1To Benjamin Franklin from the Associates of Dr. Bray, [before 7 April 1768]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XXIV (1900), 389. [Before April 7. A notice of the meeting of the Associates at ten o’clock on that day, at their office at the Angel and Bible in Ave-Mary Lane.] For the Associates and BF ’s connection with them see above, VII , 100 n., 377–9; IX , 12.
2From Benjamin Franklin to O[liver] N[eave, before 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Printed from Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity … (4th edition, London, 1769), pp. 463–8 This letter was subsequently reprinted many times as a treatise on swimming. Nothing is known about the recipient, except that in 1762 Franklin acknowledged a paper from him on the transmission of sound. The present letter was either written at about the same time, or appeared...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Lord and Lady Bathurst, [before 13 February 1768] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Dartmouth College Library Dr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Lord Bathurst, with some American Nuts; and to Lady Bathurst, with some American Apples; which he prays they would accept, as a Tribute from that Country, small indeed, but voluntary . An elderly and distinguished pair. Allen Bathurst, first Earl Bathurst (1684–1775), had been one of the twelve men raised to the...
4Subjects of Subjects [January 1768] (Franklin Papers)
Printed from The Gentleman’s Magazine , XXXVIII (1768), 6–7. At the close of 1767 a letter signed “S.N.” in The Gentleman’s Magazine ( XXXVII [1767, supplement], 620–21) attacked the nonimportation resolutions passed by the Boston Town Meeting of the previous October. The writer asserted that the resolutions were aimed at ruining British trade and finances and were accompanied by “vain...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Sir John Pringle, [1768?]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Wednesday evening (1768?): an invitation to dine next Friday at 3:30 to meet Dr. Hoare. ] Perhaps Joseph Hoare, the newly appointed principal of Jesus College, Oxford. Hoare had served as proxy for the King at the marriage in Germany of the future Queen Charlotte in 1761, and might well have come to know Pringle as the Queen’s physician. If so the earliest...
6To Benjamin Franklin from John Huske, [before 1 November 1768?]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society John Huske, an American-born merchant and M.P. for Maldon, Essex, was a strong partisan of the colonial cause. In 1767 he had used his long connection with Charles Townshend to try to secure modification of the Townshend Acts; in December, 1768, he introduced the Pennsylvania petition to the House of Commons. Three undated letters from him are among...
7Causes of the American Discontents before 1768, 5–7 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , January 5–7, 1768. Verner W. Crane has called this essay “perhaps the most famous contribution by Franklin, after the Examination , to the propaganda of the American Revolution.” The colonial reaction to the Townshend Acts, particularly in Massachusetts, was provoking such anger in England that Franklin felt the need to explain the American position. He first...
8On Railing and Reviling, 6 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 8, 1768; autograph draft in the American Philosophical Society. On January 5, 1768, the Gazetteer published an intemperate attack on the Boston nonimportation resolutions and on the American attitude in general, signed “ Old England .” The next day Franklin dashed off a reply, written on the back of a notice he had just received of a...
9To Benjamin Franklin from John Winthrop, 6 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed from extract in Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America … (London, 1769), p. 485. I have read in the Philosophical Transactions the account of the effects of lightning on St. Bride’s steeple. ’Tis amazing to me, that after the full demonstration you had given, of the identity of lightning and of electricity, and the power of...
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 9 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S., &c. (quarto edition, 3 vols., London, 1817–18), II , 151. We have had so many alarms of changes which did not take place, that just when I wrote it was thought the ministry would stand their ground. However immediately after the talk was renewed, and it soon appeared the Sunday...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 9 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D., F.R.S., &c. (quarto edition, 3 vols., London, 1817–18), II , 152. I wrote to you via Boston and have little to add except to acquaint you that some changes have taken place since my last, which have not the most promising aspect for America, several of the Bedford party being come into...
12On the New Office of Secretary of State for the Colonies, 13 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 21, 1768. On January 12, 1768, the Gazetteer published an attack on the newly created Secretaryship of State for the American Colonies signed by “ Old England ,” the correspondent whom Franklin had recently rebuked for his intemperateness. The rebuke had had no effect: the effusion was as strongly worded as the previous one, and more...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Eleanor Morris, 18 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I make bold hoping you will Excuse me my Cousins joyning me once more to Congratulate you on that Happy Day which we kept very joyfully for we had a Plumpuding for Dinner and the Children and we Drank your Health in tea in the Afternoon which Happy Day I may never live to see again but hope God will be Pleased to Continue Health and Happiness to your Self...
14Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence to Richard Jackson and Benjamin Franklin, 19 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania, Met at Philadelphia, on the 14th of October, A.D. 1767, and Continued by Adjournments (Philadelphia, 1768), pp. 31–2. By Order of the House we inclose you Copies of a Letter from his Excellency General Gage, a Message from the Governor to the Assembly, and their Answer, and the Examination of...
15To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, [21–22 January 1768] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society yister day I had the pleshuer to reseve yours Dated November the 17 I had not hearde one worde abought you senes the later end of Auguste which was neare five munthes but I shall not dwell on that at this time. You reseded I hope all our letters wrote in September and ocktober and those from Mr. Bache and Salley and mine all so and I thinke you was told...
