35041To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 28 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copies: American Philosophical Society, National Archives; transcript: National Archives A Committee was appointed in Congress on the 6th. to draught a “Letter to our Ministers at the Courts of Versailles & Madrid to enforce the Instructions given by Congress to Mr. Jay by their Resolutions of the 4th. Instant and to explain the Reasons & principles on...
35042To Benjamin Franklin from Genet, 27 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je reçois une lettre de M. Le Cap. Robeson qui est à Nantes. Il désire que je sollicite pour lui un passage en Amerique sur un des batiments du Roi qui pourront être expediés pour les Etats unis. Il me marque en même tems qu’il vous prie d’en faire la demande à M. le Mis. de Castries. Je suis tout prêt à faire les démarches nècessaires, mais comme elles...
35043To Benjamin Franklin from Gourlade & Monplaisir, 7 July 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Nous avons l’honneur de vous prevenir de l’heureuse arrivée en ce port du batiment Les deux soeurs, l’une des prises de notre ami mr. Lambert Wickes dont nous avons appris avec plaisir l’entrée à St. malo. Ce batiment Les deux soeurs est de 200 á 250 tonneaux; il est sur son lest sans marchandises quelconques. Nous ferons le necessaire pour en procurer la...
35044To Benjamin Franklin from François de Launey de Fresney, 9 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: American Philosophical Society Les fournitures très-conséquentes qui m’ont été confiées pendant toute la Guerre pour le Service de la Marine du Roi, ne m’ont point distrait des expéditions particuliéres pour les différentes maisons Amériquaines, vos compatriotes, établies à Nantes et L’Orient; j’ai joui jusqu’à ce moment de Leur pleine...
35045To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques-Donatien Le Ray de Chaumont, [before 23 March 1779?] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society L’hotesse de L’hostel de Joui a versailles Rue des Recolets Reclame L’avantage qu’elle a eu de Loger M. franklin chez elle pour le Recevoir et ses Equipages quand il ira faire sa Cour. C’est unne femme Estimée et Recommandée par les Bureaus de M. de Vergennes. The date BF was finally presented at the French court as the first American minister...
35046To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hewson, 6 July 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I had the pleasure of receiving your Letter I am bound to answer it. My Mother I must tell you went off last friday week, took our little Boy with her and left Mr. Hewson the care of her House. The first thing he did was pulling down a part of it in order to turn it to his own purpose, and advantage we hope. This Demolition cannot affect you, who ar...
35047To Benjamin Franklin from Mr. Chambers, [c. April 1761] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Chambers’s Compliments to Mr. Franklin and being disapointed of the pleasure of meeting him at the Philadelphia Coffee House to day desires the favour of him to send to send [ sic ] his Letters by the Bearer; as being to set out for Portsmouth early tomorrow morning he fears it will be out of his power to wait upon before that time. Addressed: To / Dr....
35048To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques-Antoine Baratier de Saint-Auban, 4 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Les mauvais temps et plus encore un rhume dont j’ay eté affecté, m’ont empesché de Vous aller voir a Passy, et de cultiver une connoissance que je regarde comme trés précieuse; je compte aux premiers jours Vous aller prier de Choisir celuy qu’il vous plaira prendre pour venir diner avec nous. Des gens a qui je ne puis rien refuser m’ont chargé de vous...
35049To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 10 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have duly rec’d your sundry favors to the 27th Ultimo the exchange of Prisoners I hope will take place in the course of next week— The Transports I am told are ready & there remains nothing to be settled so that as soon as the necessary Forms of Office are gone thro’ I expect they will be sent away. Administration have at my request given directions to...
35050To Benjamin Franklin from Lafayette, [21 February 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I had promis’d myself, my good friend, that I would have the pleasure of embracing You this Morning—but they Write me from Versailles that I must be at the King’s Levee Before seeing any Body of the Royal family, and that Levee I understand to be at 11: Clock—in our kingly Countries we have a foolish law Call’d Etiquette that any one tho a Sensible man, must...
