3411To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 27 February 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society According to Promise, I have now, by Captain Finglass, sent you the first Copy of another Bill of Exchange for £100. Sterling more, which makes in all remitted you, since you left Philadelphia (besides the £100. protested) £1249 12 s. 5 d. If I had known that Captain Finglass would have sailed so soon after Capt. Duncan, I believe I should not...
3412Cash Accounts, March 1759 (Washington Papers)
Cash March— To Cash of Captn McNeill by Mr Boyd £ 6. 0.0 To Ditto [cash] of Colo. Custis’s Estate 2.15.0 Contra March— By Miles Richardson 1. 0.0 By an English Colt—bought of Colo. Moore 7.10.0 By Tickets to a Ball 1. 0.0 By Cash lent Mr Campbell 10. 0.0 By Balle of an Acct pd Mr Boyd 7.18.1 1/2 AD
3413To George Washington from La Force, March 1759 (Washington Papers)
Comme Jespere que maintenant que vous estes en pocession du fort Duquesne que les difficultées Sont Levées qui Empéchoit mon Echange avec Le Sr stobo—Cest ce qui m’engage a vous Importuner Encore une fois; et vous Prier de Vouloir Bien Vous Employer aupres de Mr Votre Gouverneu⟨r⟩ pour me retirer du honteux Esclavage ou Je suis depuis Si longtems, et dobtenir que Je sois Envoyer a la Nouvelle...
3414[March 1759] (Adams Papers)
Reputation ought to be the perpetual subject of my Thoughts, and Aim of my Behaviour. How shall I gain a Reputation! How shall I Spread an Opinion of myself as a Lawyer of distinguished Genius, Learning, and Virtue. Shall I make frequent Visits in the Neighbourhood and converse familiarly with Men, Women and Children in their own Style, on the common Tittletattle of the Town, and the ordinary...
3415March 14. 1759. (Adams Papers)
Reputation ought to be the perpetual subject of my Thoughts, and Aim of my Behaviour. How shall I gain a Reputation! How shall I Spread an Opinion of myself as a Lawyer of distinguished Genius, Learning, and Virtue. Shall I make frequent Visits in the Neighbourhood and converse familiarly with Men, Women and Children in their own Style, on the common Tittletattle of the Town, and the ordinary...
3416To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Holme, 17 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have communicated Yours of the 8th Instant to Mr. Fisher, who gave me the inclosed Bill of Funeral and other necessary Expences, to be sent to you for your Satisfaction with regard to the Distribution of your late Cousin Fishers Estate which according to my Calculation will stand as follows— Dr. Administratrix to the Estate late Mrs. Fisher’s. Credr....
3417To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 17 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I now enclose Second Bills of Exchange amounting to £362 5 s. 2 d. Sterling which I request you would be pleased to receive for my Account. This goes by way of Ireland which is One Reason of my sending the Second instead of the First, but the cheif Reason is to get one of the first Bills endorsed which was omitted by oversight and I have not...
3418March 18 [i.e. 19?]. Monday (Adams Papers)
This whole Day is dedicated to walking, riding, talk, &c. No Reading to day. Twas Avarice, not Compassion that induced to pass the last Court. He was afraid that Pen would be provoked to appeal both to the Superior Court if he put both in suit, and so keep him out of his Money for 6 or 8 months. 6 months without Interest. Tis fear of loosing the Interest upon Interest that induces him to pass...
3419From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 19 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library This unusually full and explicit letter describes more clearly than virtually any other contemporary document the attitude of leading members of the ministry on some of the constitutional questions which were to become increasingly important in the relations between the colonies and the mother country during the next fifteen or sixteen years. In the light of what...
3420From Benjamin Franklin to Israel Pemberton, 19 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Boston Public Library I received your Favour of December 11, and January 19. By those Ships you will receive some of the printed Enquiries, to which Post’s first Journal is added, which being more generally interesting, occasions the other to go into more Hands and be more read. Extracts of your and Mr. Thomson’s Letters are also added to make the Thing more compleat. Mr. Hall has Orders...
