33351To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 8 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Going away of Ships are So uncertain, and I am So Frequent out of Town—I write this Letter to my Dear Friend premature because I do not Inclose a receipt for the Box which I expect to do in my Next if I am not out of Town when the Ship Sails. The Box comes by Capt. Friend in the Carolina. In it is Books and Catologues for Lib: Company, Some for J:...
33352To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Morris, 2 October 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Hobart College Library This Letter will either be delivered or forwarded to you by a most Worthy Gentn. Nathl. Gorham Esqr. of Boston for whose Public & private Character I have the highest respect, This Gentn has served as Member & Speaker of the Massachusetts assembly. & lately he had a pretty long Campaigne in Congress where I had that opportunity of knowing the integrity of his...
33353To Benjamin Franklin from the Chevalier de la Gaudinay and Other Commission Seekers, 6 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society During the winter of 1779 applications for commissions in the American army continue to arrive. The first letter, written on November 6 and printed below, is from a captain of volunteers on a French privateer who would like a more assured future in the form of a brevet in the American service. The greater number of applications, however, come from soldiers...
33354To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Nairne, 19 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I did my self the pleasure of writing to you the 8th of last Month & sent it to your grandson. I last night had the pleasure of seeing him at the R.S. He told me he was detained longer than he expected. But that he should go Sunday or Monday next which oppertunity I have taken of sending you the identical hygrometer, I mentioned in mine of the 8th of Octr....
33355To Benjamin Franklin from ——— David, 18 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society M. David Secretaire de Legation de la Cour Palatine a l’honneur d’envoyer à Monsieur francklin un Paquett qui lui a eté adressé par l’academie de Manheim. Il a celui de lui rendre en meme tems ses hommages./. Addressed: a Monsieur / Monsieur francklin Ministre / Plenipotentiaire des Etats unis de / de L’amerique près du Roy / a Passy Notation David Paris le...
33356To Benjamin Franklin from Jean Rousseaux, 10 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je metois fait l’honneur de vous Ecrire de dunkerque au Sujet de mes appointemant et part au prize que nous avons fait Sur vottre fregatte du Congre lexemton Cape. henry Jonson pour que vous ayé la Bonté de massister de quelque Chose Etant Sans aucune resource. Jesperre Monsieur que vous vouderez Bien massister je crois monsieur que je ne vous demande rin...
33357To Benjamin Franklin from Vergennes, 2 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress M. Le Comte de Vergennes prie, Monsieur Franklin de vouloir bien se charger de faire passer à M. Le Chevalier de La Luzerne le paquet ci joint par la premiere Occasion.
33358To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Harrison, 23 December 1783 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr Harrison presents his respectful Compliments to His Excellency, is sensible of his polite Invitation at same Time is sorry that an Indisposition that has Kept him confined since his arrival in Paris, prevents his having the Honor to wait on His Excellency on Thursday next. Addressed: A Son Excellence / Monsieur Franklin / en Son hôtel / a Passy The...
33359To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 29 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): National Archives I find that there remain scarce fifty pounds of the funds that were in my hands, & my inevitable expences in quitting this place & returning to my Country, will I apprehend amount to four or five hundred. If the state of the public funds in your disposal will permit you to furnish me with that Sum it will save me from very great difficulties & distress. I have the...
33360To Benjamin Franklin from ——— Cantini, 28 December 1777: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Paris, December 28, 1777, in French: I enclose a letter for you from a merchant of this city, and will forward your reply.>
33361To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 8 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society This morning were brought me four Bills of Exchange drawn on Mr. Laurens on the 6th. of July 1780 for 550 Guilders each. I have desired time to write to your Excellency, and obtained it. But as there is a large Number of these Bills not yet arrived, and as they come in sometimes by single Bills, and generally in...
33362To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 31 August 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have but time to tell you that yister day our Dear littel Boy was Caireyed to Christe Church and was baptised by the Name of Benj Franklin. His Unkill and Ante stood for him Mr. Banton as procksey for you and I was well aneuef to stand for my selef. I have the pleshuer to tell you that Salley is thank to god as well as we have resen to expeckte her to be...
33363To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 10 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library Mechanical Inventions, and Improvements in every Branch of experimental Philosophy, are at all times so agreeable to you, that it must give you pleasure to be informed of a Grist-mill, newly invented by an American which will soon come into general use, not only in America but in Europe & thro’ the World. There are but 4...
33364To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 2 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard University Library; two copies and transcript: National Archives Mr. Montieu was informd by us all, that it woud be necessary for him to shew the receits from the Agent Mr. Williams, of the Articles chargd in his Account, before it coud be finally settled. He went down to Nantes where Mr. Williams & his Burau were. Instead of receits specifying the number, colour & condition of...
33365To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 23 February 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Yale University Library I inclose you a Letter I have received from Mr Dalton of Newbury, you will see by it that he is in hopes another Application will procure a greater allowance from Government for the Brig Fairplay. I have promised (not with a view of having ⅙ of the Property) to write you once more though it does not appear [ to ] me likely to...
33366To Benjamin Franklin from Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, [27 April 1778] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mon Illustre confrère j’ai l’honneur de vous prier de la part de M. le Comte de Maillebois à dîner chez lui mercredy prochain avec Monsieur votre petit fils et M. Adams. On dinera exactement à une heure précise pour avoir tout le temps de diner et d’aller ensuite à l’Académie de bonne heure. La maladie de Mde. La Duchesse de Luxembourg a empeché M. De...
