211Articles 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...
212Distribution 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...
213A 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...
214[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...
215From 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...
216From 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...
217To 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...
218From 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,...
219Bill 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
220From Benjamin Franklin to Edward and Jane Mecom, [1744–45] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 10. If you still continue your inclination to send Benny, you may do it by the first vessel to New York. Write a line by him, directed to Mr. James Parker, Printer, on Hunter’s Key, New York. I am confident he will be kindly used there, and I...