183201To George Washington from George Mason, 29 July 1752 (Washington Papers)
I came Home ⟨ mutilated ⟩ Yesterday, when I re⟨ mutilated ⟩ Me with the time of Yr Brother ⟨ mutilated ⟩ neral, & desiring my Attendance. I am very sorry it did not come to ⟨ mutilated ⟩ Hands sooner; had I known it in ⟨ mutilated ⟩ I wou’d by no means have refused the last peice of Respect to the Memory of a Gentleman, for whom, when alive, I had a sincere Regard. I most heartily condole You...
183202From Benjamin Franklin to Susanna Wright, 11 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. David H. Stockton, Princeton, N.J. (1960) I should sooner have answered your Favour of the 27th past, but that I have been in daily Expectation of getting home the Piece you desired which is lent to a Friend. I hope to have it ready for the next Post. In the mean time I send you two Pamphlets in which you will have the Pleasure to see a most impudent Imposture detected, and the...
183203Order of the Mayor and Aldermen Concerning the Constabulary and Watch, 7 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society About 1735, according to his autobiography, Franklin read a paper to the Junto on the inadequacies of the Philadelphia city watch and proposed a tax-supported permanent watch. Though his scheme was approved by the Junto and its sister clubs, nothing came of it. The conditions Franklin criticized continued to worsen; and in 1743 the Grand Jury presented the...
183204To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 7 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of my Dear friends Letter of 21 March last with a Guinea Inclosed but as I have Cash in hand I returned It by Moses Bartram. The Electrical Experiments have some thing very surprising in them, as all have. Those our Friend Cave Intends to add to thy book as a Supplement and then the Erratas may be added. Before they are printed, Wee shall...
183205To Benjamin Franklin from Jonas Green, 4 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania We have had for 3 or 4 Days past, most extreme hot Weather: I heartily pity those who are now down with the Small Pox at Boston; since my Remembrance I think I never heard of such a distressing Time in our native Country. A Gentleman desired me to write to you to correct in the description of the Roads Southwestward, instead of [To Hoe’s Ferry 20] say...
183206Remarks on the Proprietors’ Instructions to Governor Hamilton, 2 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Pennsylvania Hospital July 2, 1752 This document, composed by Franklin and Israel Pemberton, is omitted here for the reason stated above, p. 111; but is printed, with editorial annotation, in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital , May 1754, in the next volume.
183207From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 2 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I have sent you via New York 24 of your Books, bound as those I sent you per Post. The Remainder of the 50 are binding in a plainer Manner, and shall be sent as soon as done, and left at Mr. Stuyvesant’s as you order. Our Academy, which you so kindly enquire after, goes on well. Since Mr. Martin’s Death, the Latin and Greek School has been under the Care of...
183208Joshua Crosby to Thomas Hyam and Silvanus Bevan, 2 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Pennsylvania Hospital July 2, 1752 This document, drafted by Franklin and Israel Pemberton, is omitted here for the reason stated above, p. 111; but is printed, with editorial annotation, in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital, May 1754, in the next volume.
183209From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 20 June 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received yours of Jan. 17. with the two Vols. of Viner, in good Order: but the Ship proving leaky, the Water got into the Box containing poor Sally’s Dressing Glass, by which means the Glue being dissolved, the Frame parted, the Glass dropt out and broke to pieces, and the Wood Work is so twisted and cast out of Shape in drying again, that nothing...
183210Release from Lawrence Washington, 17 June 1752 (Washington Papers)
17 June 1752. “This Indenture . . . Between Lawrence Washington of the County of Fairfax . . . and George Washington of the County of King George . . . in Consideration of the Natural Love & affection which he hath and Doth bear unto his Loving Brother George Washington hath Remised Released and forever quit claim . . . unto the said George Washington and to his heirs forever, all the Right...
183211From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 10 June 1752 (Washington Papers)
Being impatient to know Colo. Fitzhugh’s result; I went to Maryland as I returned Home He is willing to accept of the Adjutancy of the Northern Neck, if he can obtain it on the terms he proposes; which he hardly expects will be granted Him: The inclosed is his Letter, wherein I believe he inform’s of his intention. He told Me, he would, when conveniency admitted, build a House in Virginia, at...
183212To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 8 June 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have read the first Chapter of Dr. Colden’s piece on Gravitation which you was so good as to inclose in yours of the 14th. Ult. and endeavoured to understand it, but with as little Success as yourself. I have ventured notwithstanding to make in the margin a few remarks on several passages, which detach’d from the rest I tho’t I understood; but it is...
