183401From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 12 February 1745 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Atlantic Monthly , LXI (1888), 22–3. I received your Favour per Mr. Chew dated Sept. 10, and a Copy via Boston. I received also Mr. Middleton’s pieces. I am pleased to hear that my old Acquaintance Mr. Wygate is promoted, and hope the Discovery will be compleated. I would not have you be too nice in the Choice of Pamphlets you send me. Let me have everything,...
183402Presentment of the Philadelphia Grand Jury, 3 January 1745 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania To the Worshipful the Mayor, the Recorder and the rest of the Justices of the City of Philadelphia. The Grand Jury of the said City, met at the present Sessions, do, in Compliance with the Direction of the Court, [make] the following particular Presentments of unlawful Bakehouses, Coopers Shops, Disorderly Houses, &c. but believing from the Reprimand...
183403Poor Richard, 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1744. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1744 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin. (Yale University Library) This is the Twelfth Year that I have in this Way laboured for the Benefit—of Whom?—of the Publick, if you’ll be so good-natured as to believe it; if not, e’en take the naked Truth, ’twas for the Benefit of my own dear self; not...
183404Verses from A Pocket Almanack, 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in A Pocket Almanack For the Year 1744. Fitted to the Use of Pennsylvania, and the neighbouring Provinces .... By R. Saunders, Phil. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin. (Yale University Library) The 1741 issue of A Pocket Almanack had proved so successful that Franklin continued for some years to publish it. Only about two inches by four in size, it sometimes appeared in red...
183405To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, December 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society The season of the year advancing in which our Correspondence from this place with New York becomes more uncertain and my eldest son going now to New York where he proposes to stay 8 or 10 days I hope you’l excuse my interrupting you in your Business which I know allows you little time for trifles or amusements. In your last you gave me hopes that you would...
183406Extracts from the Gazette, 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 3 to December 25, 1744. Wednesday last a Fire broke out in the Roof of a House in Second Street near the Church, but there being sufficient Help at hand, it was presently extinguished. Axes were observ’d to be of great Use; for when Holes were made in the Shingling, the Water from Engines and Buckets readily enter’d, and did ten times the Service...
183407An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-Places, [15 November 1744] (Franklin Papers)
An Account Of the New Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-Places: ... Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin. 1744. (Yale University Library) According to his autobiography, Franklin invented the Pennsylvania fireplace in 1742, but the winter of 1739–40 is a more likely date. Writing of it in the summer or fall of 1744, he says that he and his family and friends have enjoyed its warmth “for...
183408From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 2 November 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Chicago Historical Society I have wrote to you by several Opportunities to acknowledge the Receipt of yours per Mr. Hall with the Things you sent me. I have also remitted you Bills for £20.13.0. Sterl. of which you have the fourths enclos’d. I desired you to send me a Fount of about 300 wt. English and the best Newspapers and Pamphlets constantly. I hope some of my Letters have come to...
183409From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 25 October 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I communicated your Piece on Fluxions to Mr. Logan, and being at his House a few Days after, he told me, he had read it cursorily, that he thought you had not fully hit the Matter, and ( I think ) that Berkley’s Objections were well founded: but said he would read it over more attentively. Since that, he tells me there are several Mistakes in it, two of which...
183410From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 18 September 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you per Capt. Evans, and enclos’d you Bills for £20.13.0 Sterlg. of which I now send you the Seconds. I sent you also a Box containing 300 Books I had printed, and by this Ship I send you 200 Copies of our late Indian Treaty which I hope will come to hand and sell with you. I will take Books of you in Exchange for as much of them as you can [get]...
183411To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 17 September 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library I have Yours of the 13th and am glad to find by it that you have an opportunity of conversing with a Gentleman who I believe is both willing and Capable of promoting your Philosophical Design. You’l perceive by what you receive on these Sheets that I have open’d to my self a large Prospect either into Nature or into Fairyland and I have in my Imaginations made...
183412From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 13 September 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Dr. Mitchel, a Gentleman from Virginia, came to Town this Morning with Mr. Bertram, and we have been together all Day, which has hindred my Writing to you as I intended. We are to go to Mr. Logan’s tomorrow, when I shall have an Opportunity of knowing his Sentiments of your Piece on Fluxions. I am Sir Your most humble Servant Addressed: To The Honbl Cadwalr...
183413From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah and Abiah Franklin, 6 September 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I apprehend I am too busy in prescribing, and meddling in the Dr’s Sphere, when any of you complain of Ails in your Letters: But as I always employ a Physician my self when any Disorder arises in my Family and submit implicitly to his Orders in every Thing, so I hope you consider my Advice, when I give any, only as a Mark of my good Will, and put no more of...
