1From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 1–16 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office It is always a great Pleasure to me to hear from you, and would be a much greater to be with you, to converse with you on the Subjects you mention, or any other. Possibly I may yet one day enjoy that Pleasure. In the meantime we may use the Privilege that the Knowledge of Letters affords us, of conversing at a distance by the Pen. I am glad to find you are turning...
2Pennsylvania and Nonimportation, [5 January 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Verner W. Crane, ed., Benjamin Franklin’s Letters to the Press, 1758–1775 (Chapel Hill, N.C., [1950]), p. 152. Franklin had just received a memorial from the Philadelphia merchants, dated November 1, 1768, and addressed to the manufacturers and merchants of Great Britain, protesting against the Townshend Acts and threatening the renewal of nonimportation. In order to bring the...
3From Benjamin Franklin to Michael Hillegas, 5 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Historical Magazine , III (1859), 212. I received yours of Nov. 3, and was very sorry to find you had been disappointed of your Glasses by their being broken in going over. I have given Orders to have the Loss repair’d, agreeable to the Directions in your Letter, and hope it will not be long before they are executed. Make no Apology as if you gave me Trouble, for I assure...
4From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson and Thomas Mifflin, 5 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Amherst College Library I received yours with two Bills of Exchange enclos’d, for £150 Sterling, with a Catalogue of Books to be procur’d for the Library Company, which I have given Orders for Collecting immediately, and hope they will be ready to send by Budden or the next Ship. I am not acquainted with the Work intitled British Zoology, but shall enquire its Character of some knowing...
5From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 9 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Darlington, ed., Memorials of John Bartram and Humphry Marshall (Philadelphia, 1849), pp. 402–3. I received your kind letter of November 5, and the box directed to the King is since come to hand. I have written a line to our late dear friend’s son, (who must be best acquainted with the usual manner of transacting your affairs here,) to know whether he will take charge of...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 9–28 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library I have now before me your several Favours of Oct. 15, 17, and 20, and of Nov. 6. I am much oblig’d to the Assembly for the Honour they have done me in a new Appointment. Be pleased to present my respectful Thanks to the House, and assure them of my best Service. I have bespoke the Telescope they have ordered, and hope it will be done in time. The Workmen have promised...
7“A Horrid Spectacle to Men and Angels,” [before 17 January 1769] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society This emotional outpouring cannot be precisely dated. Verner Crane assigns it to January, 1769, because some of the ideas that it contains were elaborated in Franklin’s two letters printed in the Public Advertiser on January 17. Hays, on the other hand, assigns it to c . 1775. But that date is virtually ruled out by the reference to Corsica. In May,...
8A Purported Letter from Paris, 17 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 17, 1769 Extract of a Letter from Paris to a Gentleman in London, dated Dec. 23. You English consider us French as Enemies to Liberty: You reproach us for endeavouring to reduce Corsica to our Obedience, and say, that if we heard of a Freeman on the other Side of the Globe, you suppose we should hasten thither to make a Slave of him. How easy it is...
9Defense of American Placeholders, 17 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 17, 1769 In his two roles of colonial agent and royal official, Franklin was particularly vulnerable to charges in America that he was betraying the first, and in England that he was betraying the second. Criticism in the London press of him and other Americans in royal service continued as long as he remained in England, but this is...
10An Account Stated against G. G., [17 January 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Verner W. Crane, ed., Benjamin Franklin’s Letters to the Press, 1758–1775 (Chapel Hill, N.C., [1950]), pp. 156–9. I thank you for the Information you so readily gave at the Request of the Manufacturer of London , relating to the Agreement going forward in America not to use more of our Manufactures. The Memorial you published in your Paper of the 13th inst. from the Merchants of...
