44161Memorandum on the Use of Pikes, 26 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society The Pennsylvania committee of safety, almost immediately after its creation in June, 1775, began to consider arming the associators with pikes. In early July it asked to see models, and ordered a prototype made according to Franklin’s design. His memorandum was approved on August 26 and soon bore modest fruit, for on the 30th the committee distributed...
44162From Benjamin Franklin to Nicholas Cooke, 27 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 15th Instant, acquainting me with the Loss of the Mail; and proposing a new Route for the Post, to prevent such Accidents hereafter. In that you will take the Advice and Direction of the principal People in your Government. The Comptroller will soon be along your Road, for the purpose of establishing all the Stages and Offices as he...
44163From Benjamin Franklin to Silas Deane, 27 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I am much oblig’d by your Favour of the 13th Inst. Mr. Goddard, Riding Surveyor to the Gen. Post Office is gone to the Southward, for Settling the new Post-Offices all along to Georgia. Mr. Bache, the Comptroller, is to set out next Week Northward on the same Business, who will take with him Directions from me to establish all the Officers in your...
44164From Benjamin Franklin to Gurdon Saltonstall, [27 August 1775] (Franklin Papers)
Paraphrased and quoted in Saltonstall to Silas Deane, September 7, 1775: Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford. I have an esteemed favor of Doctr. Franklyn’s dated 27. ulto. kindly acknowledg the receipt of mine you forwarded datd. 11th. ulto. condolg me on my misfortunes, and adds “shall be glad of any opertunity of doing what may be agreable to you. The Comptroler of the General Post...
44165From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 29 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Understanding since I came hither that 4 Waggon Loads of Gunpowder for New York, which had been landed at the Neversinks, pass’d thro’ here last Friday, I have dispatch’d an Order to our Waggoner, whom I pass’d yesterday at Trenton, to return back with the Ton we spar’d, since it will not be wanted at New York, and may be wanted with us. I hope our...
44166From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Van B. Livingston, 29 August 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library; LS : New York State Library The Committee of Safety acquainted you by a Letter dated the 26th Instant, that we had ordered a Ton of Gunpowder to be sent you agreable to your Request. It left Philada. early on Sunday Morning, and yesterday I overtook the Waggon on the Road at Trenton, and left it proceeding on the Journey. But being informed this Morning at...
44167The Officers of Minutemen in York County to the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, 31 August 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg <York, August 31, 1775: The committee and militia officers of the county, at a meeting on July 20, carried out the recommendation of the Assembly and Congress by ordering the formation of a least five companies of minutemen, and elected the undersigned as field officers. Five companies are already raised and most of the officers chosen. Several of...
44168To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, [August? 1775]: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract reprinted from Horace Wemyss Smith, Life and Correspondence of the Rev. William Smith . . . (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1880), I , 519. I thank you for Dr. Smith’s excellent Sermon. If it be not impertinent, give him my most respectful compliments and thanks. I think to get it printed. The sermon that is the subject of the extract was published, as noted below, in early July. If BF...
44169From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Le Despencer, 3 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mr. Ben Hibbs, Philadelphia (1956) I hope my dear Friend continues well and happy, with good Mrs. Barry and the little ones. I had a short Passage hither, arrived safe, was made very welcome by my old Friends and Countryfolks, and have constantly enjoyed my usual Health and Spirits. As I flatter myself you still retain your former Regard for me, I suppose this small News concerning me,...
44170To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 6 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope this will find you safe at Home, and that you met with no Accident on your Journey. Yesterday Evening Thomas found the Enclosed Letter for you in the Bar of one of the Taverns in this Town. Enclosed is a Copy of the Exposition of the Resolution of the House of Commons which you requested. I also send you the Minutes of the two last Sessions of the...
44171To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, 6 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; extract: Papers of the Earl of Dartmouth deposited in the Staffordshire County Record Office I have your Favour of July 7th. acknowleging the Receit of mine of April 8th. and May 5th. and am very sorry you seem to think Matters are now gone so far as to be past all Accommodation. But as you tell me that Words and Arguments are now of no Use , I shall not...
44172From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 12 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I have this Day received your Favours per Capt. Falconer, of which more in my next. With this I send you a number of Newspapers and Pamphlets, by which you will see Things are become serious here. Your Nation must stop short, and change its Measures, or she will lose the Colonies for ever. The Burning of Towns, and firing from Men of War on defenceless Cities...
44173From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 12 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I this Day receiv’d yours per Capt. Falconer, and am vastly oblig’d by your Industry in Packing and Dispatching my Things. Their Arrival makes me very happy; tho’ they are not yet come on shore. I have not before written to you, imagining you would hardly be found there; but now I find by Mr. Alexander’s Letter (to whom my best Respects) that he advises you to...
44174From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Shipley, 13 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I write but seldom to you, because at this time the most innocent Correspondence with me may be suspected, and attended with Inconvenience to yourself. Our united Wishes for a Reconciliation of the two Countries, are not I fear soon to be accomplished; for I hear your Ministry are determin’d to persevere in their mad Measures, and here I find the firmest...
44175The York County Committee to the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, 14 September 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Text printed in Samuel Hazard et al. , eds., Pennsylvania Archives (2nd series; 19 vols., Harrisburg, Pa., 1879–93), XIV , 539–40. <In committee, York, September 14, 1775: We return you the number of associators whose names we have received, 3,349; there are others whose names we do not know. We cannot list precisely the nonassociators, but will do so as soon as possible. Those of them whose...
