1Note on Franklin’s Sketch of How to Force a Wheel Round by Gunpowder, [before March 1775?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society For some years we have been trying and failing to answer two questions about this sketch: why and when was it made? The device as described would obviously never produce continuous rotation, if that was the intent; and a wheel that turned in spasms would have limited use. As for the date, no clue to it has appeared in the edited correspondence; one may of...
2From Benjamin Franklin to [William Strahan], [1759–62, 1764–75?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Blumhaven Library (1957) I have perus’d the Parts you put into my Hands of the new Work on Commerce, &c. and must own myself extreamly pleas’d with it. It is a most valuable Collection of Facts which I should think every one in Britain, Ireland and the Colonies who has any thing to do with Publick Affairs, or is desirous of understanding that very interesting Subject, would gladly...
3Letter to the Public Advertiser, [before 31 January 1774] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This document is among those calculated to teach editors humility. We have failed to discover either its date or the source of the dialogue that drives home its point. The date depends on that of the letter to the Public Advertiser which Franklin is answering, and which we have been unable to locate. Neither could Verner Crane, and he concluded for another reason that...
Copy: Library of Congress; copy: American Philosophical Society It has been demonstrated that Franklin did not, as William Temple Franklin asserted and subsequent editors believed, write this dialogue shortly after arriving in France in 1776, but shortly before leaving England in 1775. If he began it considerably earlier, as seems likely, it must have been in a quite different vein; for he...
5Fragment of a Letter to the Public Advertiser, [1774–75] (Franklin Papers)
AD: British Museum The presence of this fragment among the papers of Caleb Whitefoord in the British Museum indicates that it was part of a letter to the Public Advertiser that was never published. Henry Woodfall, the printer, frequently sent such material for Whitefoord’s inspection; and in this case the manuscript seems to have gone no further. When it was written, why it was suppressed, and...
6Fragments of Two Letters to the Press [?], [1774–75?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society These two scraps of Franklin’s ongoing argument for the colonies appear to be directed at the British public, although no trace of either one has been found in the newspapers of the period. The first fragment is divided into two parts by a gap in the manuscript; the initial paragraph might have been written at any time, but the second implies that...
7Request for a Printing, [1774–75?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress The background of this request has already been discussed in connection with the document to which it was attached, Franklin’s indictment of Lord Hillsborough in 1772 for preventing colonial petitions from reaching the throne. At some later point he decided, for reasons given here, to publish the indictment redirected at Lord Dartmouth, and then reversed his decision;...
8Notes on Britain’s Intention to Enslave America [1774–75?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): Library of Congress These notes are impossible to date. At the head of the sheet a line in another hand has been crossed out; it seems to read “Mde. D’Ardonviller,” who means nothing to us. Franklin’s reference in his notation to the “old” intention suggests that he was writing long after the comment that he cites by the Attorney General; but the reference at least determines the...
9A Letter to Be Written by a Frenchman, [1774–75?] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Unsolved problems in editing, as in other areas of historical research, are frustrating out of all proportion to their significance; and this short draft is a case in point. Why Franklin wrote it is clear enough: to enable a French teacher, whose English was inadequate for the purpose, to enlist influential help in obtaining redress from the Warden of...
10From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 7 May [1774?]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: British Museum Both Bigelow and Smyth accept the date that appears on the copy, but we suggest that the copyist was wrong by a year. The point is of some importance because, if the letter was written in 1775, even this small fragment bears on the relationship between father and son when the former returned from England. Although the language is open to various interpretations, the...
11Tract Relative to the Affair of Hutchinson’s Letters, [1774] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft) and two copies, one complete and one mutilated and lacking the initial pages: Library of Congress This narrative opens quietly. Franklin explains why he has hitherto suffered in silence the political slings and arrows that have come his way, and why he is now breaking silence. Next he summarizes, more fully than anywhere else, the principles on which he has acted during the past...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Extract reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 209–10. I received the honour of yours dated October 28 with the Journals of the house and Mr. Turner’s Election Sermon. I waited on Lord Dartmouth on his return to town, and learnt that he had presented to his majesty our petition for the removal...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 210–11. I received yours of October 29, and November 2. Your December packet is not yet arrived. No insinuations of the kind you mention, concerning Mr. G—y have reached me, and if they had, it would have been without the least effect; as I have always had...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Rhoads, 5 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favours of Oct. 29 and 31, inclosing the Votes, for which I thank you. I am much obliged to the Assembly for the repeated Marks of their Confidence in me. The Great Officers of State having generally been in the Country, no public Business of consequence has for some time been transacted here. But the Parliament meets next Week, when all...
15The Preliminary Hearing before the Privy Council Committee for Plantation Affairs on the Petition from the Massachusetts … (Franklin Papers)
I: printed in [Israel Mauduit,] The Letters of Governor Thomas Hutchinson and Lieut. Governor Oliver … with the Assembly’s Address, and the Proceedings of the Lords Committee of Council … ([1st issue of 1st ed., Yale University Library;] London, 1774), pp. *77–*80 of first pagination. II: copy, Privy Council register, Public Record Office. The record of the hearing survives in two parts. One...
