2371From Benjamin Franklin to William Coleman, 22 February 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Copy, MS minutes: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania Recollecting Coll. Ludwell’s Donation of £20 Sterling to the Academy, I am desirous of settling it before I go (tho I have not yet heard that his Bill, which I sent home, is accepted.) Therefore, and to save you the Trouble of paying that Interest Money to my Order, I inclose £1 11 s . 3 d ., which added to the Interest Money £32 18...
2372From Benjamin Franklin to William Parsons, 22 February 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank you for the Intelligence from Fort Allen, relating to the Indians. The Commissioners have not yet settled your Account, but I will press them to do it immediately. I have not yet heard from Mr. Stephenson but will write to him once more. And now, my dear old Friend, I am to take Leave of you, being order’d home to England by the Assembly, to obtain...
2373Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on Grievances, 22 February 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1756–1757 (Philadelphia, 1757), pp. 94–6. On Feb. 17, 1758, fourteen days after Franklin’s appointment as agent to England, the Assembly named a committee “to draw up the Heads of the several Grievances necessary to be represented Home to England for Redress.” Its report, submitted the 22d, was adopted and entered in the...
2374To George Washington from James Cuninghame, 27 February 1757 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor to receive your letter from Fort Loudoun with one Inclosed to Lord Loudoun who begs that you will excuse his not writing to you by this oppertunity, the hurry of business which he is in at present, having prevented him. his Lordship seems very much pleased with the Accounts you have given him of the situation of our affairs to the South’ard. The good Charecter given of you by...
2375From George Washington to William Smith, March–April 1757 (Washington Papers)
[ March-April 1757 ]. The text of this letter is printed as Document III of “The Capitulation of Fort Necessity.” There William Smith is tentatively identified as the addressee. On 3 Mar. 1757, while GW was in Philadelphia to attend Loudoun’s meeting with the southern governors, the printer James Chattin announced in the Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia) his intention to publish within two...
2376From George Washington to William Fairfax, 2 March 1757 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: to William Fairfax, 2 Mar. 1757. On 22 Mar. 1757 Fairfax wrote to GW : “I rec’d your Favor from Philadelphia dated the 2d inst.”
2377From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Loudoun, 3 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Huntington Library I thank your Lordship for the Information you have been pleas’d to favour me with, relating to the Sailing of the Pacquets. It was intended that I should take Passage in the first; But I shall now wait your Lordship’s Arrival here, that if in any thing I can be of Service, I may be ready to obey your Lordship’s Commands; being, with the sincerest Respect and...
2378From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Ray, 3 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Pieces of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 49. Being about to leave America for some time, I could not go without taking leave of my dear friend. I received your favor of the 8th of November, and am ashamed, that I have suffered it to remain so long unanswered, especially as now, through...
2379Authorization to William Frizzel to Carry Mail, 10 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Princeton University Library I do hereby permit William Frizzel, to carry and deliver Letters between Philadelphia and Lancaster, and to receive the usual Postage for his own Use, till a regular Post shall be established for that Stage. Endorsed: Benjn. Franklin’s Comission to of [ sic ] Wm Frizzle to ride Post 1757 William Frizel ( sic ) announced in Pa. Gaz ., Aug. 24, 1758, that after...
2380From George Washington to Robert Dinwiddie, 10 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
We may I think with great Propriety and Justice represent. That—The Virginia Regiment was the first in arms of any Troops upon the Continent, in the prest War. That—The three Years which they have Servd has been one continued Scene of Action. That—whilst other Troops have an agreeable recess in Winter Quarters, the Nature of the Service in which we are engagd, and the smallness of Our Numbers...
2381A Testimonial, 11 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in John Gordon’s Mathematical Traverse Table, &c . Printed in the Year 1758, and Sold by Mr. W. Dunlap, in Philadelphia, Mr. G. Noel, in New-York, Mr. B. Mecom, in Boston, and by the Author. (Yale University Library) John Gordon (1700–1778), a former Philadelphian now living near Princeton, N.J., managed to combine the trade of a bricklayer with the teaching of surveying and other...
