30601To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 18 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives I have duly received your Excellencies dispatches of the 4th and 9th Current.— The Wind is Fair, the Pilot on Board, and the Ship will be under Sail at day Break.— Mr. Gourlade nor M. de La Grave have not yet appeared.— I will Steer as directly as possible for our Ports.— Enclosed is a receipt from Messrs. Gourlade and Moylan...
30602To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Roberdeau, [January 1784] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I arrived here in September last, with a purpose of visiting France and of paying my respects and offering my Congratulations on the restoration of Peace, and to you for the honor you have acquired in this business, as I cannot now do it personally permit the offering in this mode with my best wishes for a continuance of your health and strength of which I...
30603To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Nesbitt, 4 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society When I had the honor last of waiting on your Excellency at Passy, you were pleas’d to promise to give orders at Nantes for the Release of Captain Kinnear in Exchange for Captn Bell. The Death of Mr: Schweighauser no doubt is the Cause that nothing has hitherto been done in this affair, and unless your Excellency will please to give fresh orders to the...
30604To Benjamin Franklin from Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 29 December 1760 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; abstract reprinted from Thomas G. Morton and Frank Woodbury, The History of the Pennsylvania Hospital 1751–1895 (Philadelphia, 1895), p. 43. “On December 29, 1760, a letter was written to Franklin for some necessary drugs and medicines, and he was also asked ‘to join with some others of our fellow citizens, now in London, in soliciting contributions on behalf of the Hospital from...
30605To Benjamin Franklin from John Bartram, 12 November 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: The Royal Society Here is a visible Aurora Borealis; at 7 a Clock it was about two hours high, to the northward pretty bright. Soon after Day light disappeared it was much more East, where it was redder with some faint streamers, whose Points reached near 45 Degrees Elevation, which soon disappeared, and the Light descended by Degrees under the Pole, and by 10 a Clock was near...
30606To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 24 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy and transcript: National Archives Vous trouverez ci-joint, M, un office qui m’a été remis de la part de la Cour de Coppenhague; cette piéce est relative à des excès qui doivent avoir été commis près des côtes de Norwège par trois Vx. [Vaisseaux] Americains; je ne doute pas que vous ne vous empressiez à le faire parvenir au...
30607To Benjamin Franklin from John Viny, with a Note by Mary Hewson, [after 28 November 1783] (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I am favourd with yours of the third of Octobr, in about ten days, the contents of which, does me the highest Honor as it is demonstrative of your desire to serve me and my Family, from the Impulse of Affection, the Evidence of which is so like your Self, most Indearingly conveyed; but no more, let it Suffice that we love, honor, and Revere you, and wait...
30608To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am thus far arrived on my Journey, and have met with every success I could possibly have expected. I have been introduced to the first Houses in Liverpool, and this place, and am likely to make very valuable connections. I do not mean to make any sudden engagements, but to establish a correspondence in every place, and in every manufacturing branch, which...
30609To Benjamin Franklin from Robert R. Livingston, 24 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): New-York Historical Society; copies: New-York Historical Society, National Archives; transcript: National Archives Majr Genl Du Portail will have the honor to present this. Congress in consideration of their Long & faithful services in this country have grantd permission to him & Colls. De Laumoy & Gouvion to revisit their friends in Europe for the winter. As the merit of these...
30610To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Le Poole, 12 March 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Amsterdam, March 12, 1778, in English: I have just learned that inquiries have been made of you from here about whether I am a Congressional agent, and that you have answered that I am not but have connections with Virginia merchants. I send copies of two certificates, from the Governors of North Carolina and Virginia, given me before I left Charleston. I...
30611To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 29 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Samuel Andrews, formely of Boston lately of Demarara, is going to Paris upon Business, respecting a Vessell taken by the French and carried into Martinico. He will lay before you his Papers, and hopes for your Countenance, in the Prosecution of his Appeal, altho he claims as a Dutchman. I have the Honour to recommend him to your Excellencys Notice. I...
30612To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 20 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of writing you a day or two ago by the Shelala Capt. Holmes, on board of whom I have put 2 Barrels of Pippins & one large Barrel of Nuts, I also sent you the 2d. Sets of your Interest Bills; I now inclose you the third. We are just informed that Capt. Smith in the Kensington is arrived at Boston, having been chased in there, by a Frigate,...
30613To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Sowden, 7 June 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In consequence of Your very obliging permission, I transmit the inclosed to Your Care. Its immediate destination is to my good Friend Mr. Rumsey, who, when he has read will transmit it to Mr. Gordon. You will therefore render me a very acceptable favor, if after the perusal of its contents, You will be so good as to seal, and address it to Mr. Rumsey. But...
30614To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 3 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Library of Congress; copy: Massachusetts Historical Society Mr Adams has the Honour to inform Dr Franklin that the American Ministers for the Peace, are desired by the British Minister to meet him at the Hotel du Parc Royal, Wednesday, at Eleven, for a Conference concerning the Definitive Treaty. Addressed: A Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / Ministre Plenipotentiaire / des Etats Unis...
30615To Benjamin Franklin from John Paul Jones, 6 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The mystery which you so delicately mention in your much esteemed favor of the 24th. Ulto.— it has been my intention for more than Twelve Months past to communicate to you; which however I have put off from time to time on reflecting that the Account must give you more pain than pleasure:—yet had I not, on my sudden departure from hence for Paris,...