3421To George Washington from John Kirkpatrick, 19 March 1759 (Washington Papers)
I shoud come short of the duty I owe you, if I omitted to cultivate your correspondence by an opportunity now offering from Whitehaven—by wc. I make free to convey my warmest and kindest wishes for Your health and happiness. Since my return I have been pretty much confind thro’ the tenderness of my constitution and the inclement season of the year, which prevented me hitherto from enjoying...
3422Invoice from Richard Washington, 20 March 1759 (Washington Papers)
Invoice of Sundrys Shipd by Richd Washington on board the Desire, Captn Saunders, bound to Virginia on Account & Risque of George Washington Esqr. A Case . 2. 6 3 pr Mens prickseam Gloves . 4. 3 pr Satten tand Ditto . 3. 6 2 pair dble Channel Pumps bo[un]d &ca 1. 1. 4 pair Shoes and Pumps 1.12. 14 yds Super Manchester Velvet @ 12/ 8. 8. 6 yds fine Shalloon @ 2/ .12. A Neat Hogskin...
3423Josiah Franklin Davenport to Deborah Franklin, 22 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been Confin’d since Saturday last with a fever, altho now abated I am advised by Doctor Redman not to go abroad, Which is the Occasion I now write my Business. I have sold my House to Mr. Waiscott, and he has just been here and tells me the deeds are finish’d, and that he is to undertake a Journey on Saturday morning from Which he Shall not return...
3424To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 24 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society Inclosed you have the second Copy of a Bill of Exchange for One hundred Pounds Sterling No. 945 Likewise the first Copy of another Bill for the same Sum; which makes in all remitted you by me, since you left Philadelphia Thirteen Hundred Forty Nine pounds twelve Shillings and five pence Sterling, which as usual, you will give me Credit for, and...
3425To George Washington from Richard Washington, 26 March 1759 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Richard Washington, 26 Mar. 1759. On 20 Sept. 1759 GW wrote to Richard Washington : “Since mine of the above date your agreable favour of the 26th March . . . is come to hand.”
3426From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Holme, 27 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of the 17th. Instant, with the Accounts, which are clear and satisfactory. And as you are so kind as to offer any farther Service in this Affair, may I take the Freedom to request you would make and send me a Draft of such a Discharge for me to sign, as will be proper and satisfactory to Mr. Fisher? If the Money could be paid by...
3427To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 28 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania This serves to cover Bills of Exchange as per List hereunder and to inform you that our Supply Bill lyes with the Governor now the 24 Inst including the Proprietary Estates and granting £100,000 for the Raising &c. of 2,700 Men but I shall refer to another Letter for further Particulars on that Head and propose this as a seperate Cover to the...
3428[Spring 1759.] (Adams Papers)
The Road is walled on each side with a Grove of Trees. The stillness, silence, and the uniformity of the Prospect puts the Mind into a stirring, thoughtful Mood. But the Reflections that are made in a Grove, are forgotten in the Town, and the Man who resembles a saint in his Thoughts in the first, shall resemble a Devil in his Actions in the last. In such silent scenes, as riding or walking...
3429From Benjamin Franklin to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Public Record Office, London Pursuant to William Pitt’s promises, conveyed to the colonial governors in letters of Dec. 30, 1757, and Dec. 9, 1758, that Parliament would be urged “to grant a proper Consideration” to those colonies which had vigorously supported the war effort against France (above, p. 291 n), the chancellor of the Exchequer laid before the House of Commons, April 26,...
