44551Certificate for a Georgia Lieutenant, [31 August 1779] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): American Philosophical Society I do hereby certify whom it may concern, that to my Knowledge M. —— was a Lieutenant in the —— Regiment of Georgia in the Service of the United States of America, and had a regular Commission of the Congress appointing him to that Office, which I understand he lost when he was unfortunately taken by the English. Esteeming him a young Gentleman of...
44552Receipt to Sarah Read, 21 October 1746 (Franklin Papers)
MS Receipt Book: American Philosophical Society Among Franklin’s papers in the American Philosophical Society is a receipt book of his mother-in-law, containing 27 receipts between 1715 and 1760, most of them between 1733 and 1747. Payments are recorded to William Rakestraw for carpentry, to Samuel Alford for making a silver spoon, to Anthony Nicholas “for Iron work Done too pump & Seller...
44553From Benjamin Franklin to John Winthrop, 11 March 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society At length after much Delay and Difficulty I have been able to obtain your Telescope that was made by Mr. Short before his Death. His Brother, who succeeds in the Business, has fitted it up and compleated it. He has followed the Business many Years at Edinburgh, is reckon’d very able, and therefore I hope every thing will be found right; but as it is only...
44554Remarks on Agriculture and Manufacturing, [late 1771?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Yale University Library These comments, although they have been assigned to an earlier date, were in fact upon a chapter in the anonymous Considerations on the Policy, Commerce and Circumstances of the Kingdom (London, 1771). In that chapter the author argues that agriculture and the trade in provisions to which it gives rise have never materially enriched a country and never will. This...
44555From Benjamin Franklin to Sir Alexander Dick, 3 January 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library After we took leave of you, we spent some Weeks in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and at length arriv’d at our House here in good Health, having made a Tour of near 1500 Miles, in which we had enjoy’d a great deal of Pleasure, and receiv’d a great deal of useful Information. But no part of our Journey affords us, on Recollection, a more pleasing Remembrance, than...
44556Franklin’s Sketch of Articles of Peace, [between 10 and 13 December? 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: South Carolina Historical Society That there shall be a firm & perpetual Peace &ca. A Renunciation on the Part of the K. of G. B. of all Claim or Pretention to the Government or Territory of all or any of the United States, ceding all Claim to the Lands, or to the Right of Preemption of any of them from the Natives, included in the Boundaries, Viz. That all his Troops shall be withdrawn...
44557From Benjamin Franklin to Marignac, 31 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Made Montgomery qui me fait l’honneur de se charger de celle cy, est une Dame Ameriquaine qui n’a d’autre But en venant en Europe, que celui de donner la meilleure Education a son fils unique, qui l’accompagne. M’ayant demandé mon Conseil a ce Sujet, j’ai cru ne pouvoir mieux seconder ses Vues qu’en vous l’adressant. Il seroit inutile de vous recommander...
44558From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 2 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I receiv’d yours of Dec. 2. enclosing a Bill Hancock on Haley & Hopkins for £150 for Account of the Gen. Post-Office. Inclos’d I return you the Bill, Dunn on Long, Drake and Long, for £100 Sterling, with the Protest which costs 5 s. 9 d. I hope you are careful to give me Credit for these Protested Bills. I sent you two per last Packet, and one by...
44559From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Penington, 9 January 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I receiv’d your Favour of Oct. 21 . with one enclos’d for Mr. Penn, which I have deliver’d to him. I doubt he will not know of this Opportunity time enough to write to you, and therefore I may say for him that he appear’d well-pleas’d with your Letter, and dispos’d to follow your Advice of not selling the Mannor. The Opinion that has been long expected on...
44560From Benjamin Franklin to Ernst Frederik von Walterstorff, 2 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of AL : Library of Congress On August 30 the three ministers newly commissioned by Congress to negotiate treaties of amity and commerce with foreign powers held their first formal meeting at Franklin’s residence in Passy. Thomas Jefferson, recently arrived from America, was by that time settled in Paris. John Adams, now joined by his family, had rented a mansion in Auteuil, just one...
44561From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 7 June 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque Municipale de Nantes I wrote to you sometime since that I had receiv’d your Orders to procure a Mace and Gowns suitable for your Assembly, and that I hoped to have them ready to go by this Ship. The Gowns are accordingly ready; but the Silversmith has not kept his Time. So I think it best to send the Whole together, which I shall do by the first Opportunity after the Mace is...
44562From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 October 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Cornell University Library It feels very strange to me to have Ships and Packets come in, and no Letters from you. But I do not complain of it, because I know the reason is, my having written to you that I was coming home. That you may not have the same disagreable Sensation, I write this Line, tho’ I have written largely by the late Ships, and therefore have little left to say. I have...
44563From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 29 July 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am just return’d from Albany, where were Commissioners from seven Provinces to treat with the Indians of the Six Nations. I suppose the Treaty will be printed, and I shall send you a Copy. At present can only mention, that we brighten’d the Chain with them &c. and parted good Friends; but in my Opinion no Assistance is to be expected from them in any...
44564From Benjamin Franklin to John Bull, 26 August 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have the Pleasure to acquaint you, that upon the Reading of your Letter which I laid before Convention, the Leave which you desired was granted. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Bull ( c. 1730–1824) had recruited and commanded a Pa. battalion until the previous January, when he resigned because many of his officers would no longer serve under...
44565Certification of a Signature, [29 March 1780] (Franklin Papers)
AD (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library I do hereby certify that the Signature P Henry to this Instrument is truly the Hand-writing of the Governor of Virginia. At Passy, this 29th Day of March 1780. Most probably written on behalf of Louis-Pierre Penot Lombart de Laneuville, a brigadier general in the American army who was now lobbying for the rank of lt. col. in the French army (which...
