241Presentment 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...
242From 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,...
243Notes on Assembly Debates, 26–28 February 1745 (Franklin Papers)
MS : American Philosophical Society These fragments are part of an account Franklin wrote of Assembly debates, February 26–28, 1745, on aid to Massachusetts’ expedition against Louisbourg. Governor William Shirley had written Governor Thomas on February 4 about preparations and requested him to excite “an Emulation” in the Pennsylvanians and encourage them to do their part to promote “His...
244To Benjamin Franklin from John Mitchell, [March 1745?] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The American Medical and Philosophical Register; or Annals of Medicine, Natural History, Agriculture, and the Arts , IV (1814), 383–7. In the short account of the yellow fever, which I left with you at Philadelphia, I have not endeavoured to establish any theory, or even to make any deductions from any established theory of that, or like diseases; but have only...
245Report of Viewers of a Road in the Northern Liberties, [April 1745] (Franklin Papers)
MS Appearance Docket, 1740–1751, Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Joseph Fox & al. vs Mary Ball } The Persons appointed to View and lay out a Road &ca. Report as followeth. To the Honourable the Judges of the Supream Court of the Province of Pennsylvania now Sitting Whereas by an Order of the Supream Court held at Philadelphia the Twenty fourth day of September...
246Agreement about the Road, [April 1745] (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Whereas we the Subscribers have by a Written Agreement dated the day of 17 made with the late William Ball deceased a Right to a certain private Road thro the said William Ball’s plantation beginning at a Dam over Gunner’s Run and extending to the Land belonging to Edward Warner. And whereas by an Order of the Supreme Court held at Philadelphia the...
247From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 14 April 1745 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Rosenbach Foundation I wrote to you lately via New York, and sent a Copy via Maryland, one or other of which I hope may come to hand. I have only Time now to desire you to send me the following Books, viz. 1 Doz Cole’s Eng. Dictionaries 3 Doz. Mather’s Young Man’s Companion 2 Doz Fisher’s Ditto 2 Quarter Waggoners for America 6 Echard’s Gazetteer 4 Doz Grammars with const[ruin]g...
248From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 14 April 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Rosenbach Foundation The above is a Copy of mine per Capt. Martyn. I have only to desire you to add the following Books. 6 French Testaments. 12 Boyer’s Grammars, 12 Cord[ier]. Colloqu[es]. French. 3 Cambray’s Fables. 3 Telemaque, 2 Travels of Cyrus, French. 2 Boyer’s Dictionaries 8vo. 1 New German and Eng. Dictionary and Grammar by Professor A. of Leipsig. Yours &c. Addressed: To Mr...
249From Benjamin Franklin to John Franklin, [May 1745?] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Sparks, Works , VII , 16–17. Our people are extremely impatient to hear of your success at Cape Breton. My shop is filled with thirty inquiries at the coming in of every post. Some wonder the place is not yet taken. I tell them I shall be glad to hear that news three months hence. Fortified towns are hard nuts to crack; and your teeth have not been...
250Old Mistresses Apologue, 25 June 1745 (Franklin Papers)
AL : The Rosenbach Foundation; also copy and transcript: Library of Congress In both manuscript and print, this composition has had an unusual history. Three versions of it were among the papers which William Temple Franklin inherited from his grandfather. One was entirely in Benjamin Franklin’s autograph; this is the text reproduced here. The second was a contemporary copy, to which Benjamin...
251From Benjamin Franklin to James Alexander, 15 August 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I return you herewith your Draughts, with a Copy of one of them per Mr. Evans and a few Lines relating to it from him. I wrote to Mr. Parker last Post that they might be got done in Boston by one Turner who is said to be a good Engraver. Our only tolerable Engraver here will not undertake the Jobb. And for my own Part I would rather chuse you should get...
252From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 15 August 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I receiv’d your Favour of the 20th past, with your medical Piece enclos’d, the Reading of which gave me a great deal of Pleasure. I show’d it to our Friend Mr. Bertram, who carried it home, and, as he since tells me, is taking a Copy of it; His Keeping of it for that End has prevented my Showing it to any other Gentlemen as you desired; and hitherto prevented...
253From Benjamin Franklin to James Read, 17 August 1745 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Port Folio , I (1801), 165–6. I have been reading your letter over again, and since you desire an answer, I sit me down to write you one; yet, as I write in the market, [it] will, I believe, be but a short one, tho’ I may be long about it. I approve of your method of writing one’s mind, when one is too warm to speak it with temper: but being myself quite cool...