183414From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 31 July 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library The above is a Copy of my last (via Corke). This encloses Bills for Twenty Pounds Thirteen Shillings Sterling, for which when receiv’d please to give my Account Credit, and send me by the first Ship a Fount of about 300 lb. weight of good new English Letter, which I shall want to compleat a little Printing house for our common Friend Mr. Hall. I send...
183415From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 July 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library; also duplicate: University of Pennsylvania Library I receiv’d your Favour per Mr. Hall, who arriv’d here about two Weeks since, and from the short Acquaintance I have had with him, I am persuaded he will answer perfectly the Character you had given of him. I make no doubt but his Voyage, tho’ it has been expensive, will prove advantageous to him: I have already...
183416Benjamin Franklin and Robert Grace to Elliott Benger: Bond, 25 April 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Land Office, Department of Internal Affairs, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Know all Men by these Presents, That We Benjamin Franklin Deputy-Postmaster of the City of Philada. in the Province of Pennsilvania, and Robert Grace of the same Place Merchant are Held and firmly Bound unto the Honourable Elliott Benger, Esqr; Sole Deputy-Postmaster General of all his Majesty’s Dominions in...
183417From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 5 April 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; also transcript: Library of Congress Happening to be in this City about some particular Affairs, I have the Pleasure of receiving yours of the 28th past, here. And can now acquaint you, that the Society, as far as relates to Philadelphia, is actually formed, and has had several Meetings to mutual Satisfaction; assoon as I get home, I shall send you a short...
183418Preface to Logan’s Cato Major, 29 February 1744 (Franklin Papers)
M.T. Cicero’s Cato Major, or His Discourse of Old-Age: With Explanatory Notes. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, MDCCXLIV . (Yale University Library) Franklin’s edition of James Logan’s translation of Cicero’s Cato Major is one of the best known issues of his press, and many have considered it also the handsomest. “I translated that piece,” Logan told a friend, “in the Winter of...
183419To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 26 February 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks); another transcript: American Philosophical Society I have this day read over my version of Cicero’s Cato Major in thy Print, with my Notes on it, and cannot but applaud thy care but wish thou hadst not begun in pa: 49 with Greek Letter, since thou hadst not enough of the same character to go on with it, for to this alone I must impute the failure....
183420Poor Richard, 1743 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1743. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1743 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) Because I would have every Man make Advantage of the Blessings of Providence, and few are acquainted with the Method of making Wine of the Grapes which grow wild in our Woods, I do here...
183421Bill from Alexander Annand, [December 1743] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Mr Benjamin Franklin to Alexr Annand Dr To James and William Franklins Schooling from Decr 12th 1738 [to] Decr 1739 £6 00 0 To Wms Do from Decr 12th 1739 to Decr 1743 12 00 0 To firing £1 2 s. 01 02 0 To Ovids Epistles 3 s. 00
183422Extracts from the Gazette, 1743 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 4 to December 29, 1743. On Wednesday the 5th Instant, about Two in the Morning, a Fire broke out in Water-Street, at the Blockmaker’s Shop, near the Rose and Crown; and the Chief Buildings thereabouts being Wood, it presently got to such a Head, that tho’ no Industry was wanting, it could not be mastered till 6 or 7 Dwelling Houses, besides Stores,...
183423From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 4 November 1743 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society; also transcript: Library of Congress I received the Favour of yours, with the Proposal for a new Method of Printing, which I am much pleased with: and since you express some Confidence in my Opinion, I shall consider it very attentively and particularly, and in a Post or two send you some Observations on every Article. My long Absence from home in the Summer,...
183424To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, [October 1743] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society Ever since I had the Pleasure of a Conversation with you tho very short by our accedental Meeting on the Road I have been very desirous to engage you in a Correspondence. You was pleas’d to take some notice of a Method of Printing which I mentioned to you at that time and to think it practicable. I have no further concern for it than as it may be usefull to...
183425From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 28 July 1743 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took your Admonition very kindly, and was far from being offended at you for it. If I say any thing about it to you, ’tis only to rectify some wrong Opinions you seem to have entertain’d of me, and that I do only because they give you some Uneasiness, which I am unwilling to be the Occasion of. You express yourself as if you thought I was against...
