45101From Benjamin Franklin to Elisha Hart, 29 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours, and I do by this Post request M. Schweighauser to furnish you with the Same Supply that has been received by other officers in your Situation. It is not much, but the great Number we have to relieve from time to time obliges us to be more Sparing than we Should otherwise be. I wish you safe home to you friends and Country, and I have the honour to be...
45102From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 7 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Enclosed is the passport for the Saltpetre. I found no Difficulty is obtaining it from the Farmers General. They would have made the Exchange if ours had been at Bordeaux or Marseilles; but at St. Maloes they have no Refinery. I have received yours of the 26th. & 30th. I enclose Letters also for M. Schweighauser & Messrs. Desegray & Co. If it Should come too late for...
45103Poor Richard, 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1741. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1741 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) This Year there will be but two Eclipses, and those will be of the Sun, the first will happen June the Second Day: The other, November the 27th: Neither of which will be seen in these...
45104From Benjamin Franklin to John Harris, 12 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your Letters of the 7th. Instant. I wish it was in my Power to Accommodate the exchang’d Prisoners with every thing they desire. But the Number is so great, and my Means so Small by the Loss of Several Cargoes sent by the Congress, that it is with difficulty I can provide them with mere Necessaries. I have directed M. Sheweighauser to furnish the Officers...
45105From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy, 22 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society However glad I am of the Occasion, I forbore indulging my self in the Pleasure of congratulating by the first Post my dear double Confrere, on his Election into our Royal Society; because Mr. Walsh undertook to give you the Information, which would make a Second Expence unnecessary, and I saw I should soon have this opportunity by the favour of M....
45106Reply to “A Portugal Merchant,” [end of April 1768] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Your Paper of April 28. contains a Letter from Lisbon , signed A Portugal Merchant , which charges me with an Attempt to set “the British Merchants residing there at variance with their fellow Subjects in America,” quoting, as the Foundation of his Charge, the following Passage of a Letter of mine to you, which he terms politely absurd, false , and...
45107From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 1753 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Historical Society of Pennsylvania With regard to the Germans, I think Methods of great tenderness should be used, and nothing that looks like a hardship be imposed. Their fondness for their own Language and Manners is natural: It is not a Crime. When People are induced to settle a new Country by a promise of Privileges, that Promise should be bonâ fide performed, and the...
45108From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 21 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): New York Public Library I am much obliged by your kind Care of my unfortunate Letter, which at last came safe to hand. I see in it a Detail of the mighty Force we are threatned with; which however I think it is not certain will ever arrive; and I see more certainly the Ruin of Britain if she persists in such expensive distant Expeditions, which will probably prove more disastrous...
45109“A Tale”, [December 1778?] (Franklin Papers)
Passy, printed by Benjamin Franklin, 1779? Il y avoit un Officier, homme de bien, appelé Montresor , qui étoit très-malade. Son Curé croyant qu’il alloit mourir, lui conseilla de faire sa Paix avec Dieu, afin d’être reçu en Paradis. Je n’ai pas beaucoup d’Inquiétude à ce Sujet, dit Montresor; car j’ai eu, la Nuit derniere, une Vision qui m’a tout-à-fait tranquilisé. Quelle Vision avez vous eu?...
45110From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, 31 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Voici, ma trés cher Amie, une de mes Plaisanteries serieuses, ou sourdes, que je vous envoie, esperant qu’elle pourra peutétre vous amuser un peu. Au quel cas, vous me recompenserez en me donnant, je n’ose dire un Baiser, car les votres sont trop precieux, & vous en étes trop chiche; mais vous me jouerez un Noel et l’excellent Marche des Insurgents—...
45111From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald, 14 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society, Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society I am much oblig’d by your Information of your intended Trip to England. I heartily wish you a good Journey, and a Speedy Return; & request your kind Care of a Pacquet for Mr Hodgson. I enclose two Papers that were read at different times by me...
45112Teague’s Advertisement, 26 February 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 26, 1741; also draft: American Philosophical Society. Bradford promised in the Mercury , February 19, that each number of his American Magazine would “contain something more than four Sheets, or an Equivalent to four of such Paper, as the American Mercury is printed on; so that there will be not less than fifty two Sheets published in one Year,...
45113From Benjamin Franklin to [Lebègue de Presle], 4 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
Facsimile: Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress I am much oblig’d by your Communication of the Letter from England. I am of your Opinion that a Translation of it will not be proper for Publication here. Our Friend’s Expressions concerning Mr. Wilson will be thought too angry to be made use of by one Philosopher when speaking of another; and on a philosophical Question. He seems...