254To Benjamin Franklin from John Mitchell, 12 September 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I was surprised to see yours of Jun. 15th. come to my hands only by last Post. What I then received by it from Dr. Colden, I suppose I owe to you; for which I am sorry I can make no other acknowledgement but thanks. I perceive likewise, that you are desirous (if I am not mistaken), that the small Paper I left with you on the yellow fever should come forth. I...
255To Benjamin Franklin from John and Elizabeth Croker: Deed, 12 October 1745 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia Abstract : John Croker of Staten Island, N.Y., yeoman, and Elizabeth his wife grant to Benjamin Franklin forever, for £60 proclamation money, their undivided half of a messuage and lot on the south side of High Street, Philadelphia, 16½ ft. in breadth and 306 ft. in length, bounded north by High Street, east by a lot late of...
256From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 7 November 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library (Berg) Finding a Vessel here about to sail to London, I take the Opportunity to enclose you a second Bill, the first of which I sent via Maryland. I left Mr. Hall and all Friends well at Philada last Week, and hope to see them again in a few Days. I have not Time to add but that I am Sir Your very humble Servant Addressed: To Mr Wm Strahan Printer in Wine...
257From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 16 November 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I wrote a Line to you via Maryland, and another via New York, lately, enclosing with each a Bill for £15 Sterl. The Third I now send you. I receiv’d the Books and Letter you sent in good Order, and purpose to write for another Parcel of Books by Mesnard who is to sail in 2 or 3 Weeks. I have now every Thing ready for Mr. Hall to go to the W. Indies, but...
258From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 28 November 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I shall be very willing and ready, when you think proper to publish your Piece on Gravitation, &c., to print it at my own Expence and Risque. If I can be a Means of Communicating anything valuable to the World, I do not always think of Gaining, nor even of Saving by my Business; But a Piece of that kind, as it must excite the Curiosity of all the Learned, can...
259From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 11 December 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pennsylvania Hospital; also duplicate: New York Public Library (Berg) While the War continues I find it will not answer to send for any considerable Quantities of Books; for that Business, as well as others grows duller daily, and People are unwilling to give the advanc’d Prices we are now obliged to put on Books, by the excessive Charges of Insurance &c. So at present I only send for a...
260From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 December 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library (Berg) The above is a Copy of what I wrote you per Mesnard who sailed about 10 Days ago from this Port. This goes per Capt. Hargrave, who is soon to sail from Maryland. Enclos’d I send you a Bill for £15.7.1, which I hope will be readily paid. Enclos’d is also a Letter to Mr. Collinson, containing an Order for Books for the Library, which when you deliver you will...
261To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Grace: Lease, 30 December 1745 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Haverford College Library Robert Grace (see above, I, 209 n), whose parents died when he was young, was brought up by his grandmother and her second husband, Hugh Lowden, in their home on the north side of Market Street, between Front and Second, facing the Jersey Market. Under Lowden’s will, Grace inherited the life use of the property when his grandmother died in 1725. He was living...
262Poor Richard, 1746 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1746. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1746 , … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin. (Yale University Library) Preface . A Table for the more ready casting up of Coins , in Pennsylvania. No. Ps. Eight. Spanish Pistoles. English Guineas. Moidores. £ s. d. £ s. d.
263Extracts from the Gazette, 1746 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 7 to December 30, 1746. [ Advertisement ] All Persons indebted to the Printer hereof for a Year’s Gazette, or more, are desired to make Payment. [February 11] From Lancaster County, and the upper Parts of Philadelphia County, we have received several Accounts of the Mischiefs done by mad Dogs, among the black Cattle, Horses, Sheep, &c. many of...
264From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, [February 1746] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I receiv’d yours with others enclos’d for Mr. Bertram and Mr. Armit, to which I suppose the enclos’d are Answers. The Person who brought yours said he would call for Answers, but did not; or, if he did, I did not see him. I understand Parker has begun upon your Piece. A long Sitting of our Assembly has hitherto hinder’d me from beginning the Miscellany. I...
265To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, [February 1746] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society There is no Question but in the case you mention of a ships being taken up in a Southern latitude and let down in one some degrees more northerly the same moment she would have a degree of Motion Eastward but that it would shorten a Voyage from America to Europe I cannot think because as the alteration is made by insensibly small steps it can only be so much...