2382To George Washington from Joseph Chew, 14 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
I arrived here from New London a few days agoe and hearing you was at Philadelphia trouble you with this, and Capt. Mercer with the inclosed. I hope and Flater my Self my Lord Loudoun will Concert such Plans as will Effectually Secure our Frontiers and distress the Enemy, and that he will do that for you which you have so justly merrited and let your Command be Equal to your deserts. I am sure...
2383To George Washington from Clement Read, 15 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
About 10 Daies agoe, there came to my House twenty Six Indians of the Cawtaba Nation, with two War Captains, Capt. French, or the French Warrior, and Capt. Bullen, who I sent under the Care of Robert Vaughan to Williamsburg where they desir’d to go before they March’d to you. About five daies agoe, there came to my House 93 of the same Nation with their King, Haglar, after they held a Council,...
2384From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Loudoun: Answers to Criticisms of the Supply Bill, [21 March 1757] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Huntington Library When news that Lord Loudoun intended to hold a council of war in Philadelphia reached there in mid-January 1757, it was apparent that he and his plans would have a powerful effect on local affairs. It was reported, for example, that Governor Denny “proposes to lay Mr. F’s Conduct before Lord Loudoun … [who] can and I hope will bring him to an Ecclaircissment on which it...
2385To George Washington from William Fairfax, 22 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
I rec’d your Favor from Philadelphia dated the 2d inst. since which finding the Governor likely to stay there longer than at first expected and many Matters of Government requisite which could not be done without Me I set off from Belvoir and arrivd here the 17th The next Day I was duly qualified in Council as President & Comander in Chief, which has given Me an Opportunity of seeing and...
2386Provincial Commissioners: Order to Pay James Young, 23 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Yale University Library Till the New Money to be struck by the One hundred Thousand Pound Act (this Day to be passed by the Governor and Assembly) comes into your Hands, the Governor and Commissioners request you to advance Three or Four Thousand Pounds, to be replaced by the first of the new Money; as that Sum is immediately wanted for the Publick Service. What you shall so advance to be...
2387Memorial to John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun, 23 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
To His Excellency, The Right Honorable John Earl of Loudoun, General, and Commander in Chief, of all His Majesty’s Forces in North America, and Governor of His Majesty’s most Ancient Colony, and Dominion of Virginia. The Memorial, of The Officers of The Virginia Regiment, Humbly Sheweth— That, The Virginia Regiment was the first in Arms, of any Troops on the Continent, in the present War: That...
2388From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Ward, 24 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Nantucket Atheneum I inclose you some of the Grain called Whisk Corn, or Broom Corn. It must be planted in Hills like Indian Corn, 3 or 4 Grains in a Hill. It looks like Indian Corn when growing, till the Top comes out, of which they make the Whisk Brushes for Velvet, and excellent Brooms. The Grain is good for Bread, and for Fowls, Horses, &c. being a kind of Millet, and of great...
2389To Benjamin Franklin from John Hughes with Franklin’s Receipt, [24 March 1757] (Franklin Papers)
I. MS not found; reprinted from Pennsylvania History , VI (1939), 15; II. ADS : Yale University Library The minutes of the Society of Arts (see above, VI , 186–9 n) for the meeting of Sept. 7, 1757, note that Franklin attended and read the extract of a letter from John Hughes printed as No. I below; that Franklin paid in the donation; and that the Society voted their thanks to Hughes for his...
2390To George Washington from Thomas Bullitt, 24 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
I Recd yours Janry 1st wherein you was pleased to Signifie that I had not proceeded in a Regular Manner in not Laying in a formal Complaint if I was not well used by my Capt. I am not uncensible Sir—of the Difficulty an Enferiour Officer Encounters, when he Lay’s in a Compt of that Nature against one of his Superiours in Clearly proving Alligations, Especially when such Superiour as by our...
2391To George Washington from Thomas Bullitt, 24 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
as I have not bin Troublesom to you with Cilicitations on Acct of my Brothers prefermt make free this Opertunity with Something of that sort. It may appear uncommendable for a Brother offering any thing of the Like In behalf of Another still as he was Very afficious in Recruiting for your Regt (winter was a Year) and Raised fifteen men (the promise of which, was Terms many your Officers...