45114From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Lee, 11 February 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Justin G. Turner, Los Angeles (1959) The Bearer Monsr. Arundel is directed by the Congress to repair to Gen. Schuyler, in order to be employ’d by him in the Artillery Service. He purposes to wait on you on his Way, and has requested me to introduce him by a Line to you. He has been an Officer in the French Service, as you will see by his Commissions; and professing a Good Will to our...
45115From Benjamin Franklin to James Alexander, 1753 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 282–3. Suppose a tube of any length open at both ends, and containing a moveable wire of just the same length, that fills its bore. If I attempt to introduce the end of another wire into the same tube, it must be done by pushing forward the wire it already contains; and the instant I press and move...
45116Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 31 March 1784 (Adams Papers)
I have the honour of acquainting your Excellency, that an Express from Congress is at last arrived, with their Ratification of the Definitive Treaty. Inclosed I send Copies of the President’s Letter, the Recommendatory Resolution, and the Proclamation, together with three Letters for yourself. We have written to M r Hartley, that we are now ready to make the Exchange. With great Respect, I am,...
45117To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 7 July 1781 (Adams Papers)
Dr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Adams, and sends such of his Trunks as can be got at; W.T.F. in whose Chamber it is suppos’d there may be more, being gone to Paris; and having with him Mr. F’s Carriage prevents his waiting on Mr. Adams immediately as he would otherwise wish to do; but Mr. F. requests the Honour of Mr. Adams’s Company at Dinner to-morrow. RC ( Adams Papers ).
45118Franklin’s “Hints” or Terms for a Durable Union, [between 4 and 6 December 1774] (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress On the evening of December 4, in response to Barclay’s and Fothergill’s invitation the day before, Franklin met with them to discuss the situation. Fothergill assured him that some in the Cabinet were disposed to compromise, and urged him to draw up terms on which the three of them might agree; if they did, their proposals would receive attention in Whitehall....
45119Proposed Resolutions of Thanks, [May 1775, June 1775, or early July 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society The first Continental Congress had sent to London, along with its petition to the King and address to the British people, a resolution of thanks to all those in Britain who had attempted to defend the American cause. The second Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition and another address, but no resolution of thanks to any of its British friends except the...
45120From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, 23 October 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I beg Leave to return your Excellency my sincerest and most hearty Thanks for your Letter of the 17th of September, with the Orders for Payment of the Waggon-Owners, and an Extract of your Orders to Col. Dunbar; forbidding the Enlistment of Servants and Apprentices. Acts of Justice so readily done, become great Favours, which I hope will be ever gratefully...
45121From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 15 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Reproduced in Joseph M. Maddalena, Profiles in History Auction Catalogue no. 15 (Beverly Hills, California, Winter, 1991), p. 3. I am much in your Debt on Account of Letters. I have had a long Fit of the Gout, and am but just getting abroad again after near 10 Weeks Confinement. I have accepted your Bill. I shall write fully to you & Mr Carmichael very soon. This accompanies a Number of...
45122Of Lightning, and the Method (Now Used in America) of Securing Buildings and Persons from Its Mischievous Effects … (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; printed in Experiments and Observations on Electricity, Made at Philadelphia in America, By Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D. and F.R.S . (Fourth edition, London, 1769), pp. 479–85. This paper, appearing for the first time in the 1769 edition of Franklin’s important work, is headed “Letter lix.” The date line indicates that he wrote it during his and Pringle’s visit to Paris in 1767....
45123From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, [November 1760?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress It is, as you observed in our late Conversation, a very general Opinion, that all Rivers run into the Sea , or deposite their Waters there. ’Tis a kind of Audacity to call such general Opinions in question, and may subject one to Censure: But we must hazard something in what we think the Cause of Truth: And if we propose our Objections modestly, we shall, tho’...
45124From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Coffyn, 23 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 10th. I have heard nothing of Mr Wharton since my former. The Ariel was not arriv’d, at least her Arrival was not heard of at Boston the 11th of February, which makes me fear she has either been taken, or has been blown off the Coast of North America by the N. W. Winds of that Country, and is gone perhaps to Martinique. I...
45125From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 1 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): National Archives I have the Pleasure of informing you that it is propos’d to give you the Command of the great Ship we have built at Amsterdam. By what you wrote to us formerly, I have ventur’d to say in your Behalf, that this Proposition would be agreable to you. You will immediately let me know your Resolution: which that you may be more clear in taking, I must inform you of...