266From Benjamin Franklin to ———, [February 1746?]. (Franklin Papers)
Draft (fragment): American Philosophical Society has been blown off that Coast. Our Governor thinks they contain the Commissions for the Officers, and Orders to draw for the Pay of the Troops &c. and therefore directs me to forward them per Express to N. York, that they may overtake the Post. In haste I am &c. [ On back ] { One Month at £45 per Ann. is 3. 15. 0 Hire of Horse 2 Trips at 25 s....
267To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, [16 April 1746] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , May 22, 1746. As it is a Minister’s Duty to provide Things honest in the Sight of all Men, I thought it my Duty, when lately at Georgia, to have the whole Orphan House Accounts audited, from the Beginning of that Institution to January last; the same I intend to do yearly for the future: An Abstract of the whole, with the particular Affidavits, and common...
268[Reflections on Courtship and Marriage, 17 April 1746] (Franklin Papers)
Reflections on Courtship and Marriage: in Two Letters to a Friend. Wherein a Practicable Plan is laid down for Obtaining and Securing Conjugal Felicity. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, M,DCC,XLVI . The Gazette of April 17, 1746, announced this pamphlet as “Just Published.” Charles R. Hildeburn assigned it to Franklin on the authority of a note, which he quoted as “By Benjamin...
269Memorandum, [18 April 1746] (Franklin Papers)
MS : American Philosophical Society Sally was inoculated April 18, being Fryday at 10 a Clock in the Morning. Sarah Franklin (Genealogy, D.3) was about two and a half years old. Her brother Francis had died of smallpox before he was inoculated. See above, II , 154. The memorandum is in BF ’s hand.
270From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 26 April 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; also duplicate: Boston Public Library I have had no Line from [you] since that dated June 1745, which, with your equal Silence to our Friends Hall and Read, made me apprehend that Death had depriv’d me of the Pleasure I promis’d myself in our growing Friendship: But Lieut. Grung writing in February last that you and your Family were well, convinces me...
271To Benjamin Franklin from George Scholtze, 5 May 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Benj: Franklin to Geo: Scholtze. … Dr. 1733. october 30. To 22 yards of Dowlas at 2 s. 6 d. per £2 15 0 1734. october 31. To 1 lb. of Green Tea at 11 s. per lb. 0 11 0
272From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 May 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; also duplicates: New York Public Library and Pierpont Morgan Library This is only to enclose a third Bill, for £15.0.0 Sterling the first and second of which went from this Port directly and from Annapolis: And to desire you to send me two setts of Popple’s Mapps of N. America one bound the other in Sheets, they are for our Assembly; they also want the...
273From Benjamin Franklin to William Vassall, 29 May 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard College Library I have your Favour of the 19th Instant, with some Queries relating to the Small Pox; in Answer to which I am to acquaint you, That by the best Informations I have been able to procure, and which I believe are pretty near the Truth, between 150 and 160 Persons (mostly Children, the Small Pox having gone thro’ this Place twice within these 15 Years) have been...
274From Benjamin Franklin to William Vassall, 19 June 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard College Library I received your Favour of the 9th Inst. with the New System of Morality. We have nothing lately publish’d here fit to send you in Return. A few Copies of the Enclos’d have been just printed at New York, at the Expence of the Author, who is a Friend of mine. His Intention in this small Impression, is, by distributing the Pieces among the few Learned and Ingenious...
275From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 10 July 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I have your Favours of June 2d. and the 7th Instant. I thank you for your little Treatise. I have interleav’d it, and am Reading it and Making Remarks as Time permits. I deliver’d one, as you directed, to Mr. Evans; another to Mr. Bertram. The former declares he cannot understand it; the latter told me the other Day, that he could not read it with the...
276From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 25 September 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (2): Western Reserve Historical Society and Pierpont Morgan Library; also duplicate: Yale University Library Your Favours of Feb. 11. and May 1. are come to hand. Mesnard arrived safe this Morning, and I suppose I shall have the Trunks out in a Day or two. Our other Ships Lisle and Houston not yet come, but daily expected. I am much oblig’d to you for your ready Compliance with my...
277From Benjamin Franklin to [Thomas Hopkinson?], [16 October 1746] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress; also transcripts: Library of Congress and American Philosophical Society Vaughan ( Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces , London, 1779, pp. 478–86) thought the addressee was Andrew Baxter; Duane ( Memoirs, … with a Postliminious Preface , Phila., 1834, II , 383–5) thought it was Francis Hopkinson; Sparks ( Works , vi, 87–93) and Bigelow ( Works , II ,...
