From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 May 1746
To William Strahan
ALS: American Philosophical Society; also duplicates: New York Public Library and Pierpont Morgan Library
Philada. May 22. 1746
Sir
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,3 they are for our Assembly; they also want the Statutes at large, but as I hear they are risen to an extravagant Price, I would have you send me word what they will cost before you send them.4 Mr. Hall is well but has not time to write. We have heard nothing from you since yours of June 1745. I am Sir Your most humble Servant
B Franklin
P.S.5 I forgot to mention, that there must be some other large Map of the whole World, or of Asia, or Africa, or Europe, of equal Size with Popple’s to match it; they being to be hung, one on each side the Door in the Assembly Room; if none can be had of equal Size, send some Prospects of principal Cities, or the like, to be pasted on the Sides, to make up the Bigness.
3. Henry Popple, A Map of the British Empire in America with the French and Spanish Settlements adjacent thereto, London, 1733. The publication prices were: £1 11s. 6d. in sheets, £1 16s. 6d. bound, and £2 12s. 6d. on rollers, colored. Writing to Strahan, Oct. 19, 1748, BF acknowledged receipt of the maps the previous April.
4. Probably William Hawkins’ edition of the Statutes at Large, which began publication in 1734.
5. The postscript is omitted in both duplicates of this letter.