33181To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Wilson, 8 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been considering Mr. Coldens experiment which we tried on Saturday last, and the appearances it affords seem not now so surprising, or indeed, curious, as I at first imagined. For the excited tube, you know, when opposed properly to the cork balls, attracts them a little: it must therefore electrify the balls plus, instead of minus: and not only the...
33182To Benjamin Franklin from the Comte d’Estaing, 16 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
L : American Philosophical Society Le Cte. d’Estaing a l’honneur d’assurer Monsieur franklin de son Respect. Comme il compte avoir l’honneur de diner avec lui demain Lundi chez Madame la Douairiere des Deux-Ponts et qu’il s’est fait assurer qu’elle N’avoit pas Vû la piece nouvelle à la Comedie Françoise, il demande la permission d’offrir pour le même Jour une place dans une Loge à Monsieur...
33183To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 2 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives; partial copy: Marquess of Abergavenny, Eridge Castle, Sussex (1955) It was with the utmost surprise, that I learn’d yesterday, that Mr. Girard was to set out in the Evening for America, in a public Character; and that Mr. Deane was to accompany him, without either you or he having condescended to answer my letter of the...
33184To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Wharton, [10 November? 1769]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Dated merely Friday afternoon; probably November 10, 1769. A note in the third person, to send Franklin the American newspapers received that day in the New York mail. Has heard nothing by the packet; expects a letter from “his Friend” by Capt. Jeffries, who was to sail from Philadelphia on Oct. 7.] A New York mail reached London on Nov. 10; London Chron. ,...
33185To Benjamin Franklin from William Carmichael: Two Letters, 25 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) and (II) Copy: Library of Congress The Duke De Crillon, and who hath not heard of the Name of Crillon? does me the honour of accepting of an Introduction to you, which give me an Occasion of boasting of any influence with you to him, and to you of the honor he has done me by his Acquaintance & Friendship here. This Must be Clear to you when I mentione his name, tho’ that to those who know...
33186To Benjamin Franklin from John Seaward, 4 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Acording to Orders Which ar in the other Side, I arived in this Porte with the Ship Lord Chatham tacking [taken] the 16th of aprel and applied to Monsr. De La Porte who Sent for Mr. Riou Kings Intprter in this Porte and had the Ship orderd in the Porte and all the hatches Lockd in Saftey. As for My Sealf and Men have Ben obliged to Keep a Shour Close By the...
33187To Benjamin Franklin from Le Couteulx & Cie., 2 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Nous Sommes Vraiment embarrassées pour repondre à la Lettre que vous nous avez fait l’honneur de nous écrire le 2. Juillet nous Sentons Toute l’Importance pour le bien des Etats unis de Laisser retourner Sans payement aucunes des Traittes que Mr. Morris peut avoir fourni Sur Monsieur Grand en Sa qualité de Sur-Intendant des finances & le mauvais Effet...
33188To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 6 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society, Harvard University Library, University of Pennsylvania Library Your favor of July 22d 1778, forwarded from Nantes by Mr. Williams the 25th of February this Year, arrived not here till the 31st. of July. I wonder the more that so very few of yr. letters reach Philada. in the Course of a Year as Mr. Dumas finds means to convey a series above the Numbers of...
33189To Benjamin Franklin from the Marquis Alexandre d’Hanache, 27 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Je prends la Liberté de vous adresser cy joint une Lettre par Duplicata pour Le Comte de Stirling que je vous prie de vouloir bien Lui faire parvenir j’aurais eü l’honneur de vous La remettre moi-même sans des affaires qui me retiennent a paris; dès que je serai Libre de disposer d’un moment j’aurai La satisfaction d’aller vous voir. J’ai l’honneur...
33190To Benjamin Franklin from Edme-Jacques Genet, 21 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai remis, Monsieur, à Mgr. le Cte. de Vergennes une traduction de la piece en langue angloise ci jointe. Le ministre m’a ordonné de vous en envoyer une copie que je joins pareillement ici, avec quelques gazettes Américaines, en attendant les autres que je vous ferai passer Successivement. J’ai l’honeur d’etre avec un sincere attachement Monsieur Votre...