183426From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 10 July 1743 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library Mr. Read has communicated to me part of a Letter from you, recommending a young Man whom you would be glad to see in better Business than that of a Journeyman Printer. I have already three Printing-Houses in three different Colonies, and purpose to set up a fourth if I can meet with a proper Person to manage it, having all Materials ready for that purpose. If...
183427[Shavers and Trimmers; and To the Publick, 23 and 30 June 1743] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 23 and 30, 1743. The first of these pieces, to which Smyth gave the title “Shavers and Trimmers” when he reprinted both ( Writings , ii , 232–6), appeared in the Gazette , June 23, 1743. It was inspired by a barber’s advertising the week before that he intended to give up shaving and trimming to confine himself to wigmaking. The essay is a...
183428A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge, 14 May 1743 (Franklin Papers)
Broadside: Yale University Library A proposal Franklin drafted in 1743 to found an academy in Philadelphia, he wrote in his autobiography, came to nothing and was laid aside. “I succeeded better the next Year, 1744, in proposing and establishing a Philosophical Society.” Franklin did take a leading part in founding this Society, but the implications that it was his idea and that the Society...
183429Distribution of the Mail, April 1743 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society This document obviously belongs to the period of Franklin’s Philadelphia postmastership, 1737–53. The date 1743 is tentatively ascribed on the basis of a marginal note that the John , Captain Mesnard, for New York arrived at Deal on February 10. Stephen Mesnard was captain of the Britannia sailing between New York and England in 1740–41, and of the...
183430Articles of the Union Fire Company, 31 January 1743 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minute Book, Union Fire Company: Library Company of Philadelphia The Union Fire Company’s Articles of Agreement of January 31, 1743, are substantially the same as those of 1736 (see above, pp. 150–3), and will not be printed here in full. There are, however, three noteworthy differences. Article I increased the required equipment for each member from two leather buckets and four linen bags...
183431Poor Richard, 1742 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1742. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1742 ,... 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 ninth Year of my Endeavours to serve thee in the Capacity of a Calendar-Writer. The Encouragement I have met with must be ascrib’d, in a great Measure, to your Charity,...
183432I Sing My Plain Country Joan, 1742 (Franklin Papers)
MS : American Philosophical Society There can be little doubt that Franklin composed these verses to his wife. They are assigned to him in two different anecdotes, which, though the incidents described are separated by forty years, are not inconsistent. The first, from the family of Franklin’s friend John Bard, relates how, at a meeting of some club, possibly the Junto, someone jokingly took...
183433Extracts from the Gazette, 1742 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 6 to December 30, 1742. [ Advertisement ] Eben aus der Presse gekommen, Authentische Relation von dem Anlass, Fortgang und Schlusse der am 1sten und 2ten Januarii Anno 1741, 2. in Germantown gehaltenen. Versammlung einiger Arbeiter derer meisten Christlichen Religionen und vieler vor sich selbst Gott-dienenden Christen-Menschen in Pennsylvania;...
183434Card to the Public, 23 September 1742 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , September 23, 1742. It being asserted in a printed Paper, directed to the Freeholders of Pennsylvania , that the Assembly had concealed the State of the publick Accounts from the People, by artfully deferring the Publication of their Minutes, in order to prevent a Detection of some suppos’d Mismanagement of the publick Money; I think I owe this Justice to...
183435To Benjamin Franklin from Jacob Spicer, 20 September 1742 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The difficulty I have Labour’d under Some time in the management of my Fathers affairs, for want of giving publick notice, Obliges me to desire you would Insert the advertisement Inclos’d, and for defraying the Charge thereof, I have also Inclos’d Five Shillings, if I mistake not the usual Sum that is Generally given for Services of that Kind, But if in...
183436Directors of Library Company to Proprietors and Reply, July 1742 (Franklin Papers)
ADS (address) and draft (reply): Historical Society of Pennsylvania; also MS Minute Book (address): Library Company of Pennsylvania. The charter having been accepted, the Directors of the Library Company on May 10 named Franklin, Thomas Hopkinson, and William Coleman to prepare an address of thanks to the Proprietors. On June 14 a draft was presented, read, and approved; but apparently it was...
183437Library Company: Acceptance of the Charter, 3 May 1742 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Haverford College Library The increasing property of the Library Company suggested that the time had come to incorporate it. On June 21, 1739, Rev. Richard Peters informed the Directors that the Proprietor was willing to grant a charter, and he proposed to have one drafted for their perusal. “This Discourse of Mr. Peters’s was very pleasing to the Directors present,” the minutes noted....
