45801From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 6 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS , AL (draft), and copy: Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I have receiv’d several Letters from you lately inclosing others for the President of Congress; and for Spain, all of which are sealed & forwarded, except the last for the President containd in yours of the 26th. past, which shall go by the first Opportunity. The Reading of those Letters gave me much Information, and...
45802From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [c. 15 September 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society J’accepte avec un plaisir infini, ma chere amie, la Proposition que vous me faites avec tant de bonté de m’adopter pour vôtre Pere. Je serai bienheureux en la Parenté d’une si bonne enfante; et comme en venant m’etablir ici, j’ai perdu la douce Compagnie et l’Attention respectueuse d’une Fille affectionnée, cette Perte sera reparée, et j’aurai la...
45803From Benjamin Franklin to Wuybert, Lunt and MacKellar, Officers and the Other Prisoners at Forton, 20 October 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received yours of the 2d. Instant. I beg that you will be assured that your long Detention, is not owing to any Neglect of you by the Commissioners. Our first Applications for exchanging you, were haughtily rejected. You were at that time consider’d as Rebels, committed for High Treason, who could only be delivered by course of Law. We then did every thing...
45804“The Spectator”: The Duke of York’s Travels, 10 May 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , May 15, 1765 I have observed all the News-papers have of late taken great Liberties with a noble Personage nearly allied to his Majesty. They have one Day made him Commander of a Fleet in the Mediterranean; again in the Channel; then to hoist his Flag on board a Yacht, and go on a grand Commission to Copenhagen; then to take a Tour to Brunswick, and so parade...
45805From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 13 March 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote to you very fully per Falconer of Feb. 17. and have since received yours of Jan. 21. together with one from the Committee, and the Messages, which, as you will see by my Answer to the Committee, I communicated to Lord Hillsborough. His Lordship read them deliberately, and took Notice that the Message of the Assembly seem’d to insinuate, that the Governor...
45806From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 25 October 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society This last Summer I have enjoy’d very little of the Pleasure of Reading or Writing. I made a long Journey to the Eastward, which consum’d 10 Weeks; and two Journeys to our Western Frontier: One of them to meet and hold a Treaty with the Ohio Indians, in Company with Mr. Peters and Mr. Norris. I shall send you a Copy of the Treaty as soon as ’tis printed. I...
45807From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Rhoads, 10 February 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Favour of Nov. 9. and am glad to hear of the Welfare of you and yours. Mentioning to a Friend of mine, Mr. Wooller, an Engineer, your Idea of Paint and Sand, to make Roofs durable and safer from Fire (which I hope you will try, as I think it very likely to succeed) he communicated to me an Account of a new Method of Covering, in the...
45808From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Sharpe, 21 April 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library I approve very much of engaging Dr. Hay. I know not whether he will chuse to appear for us before the Attorney and Sollicitor General, but before the Committee of Council perhaps he may have no Objection. If the Constitution of the Province is to be attack’d, as you intimate, the Cause is of so much greater Weight. If the Privileges of a single Englishman are of...
45809From Benjamin Franklin to Tuthill Hubbart, 27 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS on loan, Los Angeles County Museum: Mr. Jerome L. Padelford, San Gabriel, Cal., and Mrs. Martin L. Potter, Tacoma, Wash. (1955) I am much obliged by your care in sending me constantly the Boston Newspapers, which I request you to continue till you hear of my Return; adding such political Pamphlets or Sermons as may be published among you. I am glad I did not see your Name among the...
45810From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 9 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Line is just to let you know that we have this moment come to an Anchor here, and that I am going ashore at Portsmouth, and hope to be in London on Tuesday Morning. No Father could be tenderer to a Child, than Capt. Robinson has been to me, for which I am greatly oblig’d to Messrs. James and Drinker’s but we have had terrible Weather, and I have often...
45811From Benjamin Franklin to George Washington, 5 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I received but lately the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me in Recommendation of the Marquis de la Fayette. His Modesty detain’d it long in his own Hands. We became acquainted however, from the time of his Arrival at Paris, and his Zeal for the Honour of our Country, his Activity in our Affairs here, and his firm...
45812From Benjamin Franklin to Octavie Guichard Durey de Meinières, 23 April 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society It is certain that Mr. Franklin has promised Madame Helvetius that he will accompany her on Wednesday next to the Pavillions de Chaillot. He has long desired to pay his Duty there, but was afraid to encounter the keen and fine Reproaches of Made de Meinieres, which he had before experienc’d, and which his Conscience told him he deserved. He resolved,...
45813From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 22 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives, American Philosophical Society; copy and transcript: National Archives; copy: Harvard University Library I received your Favour of May 15. and was glad to find that mine of Decr. 21. had come to hand. Mr. Deanes Brother writes that it was not signed, which was an accidental Omission. Mr. Deane himself is I hope with you long before this time, and I doubt not but every...
45814From Benjamin Franklin to Anna Maria Shipley, 25 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I received by General Verdiere a few Days since the very obliging Letter my dear and amiable Friend did me the honour of writing to me from Wimbledon, dated April 7. He had it seems been detain’d somewhere by Sickness.— The kind Remembrance & unchang’d Affection of old Friends whose good Opinion I always highly valued, is in these times of publick...