35051To Benjamin Franklin from James Lovell, 29 April[–17 September 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Harvard University Library As the Books & Papers of the Comtee. of foreign affairs remain on the Table of Congress to be used in the public Deliberations which still continue upon a fruitful Subject begun last September you do not at this Time receive any official Letter from that Committee. But I will not omit the good opportunity by Mr. Smith,...
35052To Benjamin Franklin from Jean Zinner, 23 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress C’est eté ces jours ci que M. de Banck ci devant Major et Aide de Camp chez Mons. General Major de Gates m’inspiré tant de respect pour la nouvelle Republique de l’Amerique Septemtrionale, que je me suis resolu de dedier mon ouvrage latin, intitulé: Notitia Historica Coloniarum Americæ Septemtrionalis ab earum origine usque ad nostra tempora au tres Honorable Congrès...
35053To Benjamin Franklin from G. Anquetil Brutiere, 7 June 1778: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives <Granville in Normandy, June 7, 1778, in French: Last year I sent a ship to fish for cod on the Newfoundland Banks. On Sept. 17 she was boarded from the privateer Bellona out of Marblehead, Capt. Thomas Stevens, and forced to accept seven English prisoners who had no food or other necessities. These extra mouths forced her to return...
35054To Benjamin Franklin from William Hodgson, 11 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you on the 4th Instant in which I stated the actual Situation of the Negotiation for the further exchange of your people & referred you to the Copy of a Memorial I had drawn & sent to the Comrs. of Sick & Hurt on the Subject. Since then I had a Message from the Board of Sick & Hurt desiring to see me, I waited upon them accordingly & they shewed me...
35055To Benjamin Franklin from Rocquette, Elsevier & Rocquette, 7 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We observe with pleasure by your much esteemed favour of the 31st. of past month, the reception of the pacquet we sent you the forwarding of it, deserved no thanks, we shall alwaÿs be happy in finding opportunity to be usefull to you, and renew you to that End our most devoted Services. According to your permission we enclose you Two bills Issued by the...
35056To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 14 September 1749 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I was unwilling to loose the Opertunity per Cap. Rice—So in 5 or 6 Days time I ordred all the Books to your Order that Could be gott together. I was so much engaged I could not go to see them before they was packed—but Hope the Bookseller has been carefull to send such as will Meet with your aprobation. What can be gott to the remainder of your Order...
35057To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Vaughan, 15 March 1785 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In reply to your favor of the 5th: instt. I send you the Extract from the English translation of Kæmpfer’s history of Japan Vol. 2nd. Book 5. c. 6. p. 444–5, as follows. “The candles brought in at night, are hollow in the middle; the wick, which is of paper, being wound about a wooden stick, before the tallow is laid on. For this reason also the...
35058To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 7 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copy: Yale University Library I received your Favour of the 27 Sept too late to answer it by the last Post. The Accot of Bills and the other Cloathing Accounts are making out as fast as possible, they are very long so I cannot send them by this Post but you shall have them in a Day or two. I am glad to hear you are likely to get a Pasport for the Salt...
35059To Benjamin Franklin from Nevil Maskelyne, 11 December 1769: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Greenwich, December 11, 1769. The Astronomer Royal asks Franklin, when he next writes to Philadelphia, to inquire of Owen Biddle about the exact distances between the observation points for the transit of Venus. Maskelyne cannot make Biddle’s two accounts agree with each other, or with the distances given by Mason and Dixon in their survey. He is also...
35060To Benjamin Franklin from John Adams, 24 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the Honour of a Letter from, your Excellency at Nantes, but as I was setting off for this Place could not then acknowledge it. I Staid, no longer at Nantes, than just to look about me, before I determined to see Captain Landais, that I might know, the state and Prospects of his Frigate. As you was so good as to desire Mr schweighauser, to consult with...
