent inclosed in one to Mr. Strahan, from New York, per a Merchant Ship, I now attempt a Second to you: I therein told you, I had taken Dunlap’s Deed to you according to your Instructions, and taken McCleave’s Bond for the Money he proposed on that Score. I was returned from...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 17 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You express’d an intention to pay us a visit the latter end of this week, and as I should be sorry to be disappointed of the pleasure of your company when you come, I write this to inform that we have an engagement of a long standing for to-morrow, and the next day we expect company to dine with us, which makes me wish you to defer coming till the beginning...
10To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 22 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society About seven Days ago, hearing one Capt. Kid was about to sail for London from New-York, and the Packet by whom this is design’d to go not being come in then; I wrote you, at the same Time sent a Packet of News-papers, being the four last of the Pensylvania Gazette wherein was some Pieces wrote concerning your Remarks on the Protest. That Packet with the...
11To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 23 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a few Lines this morning, in a hurry, not expecting to meet with another Opport[unit]y by this Packet, but in that I am agreably disappointed, by an Express that Sets of[f] for N. York in the morning. The Assembly has been now Setting Since the Seventh of this Instant, and no Terms of Accommodation from the Governor has yet appeard, nor is there...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Humphrey Senhouse, 25 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your very extraordinary Discoveries and Improvements in Electricity have determined me, though an utter Stranger to you, to take the Liberty of asking whether you think any Benefit might arise to me from the Application of the Electrical Machine in my unfortunate Case. In the Year 1746, and in the fifteenth of my Age I had the Small-Pox, and from that Time...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Franklin, 28 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I humbly ask pardon for giving you the trouble of this but hearing you was att Lutterworth Some time Since and Inquired after me but had not the happyness of Seeing you has gave me a great deal of uneasyness but now I am in my way again of bussiness, and am Inform’d you are in London have taken this Opportunity to Write to you. I have not heard you purpose...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Humphrey Senhouse, 31 January 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Senhouse MSS , Cumberland County Record Office, Carlisle I wish I could give you any Encouragement to hope Relief in your Case by means of Electricity. No Instance of the kind has fallen within my Knowledge. On the contrary, I have try’d it on some Patients, but without the least Success. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Addressed: To / Major Senhouse / in / Carlisle...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Garth, [1 February 1765] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Garth presents his Compliments to Mr. Franklin, begs Leave to acquaint him, that the Request of the Agents for ½ an hour’s Audience to their Deputation was yesterday mention’d to Mr. Grenville, who was pleas’d to signify his Compliance therewith, and that he would send us Notice when he would choose to be attended. Addressed: To / B. Franklin Esqr. / in...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac All, 5 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yesterday I had the pleasure to hear of your Arrival in London by a Gentleman lately from thence, on which I most Sincerely Congratulate you as the season of the Year must render your passage disagreeable and dangerous; as I my self found in my Voyage from the Bay of Honduras to this place, where I arrived the 30th. Nov., and soon after saw in the papers An...
17Notes on Parliamentary Precedents, [c. 6 February? 1765] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Among Franklin’s papers are two sheets on which he entered notes about three acts of Parliament. One sheet, written on both sides, is badly torn at the top and down one edge. The other, of which he used only one side and which is in better condition, is a continuation of the first. The acts in which he was interested had granted to areas not previously...
18Richard Jackson: Opinion on Parliamentary Power over the Colonies, [c. 6 February 1765?] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society This undated document, in Richard Jackson’s hand, with an endorsement by Franklin, is found among Franklin’s papers. The general subject is the same as that of a speech Jackson made in the House of Commons on Feb. 6, 1765, against the bill to impose stamp duties on the colonies. As Jared Ingersoll, co-agent with Jackson for Connecticut, reported to...