16To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 21 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since the New-Year I wrote you per Capt. Farquhar in a Merchantman: This being the first Packet we have had this three Months. I have very little extraordinary to inform you of, further than my last. Only I continue to creep along Slowly. You will see I have altered the Day of my Paper back to Monday, and the Hartford Rider is suppress’d. The Commissioners...
17To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 21 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library When will it suit you to have another interview? The College affair lies dormant. For above a week I have been dethroned by a violent cold and hoarsness. Who would but work and speak for God while it is day? The night of sickness and death cometh when no man can work. Through rich grace I can sing “O Death where is thy sting”-but only through Jesus of...
18To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 22 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you Yesterday, when I acquainted you that I had not receiv’d any Letters from you by the Pacquet, the Bag being either lost or not forwarded by the last Post, but he has since return’d and I have this Moment the Pleasure of receiving yours of Octr. 9. and Novr. 13; the last enclos’d in a Cover dated Novr. 17. I have but just Time to mention this,...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Hopkinson, 24 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Associates of the Late Rev. Dr. Bray I acquainted you in a late Letter that the Associates of Dr. Bray requested that you and Mr. E. Duffield, with my self, would purchase some Estate for them, the Profits of which might hereafter be apply’d to the Support of the Negro School; and I desir’d you would as soon as possible make such Purchase to the Amt. of £200 Sterling Value, so much being...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Martha Johnson, 26 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take this opertunety to write to you hopeing to find you in good helth as I am at present but as to Samey he is very ill but I think he is a littel better. I am jest arived at letchlade with my Brother in law and am in hopes to have our matters setteled in a boute a week so as to git into my shop, I have no Reason but to think that it will answer very...
21To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 30 January 1768[–13 February 1768] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society About 8 Days ago, I wrote per Halifax Packet, and this going so soon after, I shall not be very tedious. Only must beg one Thing in Relation to Mr. Strahan: Mr. Holt has told some, that he never sent to Strahan for any Books, and that those you paid Mr. Strahan for me, was sent for by me only, and that he never was or could be answerable for any of them but...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph-Étienne Bertier, 31 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society With cordial Thanks for your many Civilities to me when in Paris, I take this Opportunity of acquainting you, that your Certificate has been received by the Royal Society, and ordered to be hung up the usual Time which is Ten Meetings; but it was observed to be deficient in not mentioning your Christian Name, without which it is not reckon’d regular. I...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Jean Chappe d’Auteroche, 31 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I sent you sometime since, directed to the Care of M. Molini, a Bookseller near the Quây des Augustins a Tooth that I mention’d to you when I had the Pleasure of meeting with you at the Marquis de Courtanvaux’s. It was found near the River Ohio in America, about 200 Leagues below Fort du Quesne, at what is called the Great Licking Place, where the Earth...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas-François Dalibard, 31 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I sent you sometime since, Priestly’s History of Electricity, under the Care of Mr. Molini, Bookseller on the Quay des Augustins; I hope it got safe to Paris, and that you have receiv’d it. [I w]ish the Reading of it may renew your Taste for that Branch of Philosophy, which is already so greatly indebted to you, as being the first of [Man?] kind that had...
25To Benjamin Franklin from James Johnson, 4 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Brook Street, Feb. 4, (1768?). An invitation to dinner on Monday the 8th. ] The Bishop of Worcester, for whom see above, XII , 124 n. BF ’s acquaintance with the Bishop began in 1765. Feb. 8 was a Monday in 1768 and 1773, and in accordance with our practice we assign the note to the earlier possible year.
26To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 9 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter and subsequent ones from Joseph Galloway, George Croghan, William Franklin, and the Pennsylvania Assembly attest the seriousness of Indian affairs in the newly acquired western territories, and the urgent necessity of pacifying the savages by a formal settlement of the boundary that Sir William Johnson had discussed with them in 1765....
27To Benjamin Franklin from George Croghan, 12 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Copy in Historical Society of Pennsylvania; fragment, lacking first five paragraphs, in American Philosophical Society. I did myself the pleasure of writing to you on the 2d of October from Lancaster; And since my Return from meeting the Western Nations, I have had the Favor of your Letter of the 5th. August 1767. I am much gratified, That the Elephant’s Bones were acceptable to you; and with...
28From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 13 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter per Capt. Story, of Nov. 19, and a subsequent one per Capt. Falkner without date. I have received also the Indian and Buckwheat Meal that they brought from you, with the Apples, Cranberries and Nuts, for all which I thank you. They all prove good, and the Apples were particularly welcome to me and my Friends, as there happens to...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Martha Johnson, 15 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Recived yours with the inclosed and am gratly obliged to you for the troble I give you and sence there is nothing to be Exspected wee must be Contented without it. I hope you keep your helth very well and should be very glad to hear from you when Convenant. I hope Nancy Behaves her self well and to the satisfaction of her governess and mrs. stevinson and...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 16 February 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Nationalbibliothek, Vienna I wrote to you per Packet, and also by Mr. Ayres, who goes in Sparks. But I must send you a Line per Capt. Falkener, and another per Capt. Story, if ’tis only to say over again that I am well, and to acknowledge the Receipt of your kind Letters and Presents of Meal, Apples, Nuts, Cranberries &c. I have written to Sally too by Mr. Ayres, My Love to her and all...