278From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 16 October 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I have receiv’d your Favour of the 13th. Instant, and am glad to hear you are return’d well from Albany, which I understand has been a very sickly Place this Fall. I did not imagine you would have been detain’d there so long, or I should have done my self the Pleasure of writing to you by my Son. Our Interpreter Mr. Weiser is return’d. He tells me that as soon...
279Receipt to Sarah Read, 21 October 1746 (Franklin Papers)
MS Receipt Book: American Philosophical Society Among Franklin’s papers in the American Philosophical Society is a receipt book of his mother-in-law, containing 27 receipts between 1715 and 1760, most of them between 1733 and 1747. Payments are recorded to William Rakestraw for carpentry, to Samuel Alford for making a silver spoon, to Anthony Nicholas “for Iron work Done too pump & Seller...
280To Benjamin Franklin from James Smith, 25 October 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Drayton M. Smith, Philadelphia (1958) Yours of the 17th mentioning my chance in the New York Lottery for which I return you thanks And when you Shall get the money Please to Acquaint me. I may have Occation of Somthing in your way So that if you please to let the money lye with you tell then. I am with respects Sir Your Most humble Servant Addressed: To Mr. Benjamin Franklin...
281To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Lucas, 2 December 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library As my husbeand Robt. Lucas in his Life time Did take the Newes Papers, and now is Decesed I now think it no Longer Proper to have them, these are to Requst the faver of you to Stoop them, and Send Down what his Estate is indebted to you for them and I Shall Pay for them at the time oppointed by Law. From Sir your humble Servant Addressed: To Mr. Benjamin...
282Poor Richard, 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1747. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1747 , … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin. (Yale University Library) This is the 15th Time I have entertain’d thee with my annual Productions; I hope to thy Profit as well as mine. For besides the astronomical Calculations, and other Things usually contain’d in Almanacks, which have their daily Use...
283From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Yale University Library This is only to enclose a Bill of Exchange for £25 Sterling, and to wish you and good Mrs. Strahan, with your Children &c. many happy new Years. Mr. Hall continues well. We shall both write largely per Seymour. This via New York. I am, &c.
284From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Thomas S. Gates, Philadelphia (1957); also duplicate: Yale University Library I wrote a Line to you some days since, via New York, enclosing a Bill of £25 Sterling; the second in a Copy by some other Vessel from that Port; the third you have herein, together with a Bill of £60 Sterling, which I hope will be duly honour’d. My Wife wrote to you per Mesnard for 6 Nelson’s Justice, 6...
285Extracts from the Gazette, 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 6 to December 29, 1747. Extracts from The Pennsylvania Gazette have been printed for each of the years that Franklin personally conducted his printing office (see above, I, 164). With the establishment of the partnership of Franklin and Hall on January 1, 1748, however, the latter took over the daily oversight of the office, though Franklin, of...
286From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 27 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I receiv’d yours of the 26th past, which I shall endeavour to answer fully per next Post. In the mean time please to tender my best Respects and Service to good Mr. and Madam Noyes, and the most agreable Ladies their Daughters, with Thanks for the Civility they were pleased to shew me when at Newhaven. We have printed nothing new here lately, except the Enclos’d...
287To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Darling, [February 1747?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notes for a letter: Yale University Library 1. How many men imployed in the whole? 2. How many men imediately about the Glass blowing? 3. How maney feet of Glass Do they make a Day? 4. How Do they Sell it per foot in their Philedalphia? 5. What are the Stone they make their furnace of and 6. Where Do they Git them? 7. Where are the pots made that Contain the metal? 8. Who makes them? 9. Can...
288From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling, 10 February 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Miss S. Berenice Baldwin, Woodbridge, Conn. (1959) I wrote a Line to you per last Post, which I hope came to hand. The Ingredients of Common Window and Bottle Glass are only Sand and Ashes. The Proportions of each I do not exactly know. The Heat must be very great. Our Glasshouse consumes Twenty-four Hundred Cords of Wood per Annum tho’ it works but Seven Months in the Year. (But the...
289To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 23 February 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Yesterday was the first time that I ever heard one syllable of thy Electrical Experiments, when John Bartram surpriz’d me with the account of a Ball turning many hours about an Electrified Body, with some other particulars that were sufficiently amazing. I have now by me Fr: Hawkesbee’s Experiments printed in 1709 and saw his whole Apparatus in 1710...
290To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 6 March 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I utterly forgot to send thee the N York Paper by my Son who was here this Morning but I now do it with my hearty thanks. I ordered him further to see thee to day and to beg thy Excuse for my desiring thee to send me a List of your Addition of Books to your Library which I did not the least apprehend would be sufficient to fill so much as one...