131A Letter to a Friend in the Country, [25 September 1735] (Franklin Papers)
A Letter to a Friend in the Country, Containing the Substance of a Sermon Preach’d at Philadelphia, in the Congregation of The Rev. Mr. Hemphill, Concerning the Terms of Christian and Ministerial Communion. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin at the New Printing-Office near the Market. 1735. (Yale University Library) The Pennsylvania Gazette advertised September 18 that this sermon...
132A Defense of Mr. Hemphill’s Observations, [30 October 1735] (Franklin Papers)
A Defence Of the Rev. Mr. Hemphill’s Observations: or, an Answer to the Vindication of the Reverend Commission. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin at the New Printing-Office near the Market. 1735. (Boston Public Library) Franklin’s Observations on the Proceedings against the Rev. Mr. Hemphill (see above, pp. 37–65) was answered by A Vindication of the Reverend Commission of the...
133[Of the Usefulness of Mathematics, 30 October 1735] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , October 30, 1735. First reprinted by Duane ( Works , IV , 377) and later by William Temple Franklin, Sparks, and Bigelow, but not by Smyth, this essay is omitted here for lack of evidence of Franklin’s authorship. See above, I , 170. Julius F. Sachse asserted, without indicating authority or evidence, that it was originally delivered by Franklin before the...
134Shop Book, 1735–39 (Franklin Papers)
MS Account Book: American Philosophical Society The Shop Book is a manuscript volume and business record like the Journal (see above, I , 172). It covers the period from November 14, 1735, to August 3, 1739, with the number of entries falling off sharply after 1736. The cover bears, in addition to doodlings, the words “Shop Book 1738” and the name of Deborah Franklin; Benjamin Franklin’s name...
135Advice to a Pretty Creature and Replies, 20 and 27 November 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 20 and 27, 1735. Mr. Franklin, Pray let the prettiest Creature in this Place know, (by publishing this) That if it was not for her Affectation, she would be absolutely irresistible. The little Epistle in our last, has produced no less than six, which follow in the order we receiv’d ’em. Mr. Franklin, I cannot conceive who your Correspondent means...
136[Of True Happiness, 20 November 1735] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 20, 1735 Reprinted by Duane twice with minor variations ( Works , IV , 350–2, 372–4), and later by William Temple Franklin, Sparks, and Bigelow but not by Smyth, this essay is omitted here for the reasons explained above, I , 170.
137[On Human Vanity, 11 December 1735] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 11, 1735. Duane printed this essay ( Works , IV , 346–50), but later editors have not followed his lead. Except for a completely rewritten first paragraph and minor verbal changes this piece first appeared in The Free-Thinker : or, Essays of Wit and Humour , April 24, 1719, as Alfred Owen Aldridge has shown in “The Sources of Franklin’s ‘The...
138Preface to Cato’s Moral Distichs, [18 December 1735] (Franklin Papers)
Cato’s Moral Distichs Englished in Couplets. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, 1735. Pp. iii–iv. (Yale University Library) The Printer to the Reader . The Manuscript Copy of this Translation of Cato’s Moral Distichs , happened into my Hands some Time since, and being my self extreamly pleased with it, I thought it might be no less acceptable to the Publick; and therefore...
139Poor Richard, 1736 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1736. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1736 , ... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) Your kind Acceptance of my former Labours, has encouraged me to continue writing, tho’ the general Approbation you have been so good as to favour me with, has excited the Envy of some,...
140Afterword to Every Man His Own Doctor, 1736 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in [John Tennent], Every Man his own Doctor: or, The Poor Planter’s Physician .... The Fourth Edition. Philadelphia: printed and Sold by B. Franklin, near the Market, M,DCC,XXXVI. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania) In 1734 Franklin reprinted John Tennent’s Every Man his own Doctor , which had been published earlier that year in a “second edition” in Williamsburg, Va. Franklin may...
141Extracts from the Gazette, 1736 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 6 to December 30, 1736. [ Advertisement ] This is to certify, that I Robert Jesson, late Merchant of Philadelphia, having been afflicted with a Dropsey, insomuch that my Life was despaired of, am now effectualy cured by an Elixir which Mr. Edward Jones of this City, Gent. has the Secret of making. In Gratitude for the Favour, and for the Benefit of...
142[On Government, 1 and 8 April 1736] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 1 and 8, 1736. The first two essays of an untitled series on government which ran in the Gazette from April 1 to June 10, 1736, were reprinted by Duane ( Works , IV , 340–6) in the apparent belief that Franklin wrote them. Sparks also included the two essays ( Works , ii, 278–84), but pointed out that he had no reason for assuming that Franklin was...