3430Cash Accounts, April 1759 (Washington Papers)
Cash Apl 9— To Ditto [cash] of Charles Craik —Rent £ 6. 5. 0 15— To Ditto of my Brother Jno. Washington 0. 9. 6 20— To Ditto of Colo. Custis’s Estate 96. 0. 0 24— To Ditto of Ditto 7. 3. 0 To Ditto of Ditto 78.17. 6 25— To Ditto of Ditto 50. 0. 0 To Ditto for a Horse sold Mr P: Claiborne
3431To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 5 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Two Letterbook copies: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have already wrote by Captain Cuzzins inclosing Bills of Exchange. So that I now only inclose a First Bill which I have since purchased drawn by John Hunter on Messrs. Thomlinson Hanbury Colebrooke and Nesbit Merchants in London No. 1049 for £200. Sterling which I have ordered payable to your Self or Order which please to reserve for...
3432From George Washington to John Alton, 5 April 1759 (Washington Papers)
I have sent Miles on to day, to let you know that I expect to be up to Morrow, & to get the key from Colo. Fairfax’s which I desire you will take care of—You must have the House very well cleand, & were you to make Fires in the Rooms below it, wd Air them—You must get two of the best Bedsteads put up—one in the Hall Room, and the other in the little dining Room that use to be, & have Beds made...
3433From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [c. 7 April 1759] (Franklin Papers)
LS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] By the same I shall write to dear Precious, Cousin Debby, and some other Friends. I have now only to let you know what I have sent in these Ships. There are two or 3 Boxes; Mr. Neate shipt them, but I know not on board which Ship, as he has not sent me the Bills of Lading. They were shipt on board [the] Cornelia Capt. Smith...
3434From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 7 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library Mr. Galloway I have your Favours of November 18 and February 9. Since my last our old Agent Mr. Patridge is deceas’d. You see something of my Friend Mr. Jackson in his Opinion and private Paper of Advice on our Affairs, which I last year transmitted to you. He is a Gentleman of considerable Fortune, and no Man in England has a greater Regard for the Colonies. He...
3435[April 1759] (Adams Papers)
Spent the Evening at Captain Bracketts. A Case was proposed and my Opinion asked, which gave me Opportunity to display some Knowledge of Law but betrayed me into mistaken Dogmatism. I frequently expose my Ignorance of the Province Law, but things are started that put me upon Exn. Examination . Coll. Q. I value not the Governor’s favours, more than this Pinch of Snuff, in Comparison of my...
3436Sunday. April 8th. 1759. (Adams Papers)
Spent the Evening at Captain Bracketts. A Case was proposed and my Opinion asked, which gave me Opportunity to display some Knowledge of Law but betrayed me into mistaken Dogmatism. I frequently expose my Ignorance of the Province Law, but things are started that put me upon Exn. Examination . Coll. Q. I value not the Governor’s favours, more than this Pinch of Snuff, in Comparison of my...
3437From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 8 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia I have yours of Novr. 20. Decr. 5 and 8, and Jany. 18, with a Postscript of Feb. 5. Your prudent Conduct in my Absence, with regard to the Parties, as well as in every other respect, gives me great Satisfaction. If I do not correspond so fully and punctually with you as you expected, consider the Situation and Business I am in, the...
3438To 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...
3439From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 12 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Calling here just now, I find a Bag not taken away, and as my Letters are gone or going, part by the Ships now at Portsmouth and part per Packet to be dispatch’d on Saturday, I write this Line to let you know we are well, and that you may not be uneasy at not having one Letter by this Ship. Now I think on’t; there was a Trunk sent last year by the...
3440To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Holme, 12 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I communicated your Last and Mrs. Morris’s Letter to Mr. Fisher at my Return from a Journey last Saturday, else you would have heard from me Sooner, however I now send you such a Discharge as will satisfie Mr. Fisher, which when you have executed please to return either to him or me by the Post, and he will directly remitt you the Money. I am Sir Your...
3441To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 12 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The above is Copy of a Message sent down by the Governor a few hours ago to which the House returned a Verbal Message “that they unanimously adhered to their Bill and were of Opinion that if the Bill should not receive the Governors Assent the ill Consequences he had pointed out must lye upon him.” Soon after I came from the House I received...
3442To 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...
