61From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 9 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I did myself the Honour of Writing to you the 2d of December, and the 5th of January past. Since which I have received your Favour of Nov 28. inclosing the Votes and Proceedings of the Town of Boston, which I have reprinted here with a Preface. Herewith I send you a few Copies. Governor Hutchinson’s Speech at the Opening of your Jany. Session, has...
62From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 9 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your kind Letter of Dec. 30. and rejoice to find you were well. I may possibly have the greater Pleasure of seeing you before the Year is out[?]. I have desired Cousin Williams to give you the Money he may recover from Hall. I would only mention to you, that when I was in Boston in 1754[?], Brother John then living, an old Man whose Name I...
63From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Sr., 9 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your Favour of Dec. 27. with the Cask of Sowns and Tongues, which came very opportunely at the Beginning of Lent, and are very agreable to me. Mr. Stanley and your Brother have the others. Accept my best Thanks. I received also the Bill of Exchange for £27 for which have credited your Account. And shall soon send you a State of the whole...
64From Benjamin Franklin to [Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg], [10 March 1773] (Franklin Papers)
AL (mutilated and incomplete draft): American Philosophical Society; translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 311. [ Torn ] Instant, [ torn ] read carefully [ torn ] much Importance [ torn. ] Page 18. line 14. [ torn ] électrisé en plus [ Torn
65From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 10 March 1773: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I , 277–9. Quant au magnétisme qui semble produit par l’électricité, mon opinion actuelle est que ces deux puissances n’ont aucun rapport l’une à l’autre, et que la production apparente du magnétisme n’est qu’accidentelle. Voici comment on peut l’expliquer. 1º. La terre est un grand...
66From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature, 15 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress In mine of Feb. 10. I mentioned a Silk weaver who was desirous of going to America; and endeavouring to get Subscriptions among his Friends to defray the Expence of his and Family’s Passage. He now tells me they have been so kind as to double the Sum he requested, and that he is to go in Sutton. He takes with him a good Certificate from the Meeting;...
67From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 15 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I wrote to you by Capt. All, and by the last Packet. By Capt. All I sent a Box containing sundry Parcels for my Friends. Among the rest were your Neighbour Miss Haddocks Silk, and Gowns for you and Sally. I hope they will get safe to hand. I continue well, and hope now soon to have the Pleasure of seeing you and Home....
68From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 15 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote you pretty largely by Capt. All, and sent you sundry things, particularly the plated Boiler you wrote for. I have nothing to add, but to let you know I continue well. Enclos’d I send you the Boston Pamphlet with my Preface. I grow tired of my Situation here, and really think of Returning in the Fall. My Love to Betsey. I am ever Your...
69From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 15 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you pretty fully per Capt. All, and have little to add. Mr. Jackson told me Yesterday at Court, that he had return’d the 30 Acts to the Board of Trade with his Approbation to every one. But to day Mr. Bollan, Agent for the Council of the Massachusetts, tells me, the Board object to one, viz, that for dissolving a Marriage. I shall enquire...
70To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been confin’d to my House great Part of this Winter by my valetudinary State, and been little able to see and converse with my Friends, and less to write to them. A Line from you would have greatly refresh’d me in this Confinement, as your Letters have ever been one of the greatest Entertainments of my Life: but I do not mean to complain, having been...
71On Claims to the Soil of America, 16 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , March 16, 1773; incomplete draft: American Philosophical Society This essay contains the first hint that in one crucial area, land tenure, Franklin was abandoning his earlier view of the crown as the centripetal force in the empire. His thinking fed on controversy, which developed it a little here, a little there, until he was on new ground. In this case the...
72Note on Marginalia in Benjamin Wilson, Observations upon Lightning, [after 21 March 1773 and before 30 March 1773?] (Franklin Papers)
Benjamin Wilson was a hardy controversialist. When he lost his case against Franklin in the Purfleet committee in the summer of 1772, he carried it first to the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, then to the Royal Society, and finally to the public by printing his Observations upon Lightning, and the Method of Securing Buildings from It’s Effects, in a Letter to Sir Charles Frederick, &c....
73To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Cushing, 24 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I have just received your Favor of the 2d. December last with the several papers Inclosed for which I am much oblidged to you. I have communicated them to some of the Gentlemen you mentioned. They are of opinion, that though it might be inconvenient to publish them, yet it might be expedient to have Copys taken and left on this side the water as there may be a...
74To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 25 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), I, 309–11; copy: American Philosophical Society Si j’ai bien saisi vos principes, il faut que le verre qui doit servir à l’expérience de Leyde réunisse ces deux conditions: 1º. qu’il soit impénétrable au fluide électrique; 2º. qu’il ne soit pas impénétrable à l’énergie de ce fluide; ou, pour exprimer la...
75From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 27 March 1773: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 313. Je compte que notre Poke-Weed est ce que les Botanistes appellent PHYTOLACCA . Cette plante porte des bayes grosses comme des pois: la peau en est noire, mais elle contient un suc cramoisi. C’étoit ce jus évaporé au soleil en consistence d’extract que l’on employoit. Il causoit...
