431From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 28 February 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract reprinted from Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 906, pt. 2, supplement (October 26, 1904), item 2910. Our Friend Hall goes on exceedingly well: Has lately got a Daughter. Mary, first child of David and Mary Hall, was born Feb. 7, 1749, and died before Sept. 27, 1750. PMHB , XVI (1892), 364; LX (1936), 458.
432Directors of Library Company to Thomas Penn, 14 March 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania This waits of You to acknowledge the Receipt of Your generous present to the Library Company by the Hands of Mr. Richard Hockley of a curious reflecting Telescope and five Volumes of Voyages. The Occasions of returning Thanks for Your several generous Donations have been so frequent that it is not easy to find new Expressions of Gratitude for this fresh...
433From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 29 April 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences I now send you some Further Experiments and Observations in Electricity made in Philadelphia 1748. viz. §1. There will be the same Explosion and Shock if the electrified, Phial is held in one Hand by the Hook, and the Coating touched by the other; as when held by the Coating and touched at the Hook. §2. To take the charged Phial safely by the Hook,...
434From Benjamin Franklin to John Mitchell, 29 April 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Academy of Arts and Sciences Observations and Suppositions towards forming a new Hypothesis for explaining the several Phaenomena of Thunder Gusts. §1. Non-Electrical Bodies, that have Electric Fire thrown into [or on] them, will retain it, ’till other Non-electrics, that have less, approach; and then ’tis communicated by a Snap, and becomes equally divided. §2. Electrical Fire...
435From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 29 April 1749 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I suppose Mr. Hall will acquaint you that I have settled with him for those Things you sent me that were charg’d in his Invoice. Enclos’d are the following Bills, viz. Richard Graham’s £22. 0. 0 James M’Nab’s 3. 10. 0 Hammond & Co’s 2. 13. 7 Do 8. 8. 0 Do
436From George Washington to Lawrence Washington, 5 May 1749 (Washington Papers)
I hope your Cough is much mended since I saw you last, if so likewise hope you have given over the thoughts of leaving Virginia. As there is not an absolute occasion of my coming down, hope you’l get the Deeds acknowledged without Me; my Horse is in very poor order to undertake such a journey, and is in no likelihood of mending for want of Corn sufficient to support him; tho’ if there be any...
437To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 19 May 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook abstract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Sent him Capt. Smiths voyages or Travels to Virginia. Greg. Leti’s Sisto 5 to. 2 Voll and Marchetti’s Lucrezzio in Italian and desired him to Send me what Classics he has published by M. Mattaire. “Capt. Smiths voyages” was probably The True Travels, Adventures, and Observations of Captaine John Smith, In Europe, Asia, Affrica, and...
438From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 19 May 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Sparks, Works , VII , 40. I send you the third and fourth volumes of the Harleian Miscellany, and also what I have of Mattaire’s Classics. I think I promised to send you something else, but have forgotten what it was. You complain of the decay of your memory, but mine is a miserable one, and never was good. I thank you for your favor in lending me...
439To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 11 June 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook abstract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Wrote to B. Franklin to come up and See my Books.
440From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 3 July 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Bigelow, Works , X , 252–3. I wrote to you very fully per Arthur concerning your affair with Mr. Read, and shall have nothing to add on that subject till I hear further from you. I acquainted you that he had given his bond for the balance due to you, and that I do not look on the debt as desperate. Enclosed I send you several second bills, having sent the firsts...
441From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 4 July 1749 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I sent word today to N. Holland, that you desired to see him, and offer’d him my Horse. He sent me word, he could get a Horse in the Neighbourhood, and would wait on you. I return you Smith’s Travels with Thanks. I send you also Wr. Pope’s Life of Ward Bishop of Salisbury. I am, Sir, with great Respect Your most humble Servant Endorsed: Benj: Franklin July...
442From Benjamin Franklin to George Whitefield, 6 July 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Evangelical Magazine , XI (1803), 27–8; also AL (fragment): American Philosophical Society. Since your being in England, I have received two of your favours, and a box of books to be disposed of. It gives me great pleasure to hear of your welfare, and that you purpose soon to return to America. We have no kind of news here worth writing to you. The affair of the building...
443To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Kalm, 6 August 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in The Pennsylvania Gazette , October 12, 1749. I have found more learned Men in Canada, than I imagined had been in all America. The Jesuits in general excel in several Parts of Learning; and the King’s Officers also are skilful in the Arts and Sciences. The new General Governor, Monsieur Jonquiere, who was taken Prisoner by the English in the last War,...
444On the Need for an Academy, 24 August 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , August 24, 1749. By 1740 Franklin was well satisfied with his condition and prospects in Pennsylvania, but he regretted that no provision was made “for a compleat Education of Youth.” He “therefore in 1743, drew up a Proposal for establishing an Academy,” which he discussed with Rev. Richard Peters, whom he considered suitable to head such an institution....
445From George Washington to Ann Fairfax Washington, September–November 1749 (Washington Papers)
E ditorial N ote The principal Washington documents extant for the years before 1752 are, in addition to the school exercises, a group of early surveys, a 1748 diary of a surveying expedition undertaken for Lord Fairfax in Virginia’s Northern Neck, and the journal kept by GW of his trip with his half brother Lawrence to Barbados in 1751–52. GW kept his diary entries for the Fairfax surveying...