44566From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 10 June 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letters of March 12 and April 24. I think you are the most punctual of all my Correspondents; and it is often a particular Satisfaction to me to hear from you, when I have no Letter from any one else. I did per Capt. Falconer answer Sally’s Letter about her Son’s being inoculated; and told her Sir John Pringle’s Opinion as to the...
44567To George Washington from Benjamin Franklin, 3 April 1787 (Washington Papers)
I have often thought that the Number of People, who by Curiosity and the Admiration of your Character are drawn to call at Mt Vernon, must be very troublesome to you, and have therefore generally declin’d giving any introductory Letters. But my Nephew Mr Jonathan Williams, who was a faithful and active Agent of the United States during the whole War, in shipping Stores, Arms, Ammunition &c....
44568From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 8 August 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library The above is Copy of my last. Not receiving the Printing House as expected last Spring, has been a considerable Disappointment; but I am more concern’d to hear that you and yours have had so much Sickness. I hope before this time you are all perfectly recover’d. I inclose a Bill for £20 Sterling, drawn by Mrs. Mary Steevens on Alexr. Grant Esqr; which when paid...
44569From Benjamin Franklin to Marignac, 16 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Press copy: American Philosophical Society I received your Favour of the 21st February; It was a great Satisfaction to me to be inform’d that you had taken care to have my Grandson out of the Way of any Danger that might have arisen from your public Troubles, and I pray you to accept my Thanks. I hope those Troubles are now all over, and that you are happy in the general Tranquility, being...
44570From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 15 July 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : New-York Historical Society I have just received your No 11. dated the 22d. of May. This Line serves chiefly to recommend to your Civilities two of my English Friends, who will probably pass through Philadelphia in their Way to Virginia. As they are lately from London, they can give you a good Account of the State of Parties there, and the general Disposition of the Nation respecting...
44571The Busy-Body, No. 4, 25 February 1729 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , February 25, 1728/9. Nequid nimis. In my first Paper I invited the Learned and the Ingenious to join with me in this Undertaking; and I now repeat that Invitation. I would have such Gentlemen take this Opportunity, (by trying their Talent in Writing) of diverting themselves and their Friends, and improving the Taste of the Town. And because I would...
44572From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 25 October 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I ought to have inform’d you sooner that we got well home, and should have enquir’d after your Health as we left you in the Hands of a Fever; I beg you’d excuse the Delay, and desire you would remember in my favour the old Saying, They who have much Business must have much Pardon . Whenever Mr. Francis and I meet of an Evening, we drink your Health among our other...
44573Marginalia in The True Constitutional Means, an Anonymous Pamphlet, [1769?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notations in the margins of a copy in the New York Public Library of The True Constitutional Means for Putting an End to the Disputes between Great-Britain and the American Colonies (London, 1769). [ On the title page: ] Query, Could this be written by Mr. Jackson? from some Expressions and Arguments it should seem so; but others are so unlike his Precision that I rather think he is not the...
44574From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 27 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress J’ai l’honneur de remettre a votre Excellence une Lettre que jai recu de M. Gratien Lieutenant Gal. de L’amirauté de Morlaix avec une copie de la reponse que j’y ai faite, et un Exemplaire du reglement du 27. 7bre 1778 concernant les prises faittes par les corsaires Français et Americains, permettez moi de vous observer, Monsieur...
44575From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, 12 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum I am concern’d to understand lately that you have never been paid as I expected for the Ephemerides, and therefore I send you three Guineas by our valuable Friend M. Baudeau, requesting you will let me have the Accompt at your Leisure, and I will take care for the future that the Payment shall be more punctual. You are doing a great deal of Good to...
44576From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Le Despencer, 14 April 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dashwood Papers, Bodleian Library I apprehend there will hardly be room for so much , in Characters large enough to be read from below. If the Sculptor should be of that Opinion, perhaps it may be well enough still, if we begin with the Words, Almighty God being , &c. and end with, Persuasion , omitting what is before and after. I happen to be engag’d at Dinner, but purpose waiting on...
44577From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 19 June 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I sent you some time last Fall a Set of Chinese Prints, or rather Prints taken from Chinese Pictures, relating to the Culture of Silk in that Country. I hope they got to hand, tho” I have not heard of your Receiving them. My Brother brought me from you, Æpinus’s Pieces. I thank you for your Care in returning them. He tells me you would like to have one of the new...
44578The Printer to the Reader, 2 October 1729 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , October 2, 1729. The attacks of the Busy-Body, Keimer’s business incompetence, the flatness of his paper plodding doggedly through the letter A of Chambers’ Cyclopaedia , all combined to keep the Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences from getting either subscribers or advertisers. Keimer’s creditors, growing apprehensive, had him seized in June,...
44579From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 11 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received and read with great Pleasure the Letter your Excellency did me the honour to write to me the 26 past, acquainting me with his Majesty’s Goodness towards the Sieur Giddins, who had the Misfortune to lose his Brigantine by the Mistake of a Battery at Guadeloupe. I beg you would present and make acceptable to his Majesty my most thankful Acknowledgements for...
44580From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 13 February 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Richard D. Wood, Jr., Wawa, Pa. (1957); printed in American Journal of Science, and Arts , V (1822), 364–6. You desire to know my Thoughts about the N.E. Storms beginning to Leeward. Some Years since there was an Eclipse of the Moon at 9 in the Evening, which I intended to observe, but before 8 a Storm blew up at N E. and continued violent all Night and all next Day, the Sky thick...