45126From Benjamin Franklin to John Torris, 19 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 12th. Instant. I have all along expected the Courts of Admiralty in france would judge of the Prizes without any Intervention of mine. But Since I find it otherwise I have written to Mr. De Sartine on the Subject, and hope your affair will soon be ended to your Satisfaction. I send you here with my judgment of the Prizes and ransoms, to be of...
45127From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 30 June 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from George T. Keppel, Earl of Albemarle, Memoirs of the Marquis of Rockingham and His Contemporaries … (2 vols., London, 1852), II , 299–300. I hear a non-importation agreement is intended. If it is general, and the Americans agree in it, the present Ministry will certainly be knocked up, and their Act repealed; otherwise they and their measures will be continued, and the Stamp Act...
45128From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [10 October? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Comme il sera necessaire, ma chere Amie, que je pars un jour pour l’Amerique, sans Esperance de vous revoir jamais, j’ai eu la Pensée quelquesfois qu’il sera prudent de me sevrer de vous par degrez, de vous voir premierement qu’une fois par semaine, aprés cela, qu’une fois par deux semaines, une fois par mois, etc. etc. afin de diminuer peu-a-peu le Desir...
45129From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 27 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have mislaid your Account of the Drafts you had made on M. De Chaumont, and want it much. Send me by the Return of the Post, either a Copy or an Abstract of it, expressing the Gross Sum & times of Payment. As soon as the Acct. is compleated I should be glad to have it. I received yours of Augt. 26 & Sept. 14.— I approve of your Proposition about the Sailors, and...
45130From Benjamin Franklin to Elizabeth Temple, 27 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received your favour of July 30. with a Letter enclos’d for Mr. Temple. He came to Holland as I heard and went from thence to England, but has not written to me, nor do I know where he resides, So as to direct your Letter to him properly. But I Shall have an oportunity in a few Days of Sending it by a friend, who will find him out and deliver it— Please to present...
45131From Benjamin Franklin to John Torris, 4 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received but a few days since your favours of January 17. and 18. I send here with the Commission desired for Capt. Ryan & The fearnot. I heartily wish you and him all the success you desire and deserve. The Bond is to be executed and Left at Mr. Coffin’s, where you will find the Commission, as the English have paid no Regard to the written paroles taken by the...
45132From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 16 November 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Your Favours of Augt. 26. with the Books for the Library Company, &c. came safe to hand; and all turn out right; excepting that D’Argens Philosophy of Common Sense is not come, but another thing of his instead of it. The Life of Boerhave sent is an old and small Book; what we intended was a new Life lately published in (I think) 4 Vols. 8vo. Condamine’s Figure of...
45133To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 30 November 1780 (Adams Papers)
I have had a severe Fit of the Gout which has confined me six Weeks; but it is now going off, and I flatter myself that it has done me a great deal of Good. I have just received a Letter from Dr. Ezra Stiles, of which the inclosed is an extract. Please to communicate it to Mr. Searle, and then give it to M. Dumas if you judge it proper for Publication. I have also a large and particular...
45134From Benjamin Franklin to Lotbinière, 28 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, Monsieur la Lettre que vous m’avez fait l’honneur de m’écrire le 26 de ce mois. Je vous renvoye cy joint les Papiers que vous m’avez laissés. Je suis tous les Matins chèz moi Jus qu’à onze heures, excepté les mardis, et Je vous verrai avec plaisir Si vous m’honorez d’une Visite. J’ai l’honneur d’être très parfaitement, Monsieur votre très humble...
45135From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 7 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I arrived here the first of last Month, and had the great Happiness, after so long Absence, to find my little Family well, and my Friends as cordial and more numerous than ever. Mr. Bartram I suppose writes to you concerning the great Bones at the Ohio. I have delivered to him and to the Library Company what you sent by me. There is great Complaint here of the...
45136From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 26 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society Last Night I received your Favour of the 19th per Post, which I think is the best Conveyance for our Letters without any direct Address; for I perceive that not only the little Piece which I sent on the 4th Inst. but a long Letter of the 8th. have miscarried. With the first I only thank’d you for the Square of 11000, and made a short Remark of some...
45137From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 January 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Thomas S. Gates, Philadelphia (1957); also duplicate: Yale University Library I wrote a Line to you some days since, via New York, enclosing a Bill of £25 Sterling; the second in a Copy by some other Vessel from that Port; the third you have herein, together with a Bill of £60 Sterling, which I hope will be duly honour’d. My Wife wrote to you per Mesnard for 6 Nelson’s Justice, 6...