183213Pennsylvania Hospital: Report of the Weekly Committee, 4 June 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Pennsylvania Hospital During our months visitation John Poor being cured, was discharged; and Katherine Shannon’s child being also cured, she was discharged with the Child. It was agreed to admit Angus McDonnel a dropsical person, if his friends will engage to indemnify the hospital and City from all charges that may accrue on his death or removal to the place of his residence. It...
183214To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 3 June 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you before possibly you may receive Two Letters by one Ship—for here is Two Just going together and I cannot say whitch had my First. This serves to thank you for your favour of March 20th with the sundry Curious Articles besides. Greewood has been with Mee. I have recommended him to your Proprietor who Desires much to see Him, and does not...
183215From Benjamin Franklin to Abiah Franklin, [April 1752–May 1752] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 20–1. We received by this post both your letters of April 13th and 20th. The account you give of poor little Biah grieves me, but I still hope the best. However, God’s will must be done. I rejoice that the rest of sister’s children and brother...
183216From Benjamin Franklin to Edward and Jane Mecom, 21 May 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 22–3. I received yours with the affecting news of our dear good mother’s death. I thank you for your long continued care of her in her old age and sickness. Our distance made it impracticable for us to attend her, but you have supplied all. She...
183217To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 20 May 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society I received yours of the 23d of April as I was going on board the sloop in my return home from New York and could not take the pleasure of reading it before I left that place. One so much conversant in examining any particular Phoenomenon or of various Phoenomena arising from the same cause must on every occasion give the pleasure of learning something new to...
183218Guillaume Mazéas to Stephen Hales, 20 May 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , XLVII (1751–52), 534–6. The favour done me by the Royal Society obliging me to interest myself in whatsoever concerns their honour, I beg you will communicate the following account. The Philadelphian experiments, that Mr. Collinson, a member of the Royal Society, was so kind as to communicate to the public, having been universally...
183219From George Washington to William Fauntleroy, 20 May 1752 (Washington Papers)
I shou’d have been down long before this but my business in Frederick detain’d me somewhat longer than I expected and imediately upon my return from thence I was taken with a Violent Pleurisie which has reduced me very low but purpose as soon as I recover my strength to wait on Miss Betcy, in hopes of a revocation of the former, cruel sentence, and see if I can meet with ⟨any alter⟩ation in my...
183220From Benjamin Franklin to James Bowdoin, 14 May 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; transcript: Massachusetts Historical Society I deferred answering yours of March 16th in hopes of finding one of the first Edition of Dr. Coldens Pieces, which you seem’d desirous to see. I have not been able to get a compleat one, but enclose you some Sheets which the Dr. sent me when it was in the Press. I endeavoured to understand it, and to that End made a few Remarks...
183221From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 14 May 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I find Parker has been indiscreet enough, to print a Piece in his Paper, which has brought him into a great deal of Trouble. I cannot conceive how he was prevail’d on to do it, as I know him to be a thorough Believer himself, and averse to every thing that is commonly called Freethinking. He is now much in his Penitentials, and requests me to intercede with...
183222Thomas-François Dalibard: Report of an Experiment with Lightning, 13 May 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Thomas-François Dalibard, Expériences et Observations sur L’Electricité faites à Philadelphie en Amérique par M. Benjamin Franklin; … (2d edit., Paris, 1756), II , 99–125. (Yale University Library) In “Opinions and Conjectures,” July 29, 1750, Franklin made the first public suggestion by any investigator that the electrical nature of lightning could be proved experimentally. The...
183223From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 23 April 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; also draft: American Philosophical Society In considering your Favour of the 16th. past, I recollected my having wrote you Answers to some Queries concerning the Difference between Electrics per se, and Non Electrics, and the Effects of Air in Electrical Experiments, which I apprehend you may not have received. The Date I have forgot. We have been us’d to...
183224To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 28 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have your kind Letter of 24: Instant and thank your care in sending forward the snake root to Boston. I am glad your Apparatus got so safe to hand as it did. I am sorry and ask pardon for the misfortune that happend to the Globe the repairing of which I wou’d thankfully pay. I am but lately recoverd of a pretty smart attack of a Fever. When I...
183225Deed of Settlement of the Philadelphia Contributionship, 25 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire In 1750 Franklin, Philip Syng, and Hugh Roberts had led the Union Fire Company (see above, II , 150) in an abortive effort to raise an insurance fund “to make up the Damage that may Arise by Fire among this Company.” Articles were drafted and discussed; Franklin had them engrossed; and in November they were...