33367To Benjamin Franklin from Beaumarchais, [13 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society Je demande bien pardon à Monsieur Franklin, si les procédés de M. Lee m’obligent à me retrancher dans la Rigeur de mon droit. Je n’en ai pas moins pour Mr. Franklin tout le Respect que son âge, son Etat et ses grandes Qualités inspirent; et je m’honorerai d’être toute ma Vie de l’homme respectable, du Ministre d’un Republique à laquelle je me suis voué, et...
33368To Benjamin Franklin from Michel-Guillaume St. John de Crèvecœur, [before 22 June 1783] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Marquis de Castries Shew’d me Yesterday the Model of the Edict which he proposes obtaining for the Establishment of the 5. Pacquets boats. I desired him to Send it you, Ere he had presented it, which he will Shortly do, I beg You’d Read it attentively & Send him back all your observations thereon,— Woud you be Kind Enough to Inform the Countesse de...
33369To Benjamin Franklin from Nicolas-Maurice Gellée, 28 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The letter printed below, in which Franklin’s French secretary tenders his resignation, sounds cool and formal, but the circumstances surrounding the event must have been highly emotional and have remained somewhat shrouded in mystery. Why did the young man, who had entered the Commission’s service so highly recommended, feel he had to quit one year later?...
33370To Benjamin Franklin from Beaujeu, 18 April 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ai Recû, par le courier d’hier, la mèdaille que vous m’avès fait l’honneur de m’envoier; et j’ai celui de vous en Remércier de toute mon âme. On s’emprèsse icy, a contempler ce monument qui intérèsse toute L’Europe et Eternise la gloire de L’amèrique. Au Rèste, je dois prèvènir Votre Excéllence, qu’il ne m’èst pas possible de Repondre aux choses honnetes...
33371To Benjamin Franklin from the Principe di Caramanico, 10 October 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Le Prince de Caramanico Ambassadeur Extraordinaire du Roy des siciles a L’honneur de faire part a Monsieur Francklin Ministre Plenipotentiaire des Etats unis de L’Amerique, qu’il a eû ce Jourd’huy ses premieres Audiences de Leurs Majestés & de La famille Royale./. Notation: Le Prince Caramanico 10 Oct. 1784— Franceso Maria Venanzio d’Aquino, principe di...
33372To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Huck, 9 July 1768: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society [Saturday, July 9 (1768?). A dinner invitation from Dr. Huck for Friday next at four o’clock.] Richard Huck, who changed his name in 1777 to Huck-Saunders, had been an army surgeon in America during the French and Indian War. He returned to London, was appointed physician to the Middlesex Hospital in 1766 and to St. Thomas’s in 1768, and was in the medical...
33373To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 2 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society Any knowlege I have of the winds and other Changes which happen in the atmosphere is so very defective that it does not deserve the name. Neither have I receiv’d any Satisfaction from the attempts of others on this subject. It deserves then your thoughts as a subject in which you may distinguish your self and be usefull. Your notion of some things conducting...
33374To Benjamin Franklin from Mounier & Denis, 19 November 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nous prennons la liberté, de nous adresser a vous, pour vous enformer que notre Navire Neerlants Welvaart M. [Maitre] Cornelis Thomasse Wesseling parti de Leverpool avec une Cargaison pour Naples & Salerno en Italie, chargé pour Compte Italien, ä eté pris par les Americains, qui l’ont emmené avec eux, en Nouvel Angleterre en Amerique, comme nous avons eté...
33375To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Smith, Jr., [before 17 May 1771] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I called at Mrs. Stevenson’s yesterday, but was so unfortunate as to find you absent. As I am told that you design for the country in a day or two, and I may perhaps lose an opportunity of seeing you, I have used, sir, the freedom of addressing you in this manner and would beg the favour of your kind advice with regard to my intended expedition to France...
33376To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Mayo, 30 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Thinking it may not be amiss to mention all the Circumstances attending the bill of Exchange on M. De Chaumont, that I have had protested, & for which payment cannot be at present obtained from his being possessed of a lettre de Surseance, I have taken the liberty of enclosing a Sketch of the Affair since I received the bills, of which that in your...
33377To Benjamin Franklin from John Taylor, 1 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The great friendship you have ever shewn me, produces a liberty which I trust you will forgive, as the subject is a matter of the utmost importance to me, and my family— I see in Freemans Philada. Journal of the 27th. february 1782 among the names of those who have forfeited their Estates, two John Taylors , and as I have not heard from my Agent Wm. West...
33378To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Hartley, 3 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am desired by my friend DH to forward you the enclosed Letter which I do thro’ the hands of my Banker Mr. Veron. Should you have occation to write our mutual friend under Cover you may address your Letter to my House under the firm of Messrs. Eyre & Hartley Negts. London. There is no doubt of its coming safe to my hand and you may rely upon my care and...
33379To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Webb, 15 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the Liberty of writing to you by the favour of your Grandson sometime since —and It is only from very urgent Reasons that I am induc’d again to trouble you, which I hope you will be so good to pardon. I have not ever mentioned to you myself, any other part of my unfortunate History, but that of being intirely deprived of the Society of my amiable...
33380To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac All, 12 March 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I with great pleasure Acknowlege the Receipt of your favour of the 3d. and am very glad to hear You have such late news from your family and friends at Philada. I hope their health will be continued and yourself soon restored never more to be seperated from them. I am much better then when I wrote you but have been Oblig’d since that time to undergo a Very...