30616To Benjamin Franklin from Sargent, Chambers and Co., 25 January 1772: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <Mincing Lane, January 25, 1772, in the third person. The firm has received instructions by Mr. Bache to withdraw Franklin’s account, which with interest amounts to £149 16 s. 1 d. ; what does he wish to have done with the money? > For the mercantile firm, formerly Sargent Aufrere, see above, IX , 359 n; XIII , 295 n. The withdrawal was part of a present of...
30617To Benjamin Franklin from Nicolas Desmarest, 6 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Although this is the only letter that survives between Franklin and his fellow academician Nicolas Desmarest, the two men must have spent hours discussing a topic of mutual fascination: the technology of papermaking. Franklin attended a meeting of the Academy of Sciences on December 19, 1781, at which writing paper manufactured at the newly-renovated...
30618To Benjamin Franklin from Madame Brillon, [on or after 23 February 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society La dame a mille choses à répondre au monsieur, mais elle craint malgré la bonté de sa cause, qu’il ne garde sa prévention contre elle, leur oppinion étant absolument contraire; le monsieur, (grand phillosophe) suit la doctrine d’Anacréon et celle d’épicure; la dame est platoniciénne: l’un veut un amour gras, pottellé, un amour de chair et d’os; gasté choyé...
30619To Benjamin Franklin from François Bernier, 6 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Lorsque j’eus hier l’honneur de rendre mes hommages a votre Excellence, avec Mr. le Marquis de la Salle, en vous engageant a venir voir nos travaux, j’eus celui de vous dire qu’il serait assés tôt sur les unze heures, mais aiant fait reflexions qu’il y a tres peu d’especes a fraper, nos opérations Effigiaires pourraient être finiës dés les huit heures, Jai...
30620To Benjamin Franklin from James Hunter, Jr., 28 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mrs. Strange desires me to continue the Liberty of addressing Her to your Care, and I pray your Excuses for the Trouble. I am most respectfully Sir Your mo Ob Sert. The Virginian whose wife was Isabella Strange’s cousin: XXXV , 394; XXXVII , 690.
30621To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Richardson, 5 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I beg leave to write these few lines to let You know a little of my misfortunes Since I left my Native Country I am the Widow and Daughter of Mary Richardson the occasian of my leaving my Native Country was upon the hearing of the famous Doctor Taylor at London by Advertizement in the Paper my Mother being totally blind she was willing to try for her Sight...
30622To Benjamin Franklin from the Count of Belgioioso: Two Letters, 30 September 1772 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society The Count of Belgioioso presents His best Compliments to Dr. Franklin and would take it as a particular Favour if He’d please to inform Him where the Person lives who makes the Glasses for the Harmonica according to His Invention: as the French Embassadour who is a great Lover of Musick and is desireous of having One enquired to The Count about this said...
30623To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-Jean-Paul, Chevalier de Berny, [February 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La protection que vous accordés si généreusement a ceux, qui avec un nom, professent les sciences et les Arts, m’enhardit a prendre la liberté de Vous présenter ce petit Essai sur le Ministére, le fruit de la fréquentation de nombre de Cours ou j’ai résidé depuis la paix d[erniè]re. Connu de Mg. Le Comte De Vergennes , qui daigne m’honorer de sa protection,...
30624To Benjamin Franklin from Pierre-François de Boy, 25 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Le Sr. Montigny, sergent des Grenadiers Dans Luxembourg, et Capitaine d’Armes Sur la fregatte Americaine, ditte, la Caroline du Sud, Sur laquelle il a eté blessé a La Cuisse Se battant Contre deux fregattes Angloises, m’Engage a vous supplier de Lui faire payer Son Du, reconnu par le Certificat ci-inclus a Lui donné, par Le Commandant de la ditte fregatte....
30625To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Bridgen, 4 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Will you my Dear Sir excuse the liberty I hereby take to introduce to yr: Excellency the bearer Mr Canning as a particular friend of mine and of Liberty he being very desirous of paying his respects to so eminent a person and any civillities you may have the goodness to shew him I shall esteem as personally done to Yr: Excellency’s much obliged & Obedt...
30626To Benjamin Franklin from Isabella Strange, 28 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg once more leave to trouble you with a Letter to my Friend Mr Hunter. I do not yet know any other way of sending a Letter to Him and all I have hitherto are on Business. Mr Strange joins with me in presenting our respectful compliments. I have the honour to be Dear Sir Your very humble Sert Addressed: His excellency / Benjamin Franklin Esqr / Paris...
30627To Benjamin Franklin from Ferdinand Grand: Receipt, 3 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society J’ai recu de Monsieur Franklin ministre plenipotentiaire des Etats unis de l’amerique Deux mille soixante Livres un sols sept deniers Endorsed: Mr. Grand’s Receipt Corroborated by a Sept. 3 entry in BF ’s private account with Grand (Account XVII: XXVI , 3): “La Remise sur J. Cottin fils & Jauge … 2060.1.7.”
30628To Benjamin Franklin from Georgiana Shipley, 12 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You my dear Sir by your most flattering attention have anticipated my very wishes, this moment I have received from Mr Digges your kind letter & valuable present; it would be difficult to express the real pleasure they have both given me, we all are made happy from your account of your own health, my father desires me to say, that a life so precious cannot...
30629To 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...
30630To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 13 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): National Archives The Passport you gave me being expird & useless; I shall be obligd to you for sending me another. I have the honor to be with great respect, Sir, Yr. most obedt. Humble. Servt. Addressed: The Honble / Doctor Franklin / Minister plenipotentiary / from the United States / at / Passi Notation: A. Lee L’Orient June 13. 1780....