3443II. John Mercer’s Answers, c.20–26 April 1759 (Washington Papers)
Answers to the foregoing Queries To the first. All such Goods as may be liable to perish or be the worse for keeping are by Law directed to be sold by public Auction as soon as conveniently may be after the debts paid —Yet I am of Opinion a Division may be made of the personal as well as the real Estate by the method hereafter mentioned. Mrs Washington has a clear right to one third of the...
3444I. Queries to John Mercer, 20 April 1759 (Washington Papers)
Be pleased on the other side to answer the following queries in a full and ample manner and oblige very much, Yr most Obedt Servt First—Does the Law require that all the Personal Estate (Negros only excepted) of the late Colo. Custis be sold, in order to lay of[f] his Widows dower and daughter’s part. or can it be done by the Inventory & appraisment—or lastly by dividing the Estate as it...
3445Cash Accounts, May 1759 (Washington Papers)
Cash May 4 To Ditto [cash] of Ditto [Col. Custis’s Estate] £406. 0.0 To Ditto of Ditto 3.10.0 To Ditto of Ditto 60. 0.0 To a Bill of Excha[nge] of Do for £40–9s. Sterg 54.12.2 May 11th To Cash of Colo. Custis’s Estate 46. 7.6 Contra May 4 By Miles Richardson 5/. By Racing £4 4. 5.0 By my Wife 3£. A Negro of Docr Symmes £60 63. 0.0 By 9 Negro’s bot of Colo. [William] Churchill
3446From George Washington to Robert Cary & Co., 1 May 1759 (Washington Papers)
The Inclosd is the Ministers Certificate of my Marriage with Mrs Martha Custis—properly as I am told—Authenticated, you will therefore for the future please to address all your Letters which relate to the Affairs of the late Danl Parke Custis Esqr. to me. as by Marriage I am entitled to a third part of that Estate, and Invested likewise with the care of the other two thirds by a Decree of our...
3447Enclosure: Invoice to Robert Cary & Company, 1 May 1759 (Washington Papers)
Invoice of Sundry Goods to be Shipd by Robt Cary Esq. and Company for the use of George Washington—viz. 1 Tester Bedstead 7½ feet pitch, with fashionable blew or blew and white Curtains to suit a Room lind wt. the Incld paper Window Curtains of the same for two Windows; with either Papier Maché Cornish to them, or Cornish coverd with the Cloth 1 fine Bed Coverlid to match the Curtains 4 Chair...
3448From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 4 May 1759 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Smyth, Writings , III , 478–9. Hearing that you was in the Park last Sunday, I hop’d for the Pleasure of seeing you yesterday at the Oratorio in the Foundling Hospital; but, tho’ I look’d with all the Eyes I had, not excepting even those I carry in my Pocket I could not find you; and this Morning your good Mama, has receiv’d a Line from you, by which we learn that...
3449From George Washington to Richard Washington, 7 May 1759 (Washington Papers)
Your Letter of the 9th of Septr Inclosing a Copy of your former of the 5th July preceeding came to my hands about the first of March last: I am glad to find that the several Bills remitted you were accepted; I had no cause to doubt their goodness, but we notwithstanding are often deceivd —I now Inclose you one for £40.9s. —as I find Mr Knox has sold my Tobo for about one third part of its...
3450From Benjamin Franklin to the Printer of The London Chronicle, 9 May 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle: or, Universal Evening Post , May 10–12, 1759. Paul Leicester Ford first identified Franklin as the author of this paper in 1889, and Verner W. Crane established the matter definitely in 1950 by pointing out the similarity of thought and treatment in certain passages with others of Franklin’s writings. Bigelow printed it in Works , IV , 244–58, but with the...
3451To George Washington from James Biggs, 10 May 1759 (Washington Papers)
according to your Command ⟨I have⟩ sent you as near as I am able ⟨ mutilated ⟩ accot of the nigros and stocks ⟨ mutilated ⟩ Rest of the ⟨Estate⟩ of Colo. Custis on ⟨this⟩ shore Except ⟨in⟩ ⟨S⟩mith’s Island which I omited on accot of ⟨its⟩ being Rented out but if meteral may be seen by a leas that Mr Vollentine has in his pirsession⟨,⟩ heare is som corn which is sold tho. not delivered yet and...