11From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson and Thomas Mifflin, 27 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Amherst College Library Enclos’d is Bill of Lading and Invoice of the Books you order’d, which I wish safe to hand, and am, Gentlemen Yours and the Company’s most obedient Servant P.S. On looking over your Letter I see that I am desir’d to add other Books if the List does not amount to your Money. Now that I have receiv’d the Invoice and find it amounts to so little, I shall look out for...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 29 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library The within was written to go by Budden, then expected to sail every Day. But as he still continues here, I now send it per Falconer. The Parliament has since come together after their Recess. The Lords Resolutions were to have been taken into Consideration last Monday by the Commons. They had before determin’d to let none be present that were not Members. I got a Member...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy, 31 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I received your obliging Favour of Nov. 15. I presented your Compliments to Sir John Pringle, who was glad with me to hear of your Welfare, and desired me to offer his best Respects whenever I wrote to you. The Farmers Letters were written by one Mr. Dickinson of Philadelphia, and not by me as you seem to suppose. I only caus’d them to be reprinted here with that...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 7 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote to you pretty fully per Falconer, since which nothing material has pass’d relative to American Affairs. The Grand Committee was to have reported on them last Friday; but Wilkes had taken up so much of their Time, the House sitting four Nights successively till three in the Morning, that they were oblig’d to postpone it for another Week. He is expell’d, but...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Smith, Wright, & Gray, 13 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Be so kind as to procure a Letter of Credit on Paris for Dr. Benjamin Rush, a young Physician from Pensylvania, of excellent Character, and a particular Friend of mine; the Sum Two Hundred Pounds. He sets out to-morrow. I will be answerable to you for what he may take up there on such Letter. I inclose a Bill of £100 for which please to send me a Receipt...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Smith, Wright, & Gray, 14 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Enclos’d is Dr. Rush’s Signature which you desired. I thank you for so readily furnishing the Letter of Credit. Yours &c Addressed: To / Messrs. Smith, Wright & / Gray, / Bankers / Lombard street See the preceding document.
17From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 21 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I received your excellent Paper on the preferable Use of Oxen in Agriculture, and have put it in the way of being communicated to the Public here. I have observed in America that the Farmers are more thriving in those Parts of the Country where Cattle are used, than in those where the Labour is done by Horses. The latter are said to require twice the Quantity of...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 23 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received your kind Letters of Sept. 26. Oct. and Nov. 7. That of Sept. 26. is directed to my Wife, but she sent it to me, I suppose that I might see your Opinion of Mr. Bache: I am glad you approve the Choice they have made. I write a few Lines to Mr. Leadly: I cannot say much on that Subject till I see Mr. Foxcroft, whom I now expect daily. I am...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 24 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum I received your Favour by Mr. Jefferies. I should have been glad if in any thing I could have serv’d him here. The Part I took in the Application for your Degree, was merely doing Justice to Merit, which is the Duty of an honest Man whenever he has the Opportunity. I did that Duty indeed with Pleasure and Satisfaction to myself, which was sufficient: But I own the Pleasure...
20Draft of a Petition from the Colonial Agents to the House of Commons, [between 24 February 1769 and 7 March 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Charles Garth Letterbook, South Carolina Archives Department The fate of the petition that follows illustrates the difficult position of the colonial agents. In the late winter they had, or thought they had, indications that the mounting excitement in America might induce the administration to repeal the Townshend Acts if there were some way to cover its retreat. The problem was to find...
21From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 1 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of Jan. 3. per Packet, and one from Sally. I wrote to you very fully by the late Ships. This is only to let you know I am well, and particularly that my Arms, which you enquire after, have perfectly recover’d their Strength. Your Account of Mr. Coleman’s fresh Disorder, grieves me exceedingly. I have had a Visit from Mr. Bache’s Sister, who...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 9 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Clements Library I wrote a few Lines to you per Packet, in which I mention’d that at a late Meeting of the Agents they had agreed to join in a Petition for the Repeal of the Duty Act. I was desir’d to make a Draft, which I did. The Proposition came from Mr. Garth, who is a Member of Parliament and Agent for S. Carolina. The Opinion was that the Ministry might probably wish to get rid of...
23From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 11 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society At length after much Delay and Difficulty I have been able to obtain your Telescope that was made by Mr. Short before his Death. His Brother, who succeeds in the Business, has fitted it up and compleated it. He has followed the Business many Years at Edinburgh, is reckon’d very able, and therefore I hope every thing will be found right; but as it is only...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society By Capt. Sparks Mrs. Stevenson sent you a large square Case, containing the Things mentioned in the inclos’d Invoice; it was marked Stores for Mrs. Franklin Philadelphia , and carried on board by our Porter, who says he deliver’d it to the Mate, but he brought back no Receipt. The Mate told him he liv’d not far from you, and knew us both. I hope there has...