2392William Denny, Franklin, and the Provincial Commissioners: Order to Pay Lewis Ourry, 29 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Per Week Col. 20 s . Pay to Lieut. Lewis Ourry, or Order, the Sum of Two Hundred and Forty-six Pounds Nine Shillings, being for the Discharge of the Quarters of 1 Col. 1 Lieut. Col. 1 Major, 7 Captains, 28 Subalterns, and 1 Surgeon, for 15 Weeks; 1 Capt. and 3 Lieuts. 17 Weeks; 2 Captains and 2 Lieuts. 3 Weeks, at the Rates in the Margin; it being...
2393Philadelphia Post Office Record Book, 1757–1764 (Franklin Papers)
MS record book: American Philosophical Society [March 30, 1757] When Franklin was preparing to leave for England his son William, who was going with him, resigned the Philadelphia postmastership, which he had held since June 1753 (see above, IV , 513). In his place Franklin appointed his wife’s nephew-in-law William Dunlap (see above, V , 199 n, and below, p. 168), who had been a printer in...
2394Philadelphia Post Office Accounts, 1757–1764 (Franklin Papers)
MS account papers: American Philosophical Society In addition to the Philadelphia Post Office Record Book described immediately above, there survives among Franklin’s papers a series of loose sheets, mostly but not all in his hand, relating to William Dunlap’s financial accounts, March 30, 1757, to July 11, 1764, and the operations of the Philadelphia Post Office during his tenure. The most...
2395Bill to the Proprietors, 30 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Friends Library of the Society of Friends, London; also copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania March 30, 1757 An example of the extent to which Franklin had conducted his printing, stationery, and bookselling business on credit is the bill he rendered to the Proprietors, March 30, 1757, before leaving for England. It includes 97 items running from 1734 to 1745; except for three undated...
2396Pennsylvania Assembly: Instructions to Benjamin Franklin, 31 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
MS (fragment): American Philosophical Society On March 1, 1757, the Assembly named the same committee (plus William West) that had made the report on the Assembly grievances against the Proprietors “to bring in a Draught of the Instructions of the House to Benjamin Franklin, Esq; one of the Commissioners now about to embark for England.” Two days later they reported a draft and were ordered...
2397To George Washington from William Fairfax, 31 March 1757 (Washington Papers)
Yesterday by the Return of Capt. Ouchterlony I had the Pleasure to enquire of Him concerning your State and Welfare, but He said the Uncertainty of his coming hither prevented his acquainting You with it: however left You well. Lieut. Baker setting off with about Sixty of the Nottoway & Tuskarora Indians equipt with Arms &c. to joyn the Tribes of Cherokees & Catawbas before Sent under the Care...
2398Account of Expenses, 1757–1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS account book: American Philosophical Society “Account of Expences of my Voyage to England Disbursements &c.1757” [April 1, 1757] At the beginning of December 1757 Franklin set down in an account book his expenditures between April 1 and the time he sailed from New York and all the expenses he could remember since reaching England. Against the latter he entered his cash in hand and what he...
2399To George Washington from John Hall, April–May 1757 (Washington Papers)
I make bold to address you & require your Permission to leave the Virginia Regiment, as likewise if you think I deserve it yr Lr recommendatory to his Honr the Govr or any other you may be pleas’d to offer that might be serviceable to me in carrying Arms to the Northward in some of the British Regiments—From the small Acquaintance I can boast you have hon[ore]d me with I have discoverd that a...
2400To George Washington from George Mercer et al., April 1757 (Washington Papers)
In Case Mr Hamilton should, according to his Desire, be remov’d to any other Station than that he is now in, we would recommend to your Notice Mr Kennedy who by his Diligence, Modesty and Complacency has gained the Esteem of all the Officers that have been acquainted with him since he has done the Duty of Commissary & whom we all think worthy to be prefered to the Post Mr Hamilton bears and...