76From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy, 30 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society You punish my delay of writing to you very properly by not writing to me. It is long since I have had the Pleasure of hearing from you: But it is my fault: and I must for my own sake write to you oftener tho’ I have little to say, or you will quite forget me. I thank you for your Advice to send an English Copy of my Writings to the Academy, and shall...
77From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [March? 1773]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 258–61. J’appréhende bien de ne pouvoir trouver le tems de faire sur cette matiere toutes les recherches et les expériences qui seroient à désirer. Je me bornerai donc à faire ici quelques remarques. La pesanteur spécifique de quelques corps humains, par comparaison avec celle de...
78To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 1 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), 1, 314–20; two incomplete copies: American Philosophical Society Depuis six mois que je suis occupé presque sans relâche de la traduction et de l’édition de vos Oeuvres, je me suis un peu familiarisé avec l’Electricité. Il faudroit avoir l’esprit bien bouché pour ne pas devenir Electrician avec vous. Mais...
79From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 3 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress My last was of the 9th past, since which nothing material has occurr’d relating to the Colonies. The Assembly’s Answer to Gov. Hutchinson’s Speech is not yet come over; but I find that even his Friends here are apprehensive of some ill Consequences from his forcing the Assembly into that Dispute, and begin to say it was not...
80From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Sr., 3 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I wrote to you on the 9th. of March. I have not since heard from Boston. This is just to let you know I am well, and to cover a Newspaper containing one of my Scribblings, which please to give to my Sister with my Love: I have not now time to write to her. Love to Cousin Grace and your Children. I am ever, Your affectionate Uncle Undoubtedly the essay...
81From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress The Bearer Mr. Robert Hare visits Philadelphia with a View of establishing himself there or at New York in the Porter-brewing Business. He bears an excellent Character among his Friends here as a very honest, ingenious, amiable Man. I therefore recommend him warmly to your Civilities; and doubt not but you will give him the best Advice and...
82From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your pleasing Letter of Jan. 5. I am glad you have undertaken the Care of the Housekeeping, as it will be an Ease to your Mother, especially if you can manage to her Approbation; that may perhaps be at first a Difficulty. It will be of Use to you if you get a Habit of keeping exact Accounts; and it will be some Satisfaction to me to see...
83From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Coombe, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I receiv’d a few welcome Lines from you acquainting me with your safe Arrival at Philada. and promising me a long Letter, which I suppose has miscarried. So I know nothing of your Reception and Engagements, your Views, Pursuits or Studies, or what would please you best from hence, new Poetry or new Sermons; for the better Chance therefore of hitting...
84From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress It is some time since I have had the Pleasure of hearing from you. I hope your Health is thoroughly established. Mr. Small often speaks of you with great Regard: I am glad to see by the News Papers that our Society have chosen him a Member. No Man more deserves it. Our Silk will be sold next Thursday. The Broker was with me yesterday and tells me he...
85From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I received yours of Dec. 28 and Jan. 6. and am glad to find you were so well. I do not recollect the Miss Moore’s you mention, whom Ben visited before they went away. As to Mrs. Wright, I have done all I could to serve her here; but I have somehow or other, I know not which way, displeas’d her of late, so that she does...
86From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 6–9 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours of Feb. 2. with the Papers of Information that accompany it. I know nothing of Col. Mercer’s being appointed Surveyor of the new Colony: Indeed the Proprietors, if they ever are to be such, are not yet in a Situation to appoint or promise any Places, the Grant not being compleated. I never heard of Jones; or his Chief Justiceship in...
87From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you of the 14th Feby. and 15th of March, since which I have receiv’d no Line from you. This just serves to cover a Sermon of my Friend the Bishop of St. Asaph. You will find it replete with very liberal Sentiments respecting America. I hope they will prevail here, and be the Foundation of a better Understanding between the two Countries....
88The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 6 April 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS (minutebook copy): Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia <Pennsylvania Hospital, April 6, 1773: Notification that ten bills, nos. 23 through 32, have been drawn on Franklin, Barclay, and Fothergill, to be paid from the account of the contributors to the Hospital. The bills are: two of Feb. 6 in favor of Charles Stewart, £365 sterling in all; one of Feb. 19 and three of March 12 in favor of...
89To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society [ Beginning mutilated ] I wrote you a few lines of the Mar[ torn ] that we were all well. We have continued so [ torn ] at this Time made happy by the Company of the Burlington Family who have been with us a few days, and intend making some Stay with us. Having disposed of almost all my dry Goods, and found them but a sorry Concern, I have...
90To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did reseve yours by the laste packit dated Jan 6. I due in tend to write by Capt. All if it pies got [God] to preserve him Safe back a gen. I did in tend to say [sum]thing a boute Ben Franklin Beache but Billey told me he had mens[honed him?] to you in his letter yester day, I had thought I had bin two trubel sum [ torn ] as you had told me that he was...