183226To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Preston Moore and Hannah Moore: Deed, 25 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society; also transcript: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia March 25, 1752 Abstract: By indenture of June 2, 1720, Samuel Preston, and Anthony Morris, Jr., and Phoebe his wife granted to Richard Hill a lot on High Street, Philadelphia, between Third and Fourth Streets, 33 ft. broad and 306 ft. long, bounded on the north by High Street,...
183227From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 21 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly , lxi (1888), 29. I wrote to you in the Winter via New York, for a few Books, and sent a 2d Bill of £30 Barbados Currency. The first is enclos’d. I hope it came to Hand Time enough for you to meet with the Gentleman and get the Money. He is Capt. of a Ship, and was to be found in the New England Coffee House, but probably may be gone before you...
183228From Benjamin Franklin to Ebenezer Kinnersley, 16 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Supplemental Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Part II . … (London, 1753), pp. 103–6. (Yale University Library) Having brought your brimstone globe to work, I try’d one of the experiments you proposed, and was agreeably surprized to find, that the glass globe being at one end of the conductor, and the sulphur globe at the other end, both globes in...
183229To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 16 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society According to promise in my last, I now return you Dr. Colden’s Letter, for communicating which I am greatly obliged to you. The Dr. dissenting from you, is of opinion, that Sea Clouds are less electrified than Land Clouds, and gives the reasons of his opinion “That Salt, tho’ an Electric per se, is never raised in Sea-vapours, therefore Sea-Clouds are...
183230To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 16 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society Last fall I acknowleged from New York the favour you did me in sending me a copy of your Electrical experiments. The oftener I read them over the more I am pleased with them and every time discover some thing new which I had not taken notice of at the first reading. In my opinion no set of experiments which I have read lead so directly towards discovering the...
183231Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 7 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1751–1752 (Philadelphia, 1752), pp. 36–7. The Assembly passed a bill to re-emit and continue in currency the existing bills of credit and to issue an additional £40,000 in paper money; and sent it to Governor Hamilton for approval on Feb. 26, 1752. The governor and Council unanimously disapproved, and Hamilton gave their reason...
183232From Benjamin Franklin to Ebenezer Kinnersley, 2 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Supplemental Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Part II . … (London, 1753), p. 102. (Yale University Library) I thank you for the experiments communicated. I sent immediately for your brimstone globe, in order to make the trials you desired, but found it wanted centers, which I have not time now to supply; but the first leisure I will get it fitted for...
183233To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 2 March 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I have received your favour of the 24th. January past, inclosing an Extract from your Letter to Mr. Collinson and Dr. Colden’s Letter to yourself, which I have read with a great deal of pleasure, and am much obliged to you for. Your Extract confirms a correction Mr. Kinnersley made a few days ago of a mistake I was under respecting the polarity given to...
183234To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 17 February 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The last post brought me yours of 11: Currant and in another packet 2 of your papers of 28: of January and 11: February and which I desire may be regularly sent me for the future. I am thankfull that you will send to Mr. Ebenezer Holmes by the first Vessel to Boston Two Pounds of the right Virginia rattle snake root not Seneka root as you call...
183235To Benjamin Franklin from John Perkins, 17 February 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your Bill by the last Post and thank you for it as I do likewise for the Pamphlets last Summer. It was a sincere pleasure to me to see good Dr. Thompson so well defended by his generous Friend Dr. Hamilton. I am much pleas’d with both these Gentlemen’s Performances. I beg’d your Plain Truth of Mrs. Mecom a few Weeks since which I had never seen...
183236From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 11 February 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your Favour per my Son, and return my Thanks for your kind Entertainment of him at your House. I delivered yours to my Friend Bartram, and enclose you his Answer; he is much pleased with the Prospect of a Continued Correspondence with you: is a Man of no Letters, but a curious Observer of Nature. I like very well the Paragraph you propose to insert...
183237To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 3 February 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The 20th Ulti I returnd you my thanks for your kind respect in the service of your Electrical Apparatus and which I hope before this is got well to your hands. I am again thankfull for your Respect in yours of 25th: January. Mr. Samuel Smith of Burlington tells me the first time he goes to Philadelphia he will pay you what I am in your debt to...
183238To Benjamin Franklin from Ebenezer Kinnersley, 3 February 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Supplemental Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Part II . … (London, 1753), pp. 99–101. (Yale University Library) I have the following experiments to communicate: I held in one hand a wire, which was fasten’d at the other end to the handle of a pump, in order to try whether the stroke from the prime conductor, through my arms, would be any greater, than...