25From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 21 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library Inclos’d is a Bill of Lading for the Telescope; I hope it will get safe to hand, and give Satisfaction. I have not yet got the Maker’s Account. It was with great Difficulty got done to go by this Ship. We have been greatly alarmed last Week by a Project of Lord Barrington’s (Secretary at War) to bring in a Clause to be added to the American Mutiny Bill, impowering...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Burton, 26 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Fulham Palace Library, London The note of recommendation printed below, like Franklin’s recommendation of George Spencer a year earlier, raises a question about his judgment in sponsoring candidates for the Anglican priesthood. Theodorus Swaine Drage grew up in England, where he is said to have been a schoolmate of Lord Hillsborough. He emigrated to Pennsylvania, if Franklin is correct...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 3–21 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Allen D. Candler, ed., The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia (26 vols., Atlanta, Ga., 1904–16), XV , 26–7. I received duely your favour of December 24th with the Address of your Commons House of Assembly to the King. I directly waited on Lord Hillsborough Secretary of State for American Affairs, and delivered it to him to be presented to his Majesty, which he assured me...
28Positions to be Examined, 4 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
MS (copy): Yale University Library Franklin had long advocated a labor theory of value, and in correspondence with Lord Kames and the French physiocrats he refined his ideas of the relation between labor, agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce. The brief paper below seems to have been a development of the “aphorisms,” as he called them, that he had sent to Lord Kames early in the year. His...
29From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 27 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum I received your Favour of Feb. 27. per Capt. Carver, and thank you for giving me an Opportunity of being acquainted with so great a Traveller. I shall be glad if I can render him any Service here. The Parliament remain fix’d in their Resolution not to repeal the Duty Acts this Session, and will rise next Tuesday. I hope my Country-folks will remain as fix’d in their...
30From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 27 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of Jan. 30. Mrs. Stevenson has executed your Order, and sends the Things in a Bandbox directed to you, in the Care of Mr. Jefferies your Neighbour. A new-fashion’d something that was not ready when the Box was pack’d up, is inclos’d in her Letter. I am now grown too old to be ambitious of such a Station as that which you say has...
31From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 3 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Capt. Jefferies has so long talk’d of sailing, that People began to think he would never sail; and now I am just told that he goes this Evening, so can only say that I am well, and that having receiv’d Sally’s Letter by Capt. Falkner, I rejoice to hear you so soon got over your late Indisposition, but am impatient for the next Packet which I hope will bring...
32Committee Report on Lightning Rods for St. Paul’s Cathedral, 7 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LIX (1769), 162–9. As, in consequence of a letter addressed to the Royal Society from the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul’s, the Society did us the honour to appoint us a Committee to examine that magnificent structure, and, as far as our experience would enable us, to prevent mischief thereto from lightning, by a properly disposed...
33From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 7 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York State Library, Albany I did myself the Honour of Writing to you on the 3d. of the last Month, since when the Parliament has risen without repealing the Duties that have been so generally complain’d of. But we are now assured by the Ministry, that the Affairs of America have been lately considered in Council: that it was the unanimous Opinion no new Acts for the purpose of...
34Notes on a Week’s Diet and Poor Health, [between 12 June 1769, and 30 July 1770] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress So dated because of the reference to dining at Mr. Foxcroft’s. Although the time bracket is unlikely to have much value, the means of establishing it may be worth explaining to illustrate how such problems of dating can sometimes be narrowed when they cannot be solved. The Pa. Packet , on which Foxcroft came to England, arrived on May 30 or 31 ( Lloyd’s Evening Post ,...
35From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 27 June 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress Agreable to your Orders delivered to me very punctually per Temple, I return you enclos’d Voltaire’s Verses. The Translation I think full as good as the Original. Remember that I am to have them again. I take this Opportunity to send you also a late Paper containing a melancholy Account of the Distresses of some Seamen. You will observe in it the Advantages they...
36The Formation of the Grand Ohio Company, [June? 1769] (Franklin Papers)
The two documents that follow are closely connected. Both were products of the obscure and complicated process by which a group, known as the “suffering traders,” that claimed Indian lands west of the Alleghenies was transformed into an Anglo-American company with political influence and grandiose ambitions. Neither of the documents can be precisely dated. The first is a rough draft, in...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Wharton and William Trent, 3 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Dr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Messrs. Wharton and Trent, and acquaints them that on Thursday (or Friday) last, he had a good deal of Discourse with Mr. Mildred, and afterwards with Mr. Mildred and his Solicitor Mr. Lane, when they concluded, on his Advice, to withdraw the Petition that had [been] presented to the King in Council, on Behalf of...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (facsimile) in John Jay Smith, American Historical and Literary Curiosities; Consisting of Fac-Similes of Some Plates, &c. Relating to Columbus, and Original Documents of the Revolution … Second Series (New York, 1860), pl. XLVI . By Capt. Falconer, I shall write to you fully; this only serves to acquaint you that I am as well as I can be without my usual Journey, but I begin to feel the...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson and Thomas Mifflin, 7 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (copy): Minutes of the Library Company of Philadelphia, November 29, 1769. I received your favour of the 3d. of May, and shall send you the Books you write for per Capt. Falconer. Seeing some Time since that other Libraries were about to be united with yours, I did for that Reason forbear buying any Books but Robinson’s History, till I should have further Orders, lest I should purchase...