446From Benjamin Franklin to Abiah Franklin, 7 September 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from London Magazine: and Monthly Chronologer , XII (1825), 606. We received your kind Letter by this Post, and are glad to hear you still continue to enjoy such a share of Health. Cousin Josiah and his Spouse arrived here hearty and well last Saturday noon; I met them the Evening before at Trenton, 30 miles off and accompany’d them to Town. They went into their own...
447From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 12 September 1749 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): Historical Society of Pennsylvania [ First part missing ] [Ad]vertisement, by which you will see the Language of the Picts is now under Consideration at home. If I had a Copy of what you have wrote on that Subject, I would take Care it should not be lost. Please to favour me with the short Account of your Library, contain’d in the Paper I read the other Day at your House, that...
448To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 13 September 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received thine of Yesterdays date this day about II but do not believe that discourse of Doctor Frees explains the Discourse of the Picts or as he calls them the Pyhtas as I have done for he mentions the duration of their Language. I shall cause my younger Son next Month when he is out of his time [to] copy out that discourse: Thou may...
449To 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...
450From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 18 September 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Sparks, Works , VII , 40. For the reason you mention, I am of the same opinion, that Dr. Free has not considered the Picts’ language as you have done, but imagines with other writers that the Pict nation was totally destroyed and its language with it. See above, p. 390. John Free wrote of the Pictish language that, with “the Saxon to the South, and the...
451From George Washington to Thomas, Lord Fairfax, October–November 1749 (Washington Papers)
I went Last Tuesday not knowing your Lordship had that very Day set out for Neavils to see whether you had any further Commands or directions to give concerning the Surveying of Cacapehon and as your Lordship was not at Home I was inform by Colo. G. Fairfax that you had not any Directions in Particular more than were given to the other Surveyors as your Lordship had mentioned ⟨ ⟩ therefore...
452Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania, [October 1749] (Franklin Papers)
Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania. Philadelphia: Printed in the Year, M,DCC,XLIX . (Yale University Library) This pamphlet was printed after September 13, 1749, when Logan wrote the account of his library which Franklin printed in a footnote. It was printed before October 23, if, as seems likely, he enclosed it to Strahan, to whom he wrote on that day, “I am now...
453To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 6 October 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I absolutely forgot to mention what I principally intended yesterday. Thy telling me what were the most likely paper Mills to Supply me with 6 or 7 sheets or more of Pastboard of about 19 or 20 inches in length and 15 in breadth and what rolling presses were [in] town to smooth them, an exact account of which to be prepared to day and Sent in...
454From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 23 October 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Bigelow, Works , X , 253–4. I hope before this can reach you your Parliament will have met and ordered payment of what has been so long due on account of the Canada expedition. In the settling our account I will make you a reasonable allowance for the disappointment occasioned by the delay of my son’s bill. J. Read has removed into a house of less rent, which I was...
455To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, [November 1749] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society I receiv’d by the last opportunity from New York the Proposals relating to the Education of Youth in Pensylvania. I have read it with much pleasure and heartily wish the Gentlemen success that are endeavouring to promote so usefull a Design. I have no objection to any thing in the proposals. I am pleased with every part of them. Tho I do not pretend to have...
456Constitutions of the Academy of Philadelphia, [13 November 1749] (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania; another MS version: University of Pennsylvania Archives This document was drawn up by Franklin and Tench Francis. The final and official version, spread on the Trustees’ Minutes and printed here, contains corrections and additions by Franklin and his insertion of James Logan’s name at the head of the list of trustees. It is of further...
457Subscriptions to the Academy, 14 November 1749 (Franklin Papers)
DS : University of Pennsylvania Archives The 14th: Day of November in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and forty-nine. For the Encouragement of this useful good and charitable Undertaking, to enable the Trustees and their Successors to begin, promote, continue and enlarge the same, humbly hoping, through the Favour of Almighty God, and the Bounty and Patronage of pious and...
458Proposals for Preparing the Academy Building, [December 1749?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (fragment): American Philosophical Society With by-laws signed and funds promised for the Academy, the trustees had next to decide on its location. Some (including Franklin at first) favored a country town as less corrupting to students’ morals; others preferred Philadelphia, where James Logan offered a lot in Sixth Street. In either case a suitable building would cost a good deal of money....
459To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 13 December 1749 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook abstract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote to him that Lewis Evans has been here yesterday to advise of T. Godfrey’s Decease which I supposed had prevented his coming today the last he had appointed but that to morrow was a new one and that he might apply to my Son for his Charges. Some here would be pleased to see his Experiments [ two words illegible ]. That is, BF ....
460From Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, 16 December 1749 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Sparks, Works , VII , 40. I send you herewith a new French piece on electricity, in which you will find a journal of experiments on a paralytic person. I also send Neal on Electricity, and the last Philosophical Transactions, in which you will find some other pieces on the same subject. If you should desire to see any of the experiments mentioned in...