3452From John Adams to Josiah Quincy, 17 May 1759 (Adams Papers)
Braintree, post 17 May 1759. Printed: JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others, Cambridge, 1961; 4 vols. , 1:113 , from a draft of a letter perhaps not sent. On Col. Josiah Quincy (1710–1784) and JA ’s early relations with him, see JA, Diary and Autobiography Diary and Autobiography of John Adams , ed. L. H. Butterfield and others,...
3453Certificate of Nomination to the Royal Society, 17 May 1759 (Franklin Papers)
DS : The Royal Society, London Franklin was elected a fellow of the Royal Society on April 29, 1756, and was formally admitted on Nov. 24, 1757. He attended meetings regularly, was a frequent guest at dinners of the Royal Society Club, and took an active part in the Society’s business, being elected a member of the Council in 1760, 1766, 1767, 1772. Between 1759 and 1774 he joined in...
3454Remarks on Thomas Penn’s Estimate of the Province, 29 May 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in [Richard Jackson], An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pensylvania … London: Printed for R. Griffiths, in Paternoster-Row, 1759, pp. 431–8. In the issue of May 26–29, 1759, The London Chronicle announced that An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pensylvania was “This day published.” So appeared at last a work with which Franklin had been...
3455Cash Accounts, June 1759 (Washington Papers)
Cash June 13— To Ditto [cash] of Ditto [Col. Custis’s estate] £154. 0.0 19— To Ditto of Ditto 20. 0.0 To Ditto of Ditto 77. 0.0 To Ditto of Ditto 12.15.0 To Ditto of Ditto 6.12.0 Contra June 16— By Cash pd Mr Prentis’s Acct 54. 9.7 3/4 By Do pd Captn Meridith for a Pipe Wine 45. 0.0 By Do pd Mr Richie’s Acct
3456Board of Trade to the Privy Council Committee, 1 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Copies (two): Historical Society of Pennsylvania On Feb. 2, 1759, the Privy Council referred Franklin’s petition on behalf of Teedyuscung to its Committee on Plantation Affairs, which referred it in turn to the Board of Trade on April 12. The Board conducted a hearing, May 15, attended by Franklin and his solicitor, Joshua Sharpe, and by the Proprietors with Paris. The next day the Board...
3457To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Norris, 4 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Bills of Exchange I have remitted are as follows—to wit— +1 My Bill or Order on the Executors of Doctor Logan for } £200. 0. 0 Sterling +2 John Hunter on Messrs. Tomlinson Hanbury &c. No 732 I have your Letter of the 18th of January acknowledging the Receipt of these } 300. 0. 0 +3 Anthony Stoker on Geo. Campbell payable in London...
3458From Benjamin Franklin to William Heberden, 7 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard College Library Tourmaline crystals, brought to Europe from the East by the Dutch early in the eighteenth century, began to attract the attention of electrical scientists when they found that, if heated, they had the power of attracting and repelling ashes and other light substances. The German scientist Aepinus began to study this pyroelectrical property and wrote a paper in...
3459From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, 9 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: Yale University Library It gives me great Pleasure to learn by yours of the 12th. of April, that the Bill taxing the Proprietary Estate would pass. I believe he will not dare to oppose it here; but if he does, I think it will bring the Point to a Decision the shortest Way, and that it must in all Probability be decided against him. The Firmness of the Assembly on this Occasion...
3460Provincial Commissioners: Order to Pay Isaac Norris, 12 June 1759 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Pay or Cause to be paid to Isaac Norris Esqr. the Sum of Two Thousand three Hundred and Sixty Two pounds Ten Shillings being the Amount of Fifteen Hundred pounds Sterling Advanced to Benjamin Franklin Esqr to Enable him to Solicit the Affairs of this province at the Court of Great Brittain in pursuance of the Resolves of a Late house of Assembly of this...