1To Benjamin Franklin from Elizabeth Montagu, [January?] 16, [1772?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mrs. Montagu presents her compliments to Dr. Franklyn, and is afraid he will think her troublesome in desiring the favour of his company on Sunday next the 19th, as well as on this day sennight. Mr. Bolton, who has promised to dine with Mrs. Montagu on sunday, will be best rewarded for his civility by meeting Dr. Franklyn, and so great an Artist as Mr....
2From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin and Elizabeth West, [before 4 April 1772?]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library <Before April 4, [1772? ], and in the third person. An invitation to dinner next Saturday, April 4.> Between the artist’s marriage and BF ’s return to America, April 4 fell on a Saturday in 1767 and 1772. Our predecessors did not print the invitation under the earlier date, and we are therefore assigning it to the later one.
3To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan and Anna Mordaunt Shipley, [before 9 February 1772]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <Before February 9, in the third person and the Bishop’s hand. He and his wife invite Franklin to dinner next Sunday, February 9.> Feb. 9 fell on a Sunday during BF ’s second mission only in 1766 and 1772, and as far as we know he was not acquainted with the Shipleys until 1771.
4Memorandum about Lord Hillsborough, [January 1772?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress When the Petition first came over, an Accident had happen’d to the Paper that made it unfit to be presented, Therefore a Duplicate was waited for, being expected in some other Ship. Before that arriv’d Lord Hillsborough was gone to Ireland. On his Return B.F. waited on him 5 several times, or rather endeavoured to wait on him, but was always refus’d Admittance,...
5To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, 1 May [1772?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Three of Dolly Blunt’s letters, of which this is the first, can be dated only by what may be considered extravagant guesswork; others cannot be dated at all, and will be published in a supplement at the end of BF ’s second British mission. His letters to her in this period, to which she occasionally refers, have all disappeared, and with them the clues they...
6From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Priestley, [July 1772]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: printed in Joseph Priestley, “Observations on Different Kinds of Air,” the Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LXII (1772), 199–200. Priestley’s growing sprigs of mint in foul air might not seem like serious science, but it led to one of his major discoveries. A question had long plagued eighteenth-century scientists: how is the atmosphere repurified after being rendered...
7From Benjamin Franklin to Sir William Browne, [1772] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society This blast shows Franklin at his most abusive and least witty. His anger had been aroused by the vagaries of Sir William Browne, an old and wealthy physician and former President of the Royal College of Physicians, and an F.R.S. since 1739. Sir William had strongly opposed the election of Sir John Pringle, as noted above, to the presidency of the...
8To Benjamin Franklin from William Henly, [1772?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I think myself exceedingly obliged to you for your intended favour of a Visit some Evening, but hope you will so far oblige me as to give me previous notice by a Line, when I shall with a high pleasure accommodate my time to your convenience. I am with the utmost Respect Sir your obedient and Humble Servant Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin This was the year...
9To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Maseres, [1772] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr: Maseres presents his compliments to Dr: Franklyn and sends him two more copies of the collection of Quebec instruments and the draught of a toleration-act; of which he desires the doctor to transmit one set to his son, Governour Franklyn of New Jersey, and the other to Mr: Galloway, of Philadelphia, the speaker of the house of Assembly, with Mr: Maseres...
10To Benjamin Franklin from [Johann David Michaelis?], [1772?]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society <1772? In Latin with no date, salutation, or signature. Has decided, because of Franklin’s “most noble occupations” and involvement in public affairs, to consult him as little as possible. Wishes first to thank him for favoring the Society by taking with him twelve copies of its revived work; has arranged to have the volumes bound and sent to Hamburg at the...