33191To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 28 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères Je joins icy M. le nouveau Saufconduit que vous avez demandé en faveur du Sr. Williams par la lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’ecrire le 18 de ce mois. Il est Sans doute instruit de la necessité de le faire enregistrer au Bureau des gardes du Commerce.
33192To Benjamin Franklin from John Diot & Co., 7 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Captn. Macatter haveing desired us to open and answer the Letters that might come for him after his departure, We Shall hereafter answer the purport of Your Excellency’s Letter to him, dated Augt. 2d., by Causeing the prisoners of the Black Princess to be sent off by an other Carteel Ship, lately arrived in this road. This Serves meerly now to acquaint,...
33193To Benjamin Franklin from Meschinet de Richemond, fils, 14 January 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <La Rochelle, January 14, 1777, in English: Respect for the brave defenders of American liberty makes me want to establish contact with them. But they have hitherto seemed ignorant of our harbor, and used Nantes or Bordeaux instead. This haven is safe, frequented by ships of all nations and particularly those from French America, and a good market for...
33194To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Pierre Duplan, 30 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Vous étes trop grand dans toutes vos demarches pour avoir oublié les Esperances flatteuses que vous nous donnates de bouche en 1778 . Qu’étant honorés de vôtre presence, vous Souscrivites Monsieur pour un Exemplaire de nôtre Enciclopedie 8°. en 36 vol: de discours, & 3 de planches, comme conste la lettre cy inclus que nous avons l’honneur de vous mettre...
33195To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Laurens, 10 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): University of South Carolina Library I had the honor of addressing you under the 3d Inst. requesting you to procure & transmit a Passport for myself & family to go out of this Kingdom into England—this Morning I am advised from London that the proper document of leave to re-enter the latter, had been obtained & would be forwarded to Mr. Ginett...
33196To Benjamin Franklin from [La Rochefoucauld], [20 December? 1777] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Au moment où j’allois hier, Monsieur, envoier l’Extrait que j’avois fait de vos nouvelles, j’ai reçu le No. XXXIII . des Affaires d’Angleterre et d’Amérique qui contient tous ces détails; en conséquence je me suis borné à y envoier la lettre de M. Washington; vous trouverez ci jointes vos deux lettres Angloises à l’une desquelles il manque une feuille que...
33197From John Adams to Benjamin Franklin, 22 October 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have recieved your Excellency’s Letter of the 12th. I should be much obliged to You for your sentiments, of what is to be understood by accepting the Mediation of a Power or Powers? Is a Mediator to be an Arbitrator, and is the Power that accepts the Mediation bound to submit to the Award? Is the great question of the War submitted to the discussion and final Judgment of the Mediator? For...
33198To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Bache, 29 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have lately heard you were well, but do not often hear from you, many letters I beleive are taken, one of Benny’s to you, dated March last, was sent me out of New York by my Brother, who was well two weeks ago he tells me Sr Harry Clinton sent it to him suposing it to be from his son, but says your letter in which it was inclosed was lost— You have...
33199To Benjamin Franklin from Pieter van Musschenbroek, 15 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AD : American Philosophical Society In response to a request transmitted through an unidentified clerical intermediary, Musschenbroek sent Franklin a list of European writers on electricity known to him. But in the covering letter he urged Franklin to continue his own electrical experiments. Since the air of Pennsylvania seemed to be very full of electricity ( electricitatis plenissimus...
33200To Benjamin Franklin from Dumas, 31 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft); Algemeen Rijksarchief I send you herewith copy of the Letter I received yesterday, with a loose Seal, from his Exc. the french Ambassador, & which I forwarded the Same day with another of mine, of which also I join an Extract. If we can but get safe our Squadron to Dunkirk, then it must be acknowledged that the Sending of it in a Dutch Port,...