40From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 9 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Stanford University Libraries It is with great Pleasure I understand by your Favour of April 10. that you continue to enjoy so good a Share of Health. I hope it will long continue. And altho’ it may not now be suitable for you [to make?] such wide Excursions as heretofore, you may yet be very useful to your Country and to Mankind, if you [sit?] down quietly at home, digest the Knowledge...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Humphry Marshall, 9 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mr. S. Hallock du Pont (1955) I received your obliging Favour of April 13. with Specimens of the several Colours suitable for Painting which you have found in different Parts of our Country. It gives me great Pleasure to see them, and I have shown them to many Persons of Distinction, together with your Letter, which is allow’d to contain a great many sensible and shrewd Observations....
42From Benjamin Franklin to the Philadelphia Merchants, 9 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Broadside: Yale University Library I Received yours of the 18th of April, inclosing copies of the articles of your agreement, with respect to importation, and of your letter to the merchants here. The latter was published, and universally spoken well of, as a well-written, sensible, manly and spirited performance; and I believe the publication has been of service to our cause. You are, in my...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Gilpin, 10 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your Favour per Capt. Osborne, with the Model of your Machine for raising Water. The Manner in which you have apply’d a single Crank for the Working of three Pumps, wherein the whole Force is apply’d to each, and yet in such quick Succession that there is no Loss of Time, appears to me so extreamly ingenious, that I have scarce ever seen a new...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Grey Cooper, 11 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mr. Albert M. Greenfield (1955) An Application being about to be made for a Grant of Lands in the Territory on the Ohio lately purchased of the Indians, I cannot omit acquainting you with it, and giving you my Opinion, that they will very soon be settled by People from the neighbouring Provinces, and be of great Advantage in a few Years to the Undertakers. As you have those fine...
45From Benjamin Franklin to James Bowdoin, 13 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I am honoured with yours of May 10. and agree with you perfectly in your Sentiments of publick Affairs. Government here seems now to be growing more moderate with regard to America, and I am persuaded that by a steady prudent Conduct, we shall finally obtain all our important Points, and establish American Liberty on a clearer and firmer Foundation. The...
46Dates of Journeys Abroad, 1766–69: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society [Memorandum of the dates of Franklin’s departure from and return to England on his trips to Germany in 1766 (June 15 and Aug. 13), to Paris in 1767 (Aug. 28 and Oct. 8), and to Paris in 1769 (July 14 and Aug. 24).] Hitherto documents covering a span of years, such as accounts, have been printed under the first date entered. Hereafter they will be printed or...
47From Benjamin Franklin to John Canton, 25 August 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society When I was at Paris about 10 Days since, I was told that a Comet was then visible with a Tail of considerable Length. If it has not been yet observed or heard of here, perhaps this little Notice may be agreable to you. I return’d but last Night, I hope you and yours are well; being very sincerely Your affectionate Friend and Servant I think it was said to be in some...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 30 August 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (Paris, 1773), p. 314. Cette lettre vous sera remise par le Docteur Lettsom, jeune Médecin Amériquain de beaucoup de mérite, qui est de la paisible secte des Trembleurs, et que vous regarderiez conséquemment au moins comme une rareté à contempler, quand même vous auriez épousé toutes les préventions de la plupart de vos...
49From Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, [before 2 September 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Joseph Belcher, George Whitefield: a Biography, with Special Reference to His Labors in America (New York, [1857]), pp. 414–15. I am under continued apprehensions that we may have bad news from America. The sending soldiers to Boston always appeared to me a dangerous step; they could do no good, they might occasion mischief. When I consider the warm resentment of a people who...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 2 September 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Just come home from a Venison Feast, where I have drank more than a Philosopher ought, I find my dear Polly’s chearful chatty Letter that exhilarates me more than all the Wine. Your good Mother says there is no Occasion for any Intercession of mine in your behalf. She is sensible that she is more in fault than her Daughter. She received an affectionate tender...