19To Benjamin Franklin from John Trusler, 6 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Engraved form with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society The Literary Society desirous of extending their Scheme, and rendering it as general as possible, have presumed to enclose one of their Plans, and are induced to hope, should it meet with your Approbation, for the Honour of your Name as a Subscribing Member, and for any further Encouragement you may think proper to...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 8 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I got home extremely well last night, and met with nothing to make me uneasy but my own reflections. Before I came to pall mall I repented my acceptance of your obliging offer, for I consider’d myself as the cause of what the poor coachman suffer’d from the cold, which I might have avoided. This reflection destroy’d the tranquility which the fineness of the...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 9 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been so hurried of late, that I could not write much by this Packet. One Letter to the Speaker, and one to you, is all I shall be able to make out. Thanks to God, I am got perfectly well, my Cough quite gone. My Arms, too, continue mending, so that I can now put on and off my Cloaths, but do not practice it yet, as it still hurts me a little. John...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 10–21 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am set down to Confab a littel with my dear child as it Semes a Sorte of a hollow day for we have an ox arosteing on the river and moste pepel semes plesd with the a fair but as I partake of none of the divershons I stay at home and flatter myselef that the next packit will bring me a letter from you. By the laste packit thair was a letter from mr....
23From Benjamin Franklin to [Thomas Pownall], [11–12 February? 1765] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I send you enclos’d the Paper you desire. You will judge of the Propriety of Publishing it as it is, or what Alterations should be made in it. If there were any Liklihood of its being adopted, I could rather wish it were presented to the Ministry, provided their present Scheme of a Stamp Act might be laid aside. Verner W. Crane, Benjamin Franklin’s Letters...
24Scheme for Supplying the Colonies with a Paper Currency, [11–12 February? 1765] (Franklin Papers)
Draft (first part only): American Philosophical Society; remainder reprinted from Thomas Pownall, The Administration of the Colonies (4th edition, London, 1768), pp. 243–53. When Franklin first heard that Grenville had proposed an act of parliament levying stamp duties on the colonies, he wrote Richard Jackson, June 25, 1764, that he thought he “could propose a better Mode by far, both for us...
25Thomas Pownall and Benjamin Franklin to George Grenville, 12 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library We have taken the Liberty to enclose and beg leave to submitt to your consideration a measure calculated for supplying the Colonies with a Paper Currency, become absolutely necessary to their Circumstances, by which Measure a certain and very considerable Revenue will arise to the crown. We are from our Experience and the having been employed in the Public Service...
26From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 14 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I received your kind Letter of Decemr 19. Our Friend Peter is not dead, as you apprehended; but, Thanks to Heaven, as well as ever I knew him, hearty, brisk, and active as a Youth. I show’d him your Letter, and he told me he had wrote to you, and that you must have been long before this time put out of your Pain on his Account. I have order’d the Box of...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1765 (I) (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Enclos’d is a Letter from Mrs. Stevenson, and Bill of Lading for a Chest of Goods sent you. The Pamphlets in it are to be sent up to Billy. There are some Books for Cousin Cuthbert, not all he wanted, but the rest will be sent as soon as they can be got. I wrote to you per Packet on Saturday. Love to dear Sally and all Friends. In great Haste, Your...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1765 (II) (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Capt. Robinson you will receive a Case Mrs. Stevenson has sent you, with the Blankets, Bed ticks, &c. you wrote for. No new China was to be had that would match the Cup and Saucer; but a Friend who has a Set at the same time with me, spar’d me the Remains of his, which are now sent. In the Case I return Mr. Thomas Wharton’s Woollen Gown, which he was so...
29From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 14 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your obliging Letter of Decemr. 20. with the Newspapers. I am glad to hear of Col. Bouquet’s Success, hope the deserting Hostages will be recover’d, and the Peace firmly establish’d. The French being now totally remov’d from North America, we may, I think, expect the Indians will be more manageable for the future. The Stamp Act,...
30From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 14 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your obliging Favour of Dec. 20. and am glad to find, that tho’ so distant from them, I still live in the Remembrance of my Friends. We have been of late so much engag’d in our general American Affairs, that it was necessary to let what related particularly to our Province sleep a little for the present; but it is nevertheless working...