33201To Benjamin Franklin from the Baron d’Espagnac, 19 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Le Baron d’Espagnac prie Monsieur de francklin d’agréer Ses Excuses et Ses Regrets de L’Impossibilité où il Se trouve de se rendre a L’honneur de Son invitation Jeudy prochain vingt un du Courant, lui étant Survenu depuis Dimanche dernier des Coliques d’Entrailles qui ne lui permettent d’aller manger nulle part; dès que Sa Santé Sera rétablie, Il aura...
33202To Benjamin Franklin from George Washington, 28 December 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Private collection (1988); draft and two copies: Library of Congress The Marquis de la fayette having served with distinction as Major General in the Army of the United States, two Campaigns—has been determined by the prospect of an European War to return to his native Country. It is with pleasure that I embrace the oppertunity of introducing to your personal acquaintance a Gentln whose...
33203To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Gillon, 14 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the Honour of addressing Your Excellency the 30th. Past since when we have refitted our Ship as well as the conveniencies of this Port & Circumstances would admit, & have now our Supplies on board paid for, by part of the State of South Carolina’s effects on board, & the Ballance in Your Accepted Bills which I was happy enough to pass...
33204To Benjamin Franklin from James Hutton, 27 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank God I had a good Journey home, my wife had been very ill in my absence, of which I had a pretty positive Sensation, tho’ no news. I got to my own house in 73 hours from Paris. I shall never forget your kindness to me and your kind Intentions to serve my Brethren. The Sensation I had of the certain Miseries of War, that would attend all Parties...
33205To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel W. Stockton, 21 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society From your kind permission given when I had the honor of seeing you last, I take the liberty of requesting your care of a letter for me, which my worthy friend Mr. Dumas of the Hague writes me, came to his address, and which he enclosed to the Plenipotentiaries &c. at Passy, a day or two before I left Paris, supposing it would find me there. I shall be much...
33206To Benjamin Franklin from Martin Howard, 12 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recieved your favour by Mr. Caswel. When I wrote and informed you that I had recieved your Money of Mr. Cooke, I did not tell you the Truth. Mr. Cook was largely indebted to me, and gave me a Mortgage of a small House which I believe is his whole Property but not equal in Value to half the Sum he owes me, I included your Debt in this Mortgage, and when I...
33207To Benjamin Franklin from Baynton, Wharton & Morgan, 30 May 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It was not, until last Night, We recived your kind Favor of the 9th of March, otherwise, you may [be] assured, We should have remitted you, by this Packet (which [sails] On Saturday), The thousand pounds Sterling, That [you] in the most friendly Manner, sold Us. We are very sensibly pained, That we have subjected you, to the least Inconvenience, But as We...
33208To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Colden, 2 June 1773: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <General Post Office, New York, June 2, 1773: Wrote him on May 5 and sent the accounts through April 5 last; also sent first bills of exchange, of which he now encloses seconds: John Bonfield on Quarles Harris, £80; Thomas Boylston on Champion & Dickason, £100; George Erwin on Lane, Son & Fraser, £120; Benjamin Ogles on James Anderson, £83 10 s. 3 d. ;...
33209To Benjamin Franklin from Elizabeth Partridge, 28 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I with Pleasure Embrace this Opportunity to present my sincere Wishes, that this may meet you in the Injoyment of High Health, and that Felicity [that m]ust ever attend your unremitted Endea[vours] to serve your Country and to Congratulate yo[u on] the Signal Success that Heaven has granted to the American Armes! On the 17 Day of [Oct.] General Borgone with...
33210To Benjamin Franklin from the Associates of Dr. Bray, [before 7 April 1768]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XXIV (1900), 389. [Before April 7. A notice of the meeting of the Associates at ten o’clock on that day, at their office at the Angel and Bible in Ave-Mary Lane.] For the Associates and BF ’s connection with them see above, VII , 100 n., 377–9; IX , 12.