44176To Benjamin Franklin from John Foxcroft, 15 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Mr. Dashwood who arrived Yesterday in the Harriott Packet Captn. Lee I rec’d a most Friendly and Polite Letter from our mutual good Friend Ld. Le Despencer wherein He approves of every step I have taken in those troublesome times, which if I mistake not will give you pleasure. I am very sorry to find by a Letter from your Son that some People has had the...
44177Editorial Note on the Secret Committee, 18 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
On September 18, 1775, Congress established what became one of its principal institutions for waging the war, the secret committee. Its nine members, Franklin among them, were elected the next day. Their chief responsibility was to obtain arms and ammunition, and the methods of doing so had been worked out some months earlier. Nonexportation had been relaxed to permit produce, with a few...
44178From Benjamin Franklin to Ebenezer Hazard, 25 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It seems the more necessary to establish speedily a Post to Albany, as we have an Army on your Frontiers. I hope you have found a Rider willing to go on more reasonable Terms than those mention’d in yours of the 6th. appear to be, compar’d with what is given to the New London Riders. But if there are Reasons why he should have more, of which you can best...
44179To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Reed, 25 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress After congratulating you upon an Appointment which is but a small Acknowledgement of the many signal Services you have rendered your Country, I beg leave to mention to you that by some Accident or Misconduct in the Offices the Generals Letters for these 2 Months past to his Family and Friends in Virginia have miscarried. Some very important Business as well respecting...
44180The York County Committee to the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, 27 September 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : Pennsylvania State Library, Harrisburg <York, September 27, 1775: Two months ago the York committee started searching for some one to make saltpetre and found two men, Baltzer Moody and George Garver, who began the work in August. They dug in stables, outhouses, etc.; and the committee lent them money. Yesterday they delivered the 117 pounds of saltpetre that accompany this letter: they...
44181Proposals for Conscientious Objectors: Two Drafts, [before 29 September 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The outbreak of hostilities created political problems in Pennsylvania that continued to vex the province for a year or more. Compulsory military service was unknown, and the inauguration of voluntary service on a larger scale than ever before raised the acute question of what to do about those who would not serve. Franklin had confronted that question...
44182The Pennsylvania Committee of Safety: Report to the Pennsylvania Assembly, [29 September 1775] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania . . ., 1774–75 (Philadelphia, 1775), pp. 660–1. During the summer the associators were growing more and more restive. Those of the city of Philadelphia took exception in July to Congress’ plan for the militia, and later to the plan formulated by the committee of safety. By the beginning of autumn...
44183To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Rogers, 29 September 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Between Burdin Town and West Amboy in my Way to this City Unfortunately lost my Pockett Book which I cannot as yet recover tho’ have taken every the most expedient means; Amongst other papers of Consequence to myself only, Was the Copy of my Parole with the Committees permission for my going to New Hampshire or where else I had Occasion. I have...
44184To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Moore, 1 October 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : D. A. F. H. H. Hartley Russell, on deposit in the Berkshire Record Office (1955) Chas. Moore presents his Complements to Doctor Franklin, and sends the inclosed Papers to him by Order of the Assembly, to be transmitted by the next Packet, to Mr. Hartley, the Member for Hull, some of the Colony Agents, or such other Friends to America, as the Doctor may think most proper. Notation: Mr...
44185From Benjamin Franklin to a Friend in London, [3 October? 1775] (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in The London Chronicle , December 5–7, 1775. Tell our good friend, Dr. P——e, not to be in any pains for us, (because I remember he had his doubts) we are all firm and united. As I know he is a great calculator, I will give him some data to work upon: ministry have made a campaign here, which has cost two millions; they have gained a mile of ground; they have lost half of it...
44186From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 3 October 1775: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in Benjamin Vaughan, ed., Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces . . . Written by Benj. Franklin . . . (London, 1779), pp. 555–6; copy: D. A. F. H. H. Hartley Russell, on deposit in the Berkshire Record Office (1955); copy: Library of Congress I wish as ardently as you can do for peace, and should rejoice exceedingly in co-operating with you to that end. But every...
44187From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Priestley, 3 October 1775: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract printed in Benjamin Vaughan, ed., Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces . . . Written by Benj. Franklin . . . (London, 1779), pp. 365–6. I am to set out to-morrow for the camp, and having but just heard of this opportunity, can only write a line to say that I am well and hearty. Tell our dear good friend . . ., who sometimes has his doubts and despondencies about our...
44188From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 3 October 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Public Record Office Since my Arrival here I have received Four Letters from you, the last dated August 2. all filled with your Reasonings and Persuasions, and Arguments and Intimidations on the Dispute between Britain and America, which are very well written, and if you have shewn them to your Friends the Ministers, I dare say, they have done you Credit. In Answer I can only say that I...
44189The York County Committee to the Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, 4 October 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
LS : The Rosenbach Foundation <York, October 4, 1775: “Your Favour of the 29th ult.. . . by Mr. Swope” (Swoope) has been received, with its gratifying approval of what the county has done. But the order for delivering 500 pounds of powder and 1250 pounds of lead alarmed the inhabitants until they understood that the ammunition would soon be replaced, which we beg you to do as soon as possible....
44190To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, 4 October 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Papers of the Earl of Dartmouth deposited in the Staffordshire County Record Office Though I have nothing new to communicate yet as this is the last regular Packett that is to sail from hence for some time at least, I do not choose to let it go without dropping you a Line. I see with Concern that you have accepted of the Place of Postmaster from the Congress, a Step of itself which...