35061To Benjamin Franklin from John Robertson, 14 July 1772: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society <The Royal Society, July 14, 1772, a note in the third person. The committee appointed by the Society, at the request of the Board of Ordnance, to suggest how to apply lightning rods to the powder magazine at Erith is requested to meet at the Society’s quarters in Crane Court on Saturday, July 18, at seven P.M.; Franklin’s presence is desired.> A...
35062To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Wilmot, 8 May 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am informed by Mr. Penn, that the £100,000 Act passed by Mr. Hamilton, has been transmitted to you under Seal. This I presume is with an Intention to be presented to the Councill. If You have any thoughts of presenting it, I should be very glad, if before you do it, you wou’d allow me a Quarter of an hours Conversation with you on this head, and I will...
35063To Benjamin Franklin from “A Merchant in Philadelphia” [Charles Thomson], 19 June 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The London Chronicle , August 17–20, 1765; AL (fragment): American Philosophical Society That this letter was addressed to Franklin and that he was responsible for its printing in London seem virtually certain: the surviving leaf of the manuscript is found among his papers, and two editorial emendations, now almost indecipherable, appear to be in his hand. Identification of the...
35064To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Churchill, 14 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Singular as this address may appear at first sight, I am sanguine to beleive it will not pass unnoticed by you: Though I have not at present the long-wish’d-for honor to be personally known (to a Gentleman, whose well-known abilities, and incorruptible integrity of character, recommended him to the confidence of the noblest association ever formed to stem...
35065To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Coffyn, 12 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the honour of writing to your Excellency on the 2d. inst, Since which I have been favour’d with your Excellency’s letter of the 4th. As nothing can aford me greater pleasure then to be instrumental in helping your Excellencys charitable & humane vews in favour of the French Sailors who belonged to Capn. Cunningham & who have been Exchanged by the last...
35066To Benjamin Franklin from Marie Catherine Biheron, 26 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society J’ay remit à notre Amis le depots de papie dont vous m’aviez fait l’honneur de me charger concernant la Traduction de vos excelents ouvrages de phisique. Jespert en proffiter des premiere. Cette étude me sera d’autant plus agreable que je la tiendray de vous et de notre amis Dubourg. Lui et sa chere Epouse Mademoiselle Bassenporte, Mr. Dalibart et tous ceux...
35067Pennsylvania Assembly: Thanks to Franklin, and His Reply, [31 March 1763] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1762–1763 (Philadelphia, 1763), p. 40. Pursuant to a Resolve of the Nineteenth of last Month, that the Thanks of this House be given to Benjamin Franklin, Esq; for his many Services not only to the Province of Pennsylvania, but to America in general, during his late Agency at the Court of Great-Britain, the same were this Day...
35068To Benjamin Franklin from François-Antoine de Flandre de Brunville, 25 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Je fais instruire le procès à ma requête de L’ordonnance de M. le Lieutenant Criminel, contre le Noé. [nommé] Jean Robert Schaffer et autres, prévenus de s’être annoncés dans le Public comme tenans Banque et maison de Commerce, et à la faveur de ces titres et de billets souscrits de Correspondans à eux affidés, avoir abusé de la Confiance de différens...
35069To Benjamin Franklin from Arthur Lee, 1 November 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. A. Lee presents his Compts. to Dr. Franklin and begs to have the Papers he mentiond to Dr. Franklin, namely Count Vergennes’s Letter, the last Memoire to him, the last Letter to the Committee, and the list of Stores shipt from Marsailles. Mr. L. sends a Newspaper, which Mr. Izard borrowd and desird him to return. Addressed: The Honble / Benjamin Franklin...
35070To Benjamin Franklin from James Alexander, 1753 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 280–1. If I remember right, the Royal Society made one experiment to discover the velocity of the electric fire, by a wire of about four miles in length, supported by silk, and by turning it forwards and backwards in a field, so that the beginning and end of the wire were at only the distance of two...