45815From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 6 October 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library Since my last to you, which went per Capt. Foulger, the Parliament, by a sudden and unexpected Resolution in the Cabinet, has been dissolved. Various are the Conjectures as to the Motives; among which one is, that some Advices from Boston, importing the Impossibility of carrying on Government there under the late Acts of Parliament, have made it appear necessary...
45816From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 1 September 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote to you yesterday, and now I write again. You will say, It can’t rain, but it pours: For I not only send you manuscript but living Letters. The first may be short, but the latter will be longer and yet more agreable. Mr. Bartram I believe you will find to be at least 20 folio Pages, large Paper, well fill’d, on the Subjects of Botany, Fossils, Husbandry,...
45817From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin and Elizabeth West, [before 4 April 1772?]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : Yale University Library <Before April 4, [1772? ], and in the third person. An invitation to dinner next Saturday, April 4.> Between the artist’s marriage and BF ’s return to America, April 4 fell on a Saturday in 1767 and 1772. Our predecessors did not print the invitation under the earlier date, and we are therefore assigning it to the later one.
45818From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 20 July 1762 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from John Bigelow, ed., The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin (New York and London, 1887–88), III , 207–8. I received your very kind letter and invitation to Bath where I am sure I could spend some days very happily with you and Mrs. Strahan, if my time would permit; but the man-of-war, that is to be our convoy, is under sailing orders for the 30th of this month so...
45819From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 19 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received yours and Mr. Colden’s with the Accounts, and Bills, per Packet, concerning which shall be more particular in my next. This Line is only to inform you, that in my Opinion you are likely to obtain from the Board the Addition you desire to enable you to live at New York; that probably Mr. Finlay will be appointed Riding Surveyor; and that...
45820Intelligence from London, [after 8 March 1782] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in William Duane, ed., The Works of Dr. Benjamin Franklin … (6 vols., Philadelphia, 1808–18) V , 325–6. No. III. 1. The nation has spent in this war, since 1775 an hundred millions of sterling money. 2. The nation has lost by this war fourteen colonies on the continent of America, several Islands in the West Indies, and Minorca. 3. The nation is at war with three powerful states in...
45821From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 August 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that the English Ministry do not agree to any of the Propositions that have been made either by us, or by their Minister here; and they have sent over a Plan for the definitive Treaty, which consists merely of the Preliminaries formerly signed, with a short Introductory Paragraph, & another at the...
45822From Benjamin Franklin to [Noble Wimberly Jones], 25 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society Being just about to embark for Europe, I take the Liberty of troubling you with my Acct. and requesting you would be so good as to procure an Adjustment of it from your Government, and remit the Sum you receive to my Son-in-law Richard Bache, Secretary of the General Post Office Residing in this Place, whose Rect. shall be a Discharge. I congratulate you...
45823From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 22 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; copy: Library of Congress My Friend, M. De la Freté, having a considerable Property in the Hands of M. De Rouillac & Co. at Edenton in N. Carolina has sent a Power of attorney to M. Holker to recover the same for him. If you can in any way assist M. Holker in effecting this Business, you will very much oblige Dear Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant....
45824From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 17 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; press copy of LS : Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 15th. Instant, inclosing one from a certain Schaffer, who calls himself Lieutenant Colonel of the Continental Militia, requesting that you would cause to be restored to him a Bill of Exchange for 60 Dollars, that has my Name on...
45825From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Ray, 11 September 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and enclosed translation: American Philosophical Society Begone, Business, for an Hour, at least, and let me chat a little with my Katy. I have now before me, my dear Girl, three of your Favours, viz. of March the 3d. March the 30th. and May the 1st. The first I receiv’d just before I set out on a long Journey and the others while I was on that Journey, which held me near Six Weeks. Since...
45826From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Nairne, 13 November 1780[–18 October 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Two LS : Library of Congress, Yale University Library; AL (draft) and press copy: Library of Congress The Qualities hitherto sought in a Hygrometer, or Instrument to discover the Degrees of Moisture & Dryness in the Air, seem to have been, an Aptitude to receive Humidity readily from a moist Air, and to part with it as readily to a dry Air. Different Substances have been found to possess more...
45827From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld and the Duchesse d’Enville, 25 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin rejoices to hear that Monsr. le Duc de Rochefoucauld, and Madame la Duchesse d’Enville, in whose Welfare he is much interested, are both on the Recovery. Art. 4. M. F. thinks the Error is in the Number of Districts, which ought to have been 24. Art. 9. Is also misprinted. It should have been that two Members are to be removed at the End of...
45828From Benjamin Franklin to Sarah Bache, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received your pleasing Letter of Jan. 5. I am glad you have undertaken the Care of the Housekeeping, as it will be an Ease to your Mother, especially if you can manage to her Approbation; that may perhaps be at first a Difficulty. It will be of Use to you if you get a Habit of keeping exact Accounts; and it will be some Satisfaction to me to see...