143On Amplification, 17 June 1736 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 17, 1736. Amplification, or the Art of saying Little in Much , seems to be principally studied by the Gentlemen Retainers to the Law. ’Tis highly useful when they are to speak at the Bar; for by its Help, they talk a great while, and appear to say a great deal, when they have really very little to say. But ’tis principally us’d in Deeds and every...
144[On Discoveries, 14 October 1736] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , October 14, 1736. Reprinted by Duane ( Works , IV , 374–7) and later by William Temple Franklin, Sparks, and Bigelow, but not by Smyth (see above, I , 170), this essay, as Alfred Owen Aldridge has shown, originally appeared in The Prompter , a London literary periodical, June 11, 1736. It was reprinted, without the opening paragraph and with other...
145[The Waste of Life, 18 November 1736] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 18, 1736. First printed by Duane ( Works , IV , 367–70) and later by William Temple Franklin, Sparks, and Bigelow, but not by Smyth, this essay is omitted here for the reasons given above, I, 170.
146Articles of the Union Fire Company, 7 December 1736 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minute Book, Union Fire Company: Library Company of Philadelphia The seventh Day of December , in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and thirty six, WE whose Names are hereunto subscribed, reposing special Confidence in each others Friendship, Do, for the better preserving our Goods and Effects from Fire, mutually agree in Manner following, That is to say . 1. That we will each...
147On the Death of His Son, 30 December 1736 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 30, 1736. Understanding ’tis a current Report, that my Son Francis, who died lately of the Small Pox, had it by Inoculation; and being desired to satisfy the Publick in that Particular; inasmuch as some People are, by that Report (join’d with others of the like kind, and perhaps equally groundless) deter’d from having that Operation perform’d on...
148Poor Richard, 1737 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1737. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1737 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) This is the fifth Time I have appear’d in Publick, chalking out the future Year for my honest Countrymen, and foretelling what shall, and what may, and what may not come to pass; in...
149From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 1737 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Having read the Chapter on Moral Good or Virtue, with all the Attention I am Capable of, amidst the many little Cares that Continually infest me, I shall, as the Author Condescends to desire, give my Opinion of it, and that with all Sincerity and Freedom, neither apprehending the Imputation of Flattery on the one hand, nor that of Ill Manners on the...
150Extracts from the Gazette, 1737 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 6 to December 29, 1737. Thursday Evening last [ should be Wednesday, Dec. 29], the Weather being very cold and clear, we had a fair and surprizing Appearance of the Aurora Borealis , or Northern Twilight . It was more red and luminous than that which we saw here about Six Years ago: Insomuch that People in the Southern Parts of the Town, imagin’d...
151The Drinker’s Dictionary, 13 January 1737 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 13, 1736/7. In his Silence Dogood Letter, No. 12 (see above, I , 39) Franklin listed nineteen terms signifying drunkenness. Fifteen of them, some with slight changes, appear in The Drinker’s Dictionary. This congruity is the principal reason for attributing the piece to Franklin. Nothing more like a Fool than a drunken Man. Poor Richard. ’Tis an...
152Philadelphia Post Office Record Books, 1737–53 (Franklin Papers)
Seven MS record books: American Philosophical Society “In 1737,” Franklin wrote in his autobiography, “Col. Spotswood, late Governor of Virginia, and then Post-master, General, being dissatisfied with the Conduct of his Deputy at Philadelphia, respecting some Negligence in rendering, and Inexactitude of his Accounts, took from him the Commission and offered it to me. I accepted it readily, and...
153[On Freedom of Speech and the Press, 17 November 1737] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 17, 1737, and following issues. Duane ( Works , IV , 319–40) and, on his authority, though less certain, Sparks ( Writings , ii, 285–311), printed this long historical essay with its examples drawn mainly from Roman and English history. It is signed “X.” No evidence, internal or external, persuades the present editors that Franklin wrote it.
154[Causes of Earthquakes, 15 and 22 December 1737] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 15 and 22, 1737. An earthquake felt in the Middle Colonies on December 7, 1737, was the occasion for publishing these essays. Duane printed them ( Works , IV , 380–91), as did Sparks and Bigelow, but Alfred Owen Aldridge has shown them to be almost verbatim reprints from Chambers’ Cyclopaedia; or, an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences .......
155Poor Richard, 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1738. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1738 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) My good Man set out last Week for Potowmack, to visit an old Stargazer of his Acquaintance, and see about a little Place for us to settle and end our Days on. He left the Copy of his...