183239To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Johnson, [January 1752?] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society I now make my Thankful Acknowledgment for your 2 kind Letters of Decr. 24, and Janry. 8. I have reviewed your most obliging Letters of the Summer before last to which you refer me. There was one of Augst. 23 to which I did not make a particular Reply by reason of my Illness at that time. In that you reasoned I own in a very forceable manner upon the head of...
183240Notice to Subscribers, 25 January 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Die Hoch Teutsche und Englische Zeitung, January 25, 1752. Die Hoch Teutsche und Englische Zeitung was Franklin’s second attempt at publishing a German newspaper in Philadelphia, and it was only a little less unsuccessful than the first. When Gotthard Armbrüster’s German paper failed in 1749, Franklin bought the equipment, placed Johann Boehm in charge, and the Philadelphier...
183241From Benjamin Franklin to James Bowdoin, 24 January 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I am glad to learn by your Favour of the 21st past, that Mr. Kinnersley’s Lectures have been acceptable to the Gentlemen of Boston, and are like to prove serviceable to himself. I thank you for the Countenance and Encouragement you have so kindly afforded my Fellow-Citizen. I send you enclos’d an Extract of a Letter containing the Substance of what I...
183242To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 20 January 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I wrote you a few lines the 18th: of last month telling you of the misfortune that had befell your Electrical Globe. I have however made some use of the rest of the Apparatus and with Mr. Burr’s assistance have been electrifyd several times but at present without any alteration in my Nervous disorder. As Mr. Burr has such another Apparatus as...
183243Pennsylvania Hospital: Law for Regulating the Elections of Managers and Treasurers, 17 January 1752 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Pennsylvania Hospital January 17, 1752 This document, drafted by Joshua Crosby, Thomas Bond, John Smith, Hugh Roberts, and Franklin, is omitted here for the reason stated above, p. 111; but is printed, with editorial annotation, in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital , May 1754, in the next volume.
183244Poor Richard Improved, 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris … for the Year of our Lord 1751 . … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall. (Yale University Library) Astrology is one of the most ancient Sciences, had in high Esteem of old, by the Wise and Great. Formerly, no Prince would make War or Peace, nor any General fight a Battle, in short, no...
183245Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind, 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in [William Clarke], Observations On the late and present Conduct of the French, with Regard to their Encroachments upon the British Colonies in North America. … To which is added, wrote by another Hand; Observations concerning the Increase of Mankind, Peopling of Countries,&c. Boston: Printed and Sold by S. Kneeland in Queen-Street. 1755. (Yale University Library) The “immediate...
183246Physical and Meteorological Observations, Conjectures, and Suppositions, 1751 (Franklin Papers)
AD (incomplete): American Philosophical Society; draft: Library of Congress; printed in Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LV (1765), 182–92; and Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 182–92. This paper, read in the Royal Society on December 23, 1756, though not printed until 1765, is quite likely the one Franklin told James Bowdoin on...
183247From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 24 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote you at large per My Son, in answer to your former Favours, and sent you an Extract of Mr. Collinson’s Letter, who much admires your Tracts on Husbandry. Herewith you will receive a Manuscript of a Friend of Mr. Collinson’s, and a printed Book; which you may keep till Spring, and then return to me: I believe they will afford you Pleasure. I send you also...
183248From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 24 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I received your Favour of the 11th Inst. and thank you for the Hint you give of the Omission in the Idea. The Sacred Classics are read in the English School, tho’ I forgot to mention them: And I shall propose at the Meeting of the Schools after the Holidays, that the English Master begin and continue to read select Portions of them daily with the Prayers, as...
183249Deborah Franklin to Margaret Strahan, 24 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am ordored by my master to write for sum books for Salley Franklin. I am in hopes shee will be abel to write her selfe by the Spring. My Dafter Gives her Duty to Mr. Strayhon and his Lady and her Compleyments to Master Billey and all his Brothers and Sisters. My Son is Gon to Boston on a Visit to his friends. I supose Mr. Franklin will write him Selfe. Mr. and...
183250To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 21 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Massachusetts Historical Society The Experiments Mr. Kennersley has exhibited here, have been greatly pleasing to all sorts of people, that have seen them; and I hope by the time he returns to Philadelphia, his Tour this way will turn to good account. His Experiments are very curious, and I think, prove most effectually your doctrine of Electricity: that it is a real Element annexed to,...