45138From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 8 December 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress As Baron de Holtzendorff has thought fit to trouble your Excellency with a Memorial to me, relating to his affairs and complains highly as I understand of the Congress & of me, I beg leave to acquaint you with a few Circumstances in our Vindication, most of which I have from himself in one of his former Papers. Mr. Deane soon after his Arrival here, is said to have...
45139From Benjamin Franklin to the Freemen of Pennsylvania, 28 September 1764 (Franklin Papers)
Printed broadside: Library Company of Philadelphia; draft (fragment): American Philosophical Society Governor Penn had asked the Assembly for a militia bill on Feb. 4, 1764, and the House sent him one on the 28th. After conferring with his Council the governor returned the bill on March 12 with a series of proposed amendments, but when the House considered the matter on the 17th it took no...
45140From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 3–21 April 1769 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Allen D. Candler, ed., The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia (26 vols., Atlanta, Ga., 1904–16), XV , 26–7. I received duely your favour of December 24th with the Address of your Commons House of Assembly to the King. I directly waited on Lord Hillsborough Secretary of State for American Affairs, and delivered it to him to be presented to his Majesty, which he assured me...
45141From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, 22 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Archives Mr. Norris not being in Town, your Excellency’s Letter of the 14th Instant per Express, was delivered to me. I immediately conven’d the Committee, and communicated the Contents. In answer, they desire me to acquaint your Excellency with the State of the Provisions they have procured, which is as follows. They have purchased but 500 Barrels of Pork. It is all of the...
45142From Benjamin Franklin to John Holker, 28 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Inclos’d I send you a Packet I have just received from Morlaix, containing some of the Papers you requested me to recover, and a Receipt for the Rest— You Will see what Mr. Diot says about the Trunks of Clothes. It will be best I imagine for the person who desires to have them, if he knows which they are, to Describe them to Mr. Diot or some other Person, and order...
45143From Benjamin Franklin to [——— d’Anglemont], 5 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Mr. Torris informs me that eight of the Prisoners formerly brought in to Dunkirque by the Black prince an american Privateer are desirous of serving under Capt. Ryan in the fearnot, and that the said Captain knowing them, and placing Confidence in them, is desirous of having them in his service; I do hereby request that you would be pleased to deliver the said Eight...
45144From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I leave Directions with Mrs. Stevenson to deliver you all the Massachusetts Papers, when you please to call for them. I am sorry that the Hurry of Preparing for my Voyage and the many Hindrances I have met with, prevented my meeting you and Mr. Bollan, and conversing a little more on our Affairs before my Departure. I wish to both of you Health and Happiness,...
45145From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 9 January 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received a Letter or two from you, in which I perceive you have misunderstood and taken unkindly something I said to you in a former jocular one of mine concerning Charity . I forget what it was exactly, but I am sure I neither express nor meant any personal Censure on you or any body. If anything, it was a general Reflection on our Sect; we zealous...
45146Memorial to James Abercromby, 22 June 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Huntington Library It has been proposed to keep in constant Readiness a Number of Riders and Horses at different Parts of the Continent, viz. at New York 4, at Philadelphia 3, at in Connecticut 2, at Boston 2, and some in the intermediate Stages. These to be always ready to go at a Moment’s Warning, with Dispatches for the King’s Service. This Method will doubtless answer the End, with...
45147From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 13 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 1262 (July 1, 1920), item 31; and American Art Association, Sale Catalogue (April 22–4, 1924), item 295. I received your kind Letter of the 23d of December. I rejoice always to hear of your & your good Mother’s Welfare, tho’ I can write but Seldom, Safe Opportunities are Scarce. Looking over some old Papers I find the rough Draft of a Letter which...
45148From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 9 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Merchants alluded to in my Letter to your Brother, were Mr. Bayard, Mr. Monthieu, and M. Chaumont. The Terms I understood to be those proposed by Virginia. I have the honour to be with great respect, Sir Your most obedient and most humble servant An obvious mistranscription by the copyist.
45149From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 10 February 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am glad to learn that the Turnip Seed and the Rhubarb grow with you and that the Turnip is approved. It may be depended on that the Rhubarb is the genuine Sort. But to have the Root in perfection, it ought not to be taken out of the Ground in less than 7 Years. Herewith I send you a few Seeds of what is called the Cabbage Turnip. They say that will...
45150From Benjamin Franklin to Caleb Whitefoord, 9 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum; draft: American Philosophical Society I thank you for your kind Congratulations on my Son’s Promotion and Marriage. If he makes a good Governor and a good Husband (as I hope he will, for I know he has good Principles and good Dispositions) those Events will both of them give me continual Pleasure. The Taking of the Havanah, on which I congratulate you, is a Conquest of...