156Extracts from the Gazette, 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 3 to December 28, 1738. [ Advertisement ] To accommodate the Publick . There will be a Stage Waggon set out from Trenton to Brunswick, twice a Week and back again, during next Summer. It will be fitted up with Benches and cover’d over so that Passengers may sit easy and dry. And Care will be taken to deliver Goods and Messages safe. Note. The said...
157A Defense of Conduct, 15 February 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 15, 1737/8. Dr. Evan Jones, “chymist” at the Golden Paracelsus’ Head in Philadelphia, had a simple-minded apprentice Daniel Rees, who thought he wanted to be a Mason. With several cronies, one a renegade Mason, Jones, thinking to have some agreeable sport, set up a burlesque initiation ceremony, complete with scandalous oath of allegiance to...
158From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah and Abiah Franklin, 13 April 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have your Favour of the 21st of March in which you both seem concern’d lest I have imbib’d some erroneous Opinions. Doubtless I have my Share, and when the natural Weakness and Imperfection of Human Understanding is considered, with the unavoidable Influences of Education, Custom, Books and Company, upon our Ways of thinking, I imagine a Man must...
159From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Franklin, [May 1738?] (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Letter of the 4th of May in answer to mine of April 13. I wrote that of mine with a Design to remove or lessen the Uneasiness you and my Mother appear’d to be under on Account of my Principles; and it gave me great Pleasure when she declar’d in her next to me that she approv’d of my Letter and was now satisfy’d with me....
160Agreement of Directors of Library Company, 22 May 1738 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Massachusetts Historical Society We the Subscribers, Directors of the Library Company for the current Year, do agree to attend all our appointed Meetings, at ½ an Hour past Eight in the Evening until the first Meeting in August inclusive, And from that Time ’till November at Eight in the Evening And from that Time ’till May ensuing at Seven in the Evening, And that for every Failure we...
161From Benjamin Franklin to John Ladd, 12 June 1738 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Historical Society of Haddonfield (N.J.) I send you the Ladies Library and the other two Vols. of Don Quixote. The Homers I have are done by Pope. The Iliads are in 6 Vols. 12mo price 45 s. The Odysseys 5 Vols. 12mo price 37 s. 6 d. I will not part with them till I hear from you. I am Sir Your most humble Servant John Ladd (d. 1770), of Gloucester Co., N.J.; surveyor; justice of...
162Directors of Library Company to John Penn, 8 August 1738 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minute Book: Library Company of Philadelphia The Library Company of Philadelphia beg leave to return their most hearty Thanks for your noble Benefaction of an Air Pump with its costly and curious Apparatus. Useful and necessary as that excellent Invention must be to a Society whose View is the Improvement of Knowledge, we might have been long without this Advantage if your judicious...
163To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Morgan, 5 October 1738 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society If my Manuscripts be not gone before this comes to you; I have one Small Amendment (which happened thro’ too much hast). It is not far from the beginning, where I compare the Heat on Jupiter and the Earth. In Stead of Jupiter near 100 times as large in its Face to the Sun; it should be above 100 times &c. This yet makes my Argument the better. However it matters not...
164To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Morgan, 11 October 1738 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society Please to fasten this to the Manuscript of Philosophy. And if it be gone, be so kind as to inclose it to the Royal Society by another Ship. You will oblige Your Friend and Servant Addressed: Mr Benjamin Franklin Post Master in Philadelphia A Second The additions referred to, written on the back of the letter, were to be attached to the MS mentioned in Morgan’s letter...
165From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Corin, 22 December 1738 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Please to let the Bearer Stephen Potts have a pair of Leather Breeches, and charge them to the Account of your Friend Isaac Corin’s account with BF appears in Ledger D (see below, p. 232). He inserted an advertisement for a runaway servant in Pa. Gaz. , Sept. 23, 1731. Stephen Potts (d. 1758) was a member of the Junto, a book-binder, bookseller, and in his...
166Poor Richard, 1739 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1739. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1739 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) Encouraged by thy former Generosity, I once more present thee with an Almanack, which is the 7th of my Publication. While thou art putting Pence in my Pocket, and furnishing my Cottage...
167Extracts from the Gazette, 1739 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 4 to December 27, 1739. [ Advertisement ] Benjamin Franklin, Printer, is removed from the House he lately dwelt in, four Doors nearer the River, on the same side of the Street. [January 11] We hear from the Head of Timber-Creek in the Jerseys, That a Woman there has lately had Five Children, all born alive, within the space of 11 Months, by two...
168Subscription to Christ Church, 7 May 1739 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Dorr, A Historical Account of Christ Church, Philadelphia (New York and Philadelphia, 1841), pp. 71–2. Whereas, the Episcopal church of Philadelphia, having been long built, and much out of repair, as well as too small for the convenient seating of the congregation, it was therefore resolved, by two several vestries, in the year seventeen hundred...
