41491From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 14 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library By the Harriot Packet, which arrived last Saturday at New York, I received your Favours of Dec. 7. and January 8. and congratulate you cordially on your Appointment to the Secretary’s Office, in which I wish you all Happiness. I am just setting out on a Journey to Virginia, to settle Accounts with the Executors of my late Colleague Mr. Hunter, and recover the...
41492From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 17 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a long Letter of the 8th and 29th of March on various Subjects, too long to copy unless it should be lost. But as Messrs. Coxe are sending Copies of their Request and Power to you, I must repeat so much of my Letter as related thereto. [Here Franklin copied verbatim the long paragraph which formed the largest part of the postscript dated March...
41493To Benjamin Franklin from James Lyon, April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As the least suspicion of a Letter from you to me might, possibly, dispose a curious Person to intercept it, permit me to inform you, That I have not yet been so happy as to recieve a Line from your Hand. I need not remind you, Sir, of the Necessity of putting our Scheme into Execution immediately, if ever: And shall only tell you, that, without any Care or...
41494Accounts between Benjamin Franklin and the Estate of James Parker, [April 1763] (Franklin Papers)
Three MS accounts: American Philosophical Society Between Franklin and his fellow printer James Parker there existed not only a warm personal friendship but a business relationship of many years’ standing and an official connection through Parker’s position as comptroller of the American postal system. Each man faithfully executed commissions for the other and made or received payments for his...
41495From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 9 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery I have been from Philadelphia about 3 Weeks on a Journey hither upon the Business of the Post Office, but am now returning home, where I hope to find some Letters from you, as I hear that two Pacquets are arrived at New York since I came out. I have answer’d the Letters receiv’d from you by my Son, and have little to add. I congratulate you...
41496From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 20 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just return’d from Virginia, and find your Favour of April 11. I purpose setting out with my Colleague Mr. Foxcroft for New England, the Beginning of next Month, and hope soon for the Pleasure of seeing you; but have no Expectation of bringing my Dame to undertake such a Journey; and have not yet ask’d her Opinion of Sally’s going. My Love to Brother...
41497To Benjamin Franklin from W. Hick, 23 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It gives us great pleasure to hear of your good Health, but are no less Mortified than you in not having the pleasure to see you, and do assure you that Mrs. Hick was so afraid of being out of the way when you call’d, that I could not prevail with her to go abroad for this three weeks past: but has now given up all thoughts of seeing you, for this year at...
41498From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 29 May 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have now before me your Favours of Jany. 31. and March 1. the Receipt of which I ought sooner to have acknowledged. Your kind Congratulations on my Arrival and the Advancement of my Son, are extremely obliging. I think I have read somewhere that Fahrenheit’s o was what he understood to be the greatest Cold of Siberia, Greenland, or any inhabited Country. So he...
41499To Benjamin Franklin from John Pringle, [May? 1763] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete and mutilated): American Philosophical Society [ Torn ] would take the liberty of recommending [ torn ], who had been put in by Lord Bute, and [ torn: we]ll qualified for his office. His Lordship then [ torn ] heard the young gentleman had ene[ torn ]ying that, I took an opportunity of telling [ torn: ima]gined it came about. Lord Shelburne made no promises, but [ torn ] hear me...
41500From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 1 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library In my last of April 14. I acquainted you that I was then just setting out for Virginia, in order to settle Accounts with Mr. Hunter’s Executors who reside there, and to obtain the Ballance I conceiv’d due to the General Post-Office from his Estate of more than £400 Sterling, out of which they would have deducted a Demand of £372. 12 s . 8 d ., which I finally...
41501From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 2 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have just received your Favour of Feb. 28. being but lately returned home from Virginia. Dr. Kelly in his Letter, appears the same sensible, worthy, friendly Man I ever found him; and Smith, as usual, just his Reverse. I have done with him: For I believe no body here will prevail with me to give him another Meeting. I communicated your Postscript to B Mecom, and...
41502From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, 6 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mary A. Benjamin, New York City (1962); copy: American Philosophical Society On my Return from Virginia lately, I found your agreable Favour of April 24. by which I had the Pleasure of learning that you and Mr. Greene and your little ones were well. Your Invitation is extreamly obliging, and certainly I could not have forgiven myself if I had pass’d thro’ New England without calling to...
41503From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 6 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Supposing the Catalogue of our American Ores and Minerals collected by the late Mr. Hazard, might afford you some Amusement, I send my Letter to Mr. Tissington open to you, and give you the Trouble of forwarding it to him when you have perus’d it. The Bearer of this is Mr. James Logan Son of my Learned Friend of that Name. I beg Leave to recommend him to...
41504To 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:...
41505Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft to Anthony Todd, 10 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; draft (incomplete): American Philosophical Society This letter marks the first stage of the inspection trip Franklin and Foxcroft took through New Jersey, New York, and New England between June 7 and November 5, 1763. Lasting just two days less than five months, this was the longest time Franklin was ever away from home on post-office business. Accompanied most of...