183438Articles of Agreement with James Parker, 20 February 1742 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society Articles of Agreement indented made the twentieth Day of February in the year of our Lord, One Thousand seven Hundred and Forty-One, Between Benjamin Franklin, of the City of Philadelphia in the Province of Pennsylvania Printer, of the One Part, and James Parker of the said City, Printer, of the other Part: Whereas the said Benjamin Franklin, and James...
183439Poor Richard, 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1741. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1741 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) This Year there will be but two Eclipses, and those will be of the Sun, the first will happen June the Second Day: The other, November the 27th: Neither of which will be seen in these...
183440Introduction to The New-Year’s Gift, 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-Year’s Gift; or a Pocket Almanack, For the Year 1741 . Philadelphia Printed and Sold by B. Franklin. (Yale University Library) Franklin printed three almanacs for 1741 in addition to Poor Richard’s and John Jerman’s. One was a single sheet, another was A Pocket Almanack ... Fitted to the Use of Pennsylvania, and the neighbouring Provinces , and the third was The New-Year’s...
183441Extracts from the Gazette, 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 1 to December 29, 1741. Our River has been fast some time, And we hear from Lewes, that ’tis all Ice towards the Sea as far as Eye can reach. Tuesday and Wednesday last are thought to have been the coldest Days we have had these many Years. [January 8] Great Quantities of English Half-pence being Imported here, since the falling of our Exchange, to...
183442To Benjamin Franklin from Gilbert Tennent, 22 September 1741 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; also transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I thank you kindly for your Love in Sending me Some of the remarks and of my Sermons on justification as well as the notice you give me of exceptions made against one passage in it (of which I have wrotte an explication in a letter to Mr. Robert Ishburn). Likewise I thank you kind Sir for your favour in...
183443To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Hancock, 10 August 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Boston Public Library Inclosed you have Coppys of Seven note of hand from Sundry Persons who have Since Run away in my Debt, and I am Told are Gon Towards Philadelphia the Jerseys and Penciliania. I have therefore Taken the Freedom per this Opportunity to ask the Favor of you to make Inquiery after the within named Gentry, and if to be found pray Secure them, or Oblige ’em to pay the...
183444Directors of Library Company to John Penn, 3 August 1741 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Library Company of Philadelphia Your Present to the Library Company of a curious Microscope and Camera Obscura is received. This fresh Instance of your Generosity and Regard gives the Company a sensible Pleasure; and in their Name and Behalf we return you most hearty Thanks. We hope those Gentlemen who so generously countenanced our Undertaking may never have Occasion to think...
183445To Benjamin Franklin from Christopher and Mary Thompson: Deed, 1 August 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia Abstract : Christopher Thompson of Philadelphia, bricklayer, and Mary his wife grant to Benjamin Franklin a lot in Philadelphia (now in Franklin’s possession by virtue of a bargain and sale, dated the day before), 22 ft. in breadth east and west and 140 ft. in length north and south, bounded north by Apple Tree Alley,...
183446To Benjamin Franklin from William Coats: Deed, 31 July 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia ABSTRACT : William Coats (spelled here “Coates”) of the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia, brickmaker, grants to Benjamin Franklin an irregularly shaped lot in the Northern Liberties (now in Franklin’s possession by virtue of a bargain and sale to him, dated the day before), which lot was formerly in the possession of...
183447A Short Account of the Library, [13 July 1741] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in A Catalogue of Books belonging to the Library Company of Philadelphia . Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, 1741. (Library Company of Philadelphia) The Directors of the Library Company in 1741 instructed Franklin to print a catalogue of their collection. On July 13 he read them “a Paper containing a Brief Account of the Library, which he said he wrote to fill up a Blank that...
183448To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 6 May 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I return thee all thy Books with my hearty thanks for thy trouble in favouring me with a sight of them, and am highly pleased there are any in the Province who are so fond of such studies, and at the same time so well furnish’d with Cash as to take them all together in their present Condition at those prices. But as I have some knowledge of the...
183449Teague’s Advertisement, 26 February 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 26, 1741; also draft: American Philosophical Society. Bradford promised in the Mercury , February 19, that each number of his American Magazine would “contain something more than four Sheets, or an Equivalent to four of such Paper, as the American Mercury is printed on; so that there will be not less than fifty two Sheets published in one Year,...
183450Advertisement in the General Magazine, [16 February 1741] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The General Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for all the British Plantations in America , I (January 1741), inside cover. (Yale University Library) After the first announcements in November, Franklin and Bradford both hurried to get their magazines into print, each promising in his paper of February 5 that his would be published “next Week.” As it fell out, Bradford’s American...