169To Benjamin Franklin from Josiah Franklin, 26 May 1739 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Duane, Works , I , 4–5. As to the original of our name there is various opinions; some say that it came from a sort of title of which a book, that you bought when here, gives a lively account. Some think we are of a French extract, which was formerly called Franks; some of a free line; a line free from that vassalage which was common to subjects in days of old:...
170Ledger D, 1739–47 (Franklin Papers)
MS Account Book: American Philosophical Society Ledger D, like Ledger A & B (see above, I , 172), throws a fitful light on Franklin’s income, especially from his printing business, and contains incidental information, usually trivial but sometimes significant, on the purchases of some 900 of his customers. A tall, narrow book of 400 pages, bound in parchment, Ledger D contains accounts of...
171To Benjamin Franklin from Simon Meredith, 29 July 1739 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Please to let my Son Hugh Meredith have the Sum of Eight pounds and place the Same to the Account of your Real Friend And very Humble Servant [ Receipted: ] Receiv’d the above Eight Pounds per me July 30. 1739 [ Receipted: ] Borrowed and receiv’d also of Benjamin Franklin Six pounds more per me £6. —. — Father of BF ’s former partner, Hugh Meredith. See...
172To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Spotswood, 12 October 1739 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 11, 1740. The Part which your Predecessor, Mr. Andrew Bradford, has acted with respect to the Post-Office Accompts, is no longer to be born with . The Deputy Post-Masters in Great-Britain account every two Months with the General Post-Office there; and I am obliged every half Year to have the Accounts of the General Post-Office in...
173Poor Richard, 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1740. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1740 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) You may remember that in my first Almanack, published for the Year 1733, I predicted the Death of my dear Friend Titan Leeds, Philomat. to happen that Year on the 17th Day of October, 3...
174Extracts from the Gazette, 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 3 to December 25, 1740. We hear from Georgia by Way of New-York, that the Reverend Mr. Whitefield arrived there in good Health, about the 20th of January; and that he had immediately set 30 Hands to Work about the Orphan House. [February 28] The News of the taking of Porto Bello is confirm’d from all Parts, but the Accounts of the Action are so...
175To Benjamin Franklin from William Dewees, Jr., 26 January 1740 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Sent you Last week 7½ Reemes of Large Printing Paper and 8 Reemes of Brown Ditto and Now Send you by the Same Barrer 12 Ditto of Corse printing which I would have you Place to the Cr. of Yours William Dewees, Jr. ( c. 1712–1777), operated a paper mill in Cresham township on the Wissahickon near Philadelphia after 1736. BF’S accounts with him are in Ledger...
176Note on Closing the Concert Room, 8 May 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette May 8, 1740. Dancing parties and concerts by a musical club, both taking place in a room kept by the dancing-master Robert Bolton, gave pleasure to some of Philadelphia’s wealthier citizens. But to George Whitefield and his enthusiastic followers music and dancing were “devilish diversions” and, as such, should be suppressed. Accordingly his traveling...
177Statement of Editorial Policy, 24 July 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , July 24, 1740. George Whitefield’s doctrine and eloquence had sensational effects throughout the colonies. One of those who resisted him, strongly disapproving his excessive religious emotionalism, was Ebenezer Kinnersley, a Baptist lay preacher in Philadelphia. In a sermon on July 6, 1740, Kinnersley expressed abhorrence of “Enthusiastick Ravings ... that...
178James Franklin: Indenture of Apprenticeship, 5 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form, with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society This Indenture Witnesseth, That James Franklin late of Newport in Rhodeisland, but now of Philadelphia in Pennsilvania Hath put himself, and by these Presents, doth voluntarily, and of his own free Will and Accord, put himself Apprentice to Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia, Printer to learn his Art, Trade,...
179Advertisement of the General Magazine, 13 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 13, 1740. The American Weekly Mercury , November 6, 1740, printed a long, ambitious “Plan of an Intended Magazine,” to be called The American Magazine, or A Monthly View of The Political State of the British Colonies . John Webbe, who was to be the editor, probably composed it, though it was signed by Andrew Bradford. Each issue would contain four...
180John Webbe: The Detection, 17 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , November 20, 1740. Franklin’s advertisement of the General Magazine , November 13, accused John Webbe, to whom as prospective editor he had revealed his scheme in confidence, of carrying the idea to Bradford in order to get ahead of Franklin and reap the advantage personally. Webbe responded immediately with this defense and countercharge. The second...