16From Benjamin Franklin to John Ellis, 12 January 1774 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Linnean Society, London In this same Year (1652) one Mr. Edwards, a Turky Merchant, brought home with him a Greek Servant, who understood the roasting and making of Coffee, till then unknown in England. This Servant was the first who sold Coffee, and kept a House for that purpose in London. The first Mention of Coffee in our Statute Books is Anno 1660 (12 mo Regni Car. II Cap. 24). In...
17Franklin’s Ostensible Withdrawal from the Walpole Company: Two Letters, [on or after 24 January 1774] (Franklin Papers)
I. AL : Library of Congress II. ALS : New York Public Library; draft: Library of Congress Franklin had for some time been playing a minor role in the affairs of the Walpole Company. The greater his unpopularity in Whitehall, the less the promoters of the grant wanted to emphasize his connection with them. He was well aware that he was a liability, according to William Strahan, and as early as...
18From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 2 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum This Line is just to acquaint you that I am well, and that my Office of Deputy-Postmaster is taken from me. As there is no Prospect of your being ever promoted to a better Government, and That you hold has never defray’d its Expences, I wish you were well settled in your Farm. ’Tis an honester and a more honourable because a more independent Employment. You will hear from...
19From Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts House Committee of Correspondence, 2 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library I received the Honour of your Letter dated Decr. 21. containing a distinct Account of the Proceedings at Boston relative to the Tea imported there, and of the Circumstances that occasioned its Destruction. I communicated the same to Lord Dartmouth, with some other Advices of the same Import. It is yet unknown what Measures will be taken here on the Occasion; but...
20From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 2 February 1774: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Résumé printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives … Dec. 29, 1773 [to Dec. 24, 1774] (Philadelphia, 1774), pp. 42–3. <February 2, 1774: He encloses a list of fifteen provincial acts, passed on February 26, 1773, which were presented to the King in council on January 26, 1774. > The letter was laid before the House on July 19, 1774, by Samuel Rhoads as a member of the...
21Letter from London, [on or after 7 February 1774] (Franklin Papers)
This letter and the extract from another below, February 19, seem to be companion pieces, and the signs point to Franklin as their author. They were printed in newspapers a few days apart, one in Boston and the other in Philadelphia, and describe the scene at the Cockpit in terms that frequently echo what the agent wrote to Cushing on February 15. The present letter, in fact, is little more...
22From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Tucker, 12 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: Library of Congress Being informed by a Friend that some severe Strictures on my Conduct and Character had appeared in a new Book published under your respectable Name, I purchased and read it. After thanking you sincerely for those Parts of it that [are so] instructive on Points of great Importance to the common Interests of mankind, permit [me to] complain, that if by...
23From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Noble, 14 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bearer, William Brown, being bred to the Tanning Business, is desirous of trying his Fortune in America. He is well recommended to me as a sober honest and diligent young Man. If it may not be inconvenient to you to afford him Employment as a Journeyman, I shall consider it as a Favour to me. The Soles you were so kind as to send me have now been in...
24From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 15[–19]? February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society , first series, III (1794), 109–16. I Wrote a line to you by the last packet, just to acquaint you there had been a hearing on our petition. I shall now give you the history of it as succinctly as I can. We had long imagined that the king would have considered that petition as he had done the preceding one in his cabinet, and...
25The Reply of Homo Trium Literarum, 16 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , February 16, 1774. This is one of the many contributions to the press that may or may not have been Franklin’s. The only evidence is internal, and it supports nothing more than the most tentative conclusion. One bit of evidence that he was the author is the signature: who would assume the character of Wedderburn’s victim except the victim himself? Who else,...
26From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 17 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Mrs. Edward M. Korry, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. (1976); ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I received Yours of Nov. 20, 30, Dec. 28 and Jan. 1. Before this gets to hand you will have heard that I am displaced, and consequently have it n[o longer] in my Power to assist you in your Views relating [to the Post Office and as things ar]e, I would not wish to see you [concern’d in it. For...
27From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 17 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Letter of Dec. 11. and rejoice to hear of your Welfare and easy Situation. You will hear before this comes to hand, that I am depriv’d of my Office. Don’t let this give you any Uneasiness. You and I have almost finished the Journey of Life; we are now but a little way from home, and have enough in our Pockets to pay the Post...
28From Benjamin Franklin to John Antill, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society Before I had an Opportunity of answering your Letter, I was displac’d from my Office, which puts it out of my Power to do you any Service in what you propose, and makes a more particular Answer unnecessary. I will however speak with Mr. Potts concerning his Letter, and acquaint you with the Result. Present my Best Respects to Mr. and Mrs....
29From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Nicholls Colden, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received yours of Dec. 2. and Jany. 5. inclosing the following Bills, viz. Taylor on Goddard £37 10 s. 0 d. Stute on Bogle, Somerville & Co. 31 4 s. 2½ d. Mitchell on Todd 50 4 s.
30From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 18 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society; minutebook copy: Library Company of Philadelphia I duly receiv’d your Favour of Decr. 28. and immediately order’d the Books of your Invoice to be collected. I hope they will be ready to go by one of these Ships. If not you may expect them by the next. It is said the new Edition of the Encyclopedia may be expected in about two Years. I...