41506Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft: Certificate of Hugh Finlay’s Appointment as Postmaster, 10 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
In consequence of the royal proclamation George III issued four months after his accession, which is summarized in the preamble below, Franklin and Foxcroft prepared and had printed this form of certificate to protect their local postmasters from any interruptions in the performance of their duties. The certificate was, of course, not itself the postmaster’s commission, but rather an...
41507From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 10 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have your Favours of Mar. 10. and April 4. Your being in Parliament gives me great Pleasure; it will afford you many Opportunities of patronizing effectually the important Interests of your America. I rejoice to hear your Work is finished: and feel already the Obligations we shall all be under to you for it. You mention a Proposal to charge us here with...
41508From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 10 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dartmouth College Library I wrote to my dear Friend’s good Mama to day, and said I should hardly have time to write to you; but finding a spare half Hour, I will indulge myself in the Pleasure of spending it with you. I have just receiv’d your most agreable Epistle of March 11. The Ease, the Smoothness, the Purity of Diction, and Delicacy of Sentiment, that always appear in your Letters,...
41509From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 10 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am here in my Way to New England, where I expect to be till towards the End of Summer. I have writ to you lately and have nothing to add. ’Tis against my Conscience to put you to the Charge of a Shilling for a Letter that has nothing in it to any Purpose, but as I have wrote to some of your Acquaintance by this Opportunity, I was afraid you would not forgive me...
41510To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Armbruster, 13 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
MS letter: American Philosophical Society It is the greatest necessity that urges me to give You this trouble; as I have not been favoured with an answer of the first, sent by Mrs. Franklin, made me think it is unwarranted, but flatter myself You’l excuse both. As you are on a Journey and not expected to be back for some Weeks, and as the circumstance will not allow to wait till then, and am...
41511From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 16 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We left Woodbridge on Tuesday Morning and went to Eliz. Town, where I found our Children return’d from the Falls and very well: The Corporation were to have a Dinner that day at the Point for their Entertainment, and prevail’d on us to stay. There was all the principal People and a great many Ladies: after Dinner we set out and got here before dark. We...
41512To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 18 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Yale University Library I had the pleasure to receive your Letter of the 14th. of April, on Wednesday the 8th. Instant, and the same day laid it before His Majesty’s PostMaster General, who were extremely well satisfied and promise Themselves great Information from your Correspondence. They are very glad to find that before you had received my Letters to you of the 12th. of March, your...
41513From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 19 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We are thus far on our Way to Boston, and hope to be there in about three Weeks. I purpose to lodge at your House if you can conveniently receive me. Sally is now with her Brother at Amboy, and will be here in a few Days. If I can well do it, I shall bring her with me; and if you cannot accommodate us both, one of us may lodge at Cousin Williams’s; on...
41514To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 23 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I recd. yours Yesterday, and observe what you say relating to what is inserted in the York Papers. That relating to Lord Bute shall be published next Week, if we have Room; the other the North Briton, if you had not mentioned it, should not have been inserted. Yesterday very bad Accounts came to hand relating to the Indians; but as our Governor, his...
41515From Benjamin Franklin to [Jonathan Williams], 26 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Inclos’d is a Receipt for some things of mine sent to your Care. I am thus far on my Journey to Boston, and hope now to have soon the Pleasure of seeing you. My Love to your Wife and Children. Tell my Cousin to have his Harpsichord in good Order, for I love Music and shall be pleas’d to hear him. My Daughter too, that comes with me, plays a little, and will be...
41516From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, 27 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my Arrival here, News is brought from all Quarters of the Indians having suddenly and pretty generally commenc’d Hostilities, without having first made any Complaint, or alledging any Reason. I find the General is of Opinion, that it is the Effect of a large Belt sent last Year among them by the French Commander in the Ilinois Country, which was stopt...
41517From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 27 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received here your kind little Letter of April 14. with your good Mama’s Favour of the same Date. I write this Line chiefly to acknowledge it, having wrote to you lately, and little now to add. I congratulate you on your Dolly’s Recovery, which you mention as nearly compleated, assuring you that I do, as you suppose, participate your Pleasure. Tell her...
41518From Benjamin Franklin to John Waring, 27 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Being here on my Journey to New-England, I received your Favour of April 5. You will easily conceive that after an Absence of near Six Years from my Family and Affairs, my Attention must be much engross’d on my Arrival by many Things that requir’d it; not to mention a Multiplicity of Visits, &c. that devour abundance of Time, I enquir’d however of Mr....
41519From Benjamin Franklin to John Whitehurst, 27 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library Being here on a Journey to New-England, I received your Favour of March 18 with great Pleasure as it inform’d me of your and Mrs. Whitehurst’s Welfare. As I was not at home to receive Mr. Tunnicliff and afford him personnally my Advice and Assistance, all I could do was to recommend him to some able and intelligent Friends there, who I am sure will be glad to serve...
41520From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library You will hear before this reaches you, that the Indians have renew’d their Hostilities. They have not as usual made any previous Complaint, and various Conjectures are therefore made of the Cause. Some think it is merely to secure their Hunting Countries, which they apprehend we mean to take from them by Force and turn them into Plantations, tho’ this Apprehension...