45829Extracts from the Gazette, 1745 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 1 to December 31, 1745. [ Advertisement ] Lost on Friday, the 21st of December, 1744, betwixt Frankfort and Philadelphia, a Fowling-Piece, mounted with Brass, Dutch Make, a black Barrel, with a pretty wide Bore. Whoever has found it, and will return it to the Printer hereof, shall be sufficiently rewarded. [January 1] After a long Dearth of News,...
45830French Loan Certificate, [16 September 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Passy, printed by Benjamin Franklin, [after May 30, 1780]. Form with MS insertions in blanks, signed: American Philosophical Society; form with blanks partially filled: Yale University Library N° 2 . Pour 250,000 livres. Nous Benjamin Franklin Ministre Plenipotentiaire des ETATS-UNIS de l’Amerique Septentrionale, en vertu du pouvoir dont nous sommes revetus par le CONGRES desdits Etats,...
45831From Benjamin Franklin to Anna Sophia de Bohlen, 21 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I receiv’d the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 26th of last Month: In answer to which I ought to inform you, that I was born in America now near 76 Years since; that I never was in Ireland till the Year 1773, which was for a few Weeks only, and I did not pass from thence to America with any Person of my Name, but return’d to England, nor had I...
45832From Benjamin Franklin to William Lee, 6 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Harvard University Library; two transcripts: National Archives I return the Keys by the Person that brings them from you. I had rather your Brother should keep them while he stays in France. Your proposition about appointing Agents in the Ports shall be laid before the Commissioners when they meet. In the meantime I can only say, that as to my...
45833From Benjamin Franklin to Smith, Wright, & Gray, 14 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Enclos’d is Dr. Rush’s Signature which you desired. I thank you for so readily furnishing the Letter of Credit. Yours &c Addressed: To / Messrs. Smith, Wright & / Gray, / Bankers / Lombard street See the preceding document.
45834From Benjamin Franklin to John Fothergill, 6 April 1755 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I am but just return’d from a long Journey, having been absent near [six months]. I find your Favour of Novr. [ I , which I shall?] answer particularly per Reeve [who sails for London?] in about 10 Days. This [will only serve to bring?] Dr. Douglas’ Piece (and another) on the [ one and a half lines missing ] Copy, [ one line missing ]. With [ complimentary...
45835From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 22 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress In mine of the 11th. Instant, I desired you to Ship any Cannon that might be in your hands, on board the marquis de la Fayette. I am since informed, that you have 28 Eighteen Pounders, & 28. Twenty four Pounders. As I owe to M. de Chaumont 28 Eighteen Pounders, to replace an equal Number of the same bore which with others, he advanced to me at l’Orient to ballast the...
45836From Benjamin Franklin to Agatha Drummond, 11 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I have lately received, in exceeding good Order, the valuable Present you have honoured me with, of Penn’s Picture. Please to accept my thankful Acknowledgments for the very great Favour, and for the abundant Civilities and Kindnesses receiv’d by me and my Friend during our pleasant Residence under your hospitable Roof at Blair Drummond. My best Respects to Lord...
45837From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Gillon, 5 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library I received the Honour of yours dated the 29th. past. The Zeal you show for the Relief of Carolina is very laudable: and I wish it was in my Power to second it by complying with your Proposition. But the little Squadron which you suppose to be in my disposition, is not as you seem to imagine fitted out at the Expense of the United States;...
45838From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, 23 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you a few Days since by Mr Williams, but I omitted some Newspapers which I had intended to send by him: I now inclose them. They contain sundry Articles relating to the Barbarities exercis’d by the British in America; and as you had borrow’d of me a Paper containing an Account of those committed by Lord Cornwallis, and thought there might be some...
45839From Benjamin Franklin to Gérard, 25 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I received last night the enclos’d Letter from a Member of Parliament, and the two frivolous Bills which the Ministry in their present Consternation have thought fit to propose, with a View to support their publick Credit a little longer at home, and to amuse and divide if possible our People in America. You will see that they have dispatch’d...
45840From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Lafayette, 24 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress (three); transcript: National Archives The Congress sensible of your Merit towards the United States, but unable adequately to reward it, determined to present you with a Sword, as a small Mark of their grateful Acknowledgement.— They directed it to be ornamented with suitable Devices. Some of the...
45841From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Gillon or John Joyner, 28 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and partial AL (draft): Library of Congress The essential Interests of the United States making it absolutely necessary to retain the Money which had been ordered to America by the Conveance of your Ship, I am obliged hereby to desire that you would return the same, if already shipt to Messieurs Fizeaux Grand & Co., for which this shall be your Order and Justification. I have the honour...
45842On Absentee Governors: II, 27 August 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , January 2–9, 1769, from The Public Advertiser , August 27, 1768. There are some advocates for the Ministers so extremely forward, that they cannot wait till they obtain a true information of facts. Even Daylight unluckily is very much in the dark himself. The truth is, that NOT ONE of the officers he mentions, except Sir Jeffery Amherst, have been...
45843From Benjamin Franklin to Jean de Neufville & fils, 4 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me dated the 30th. past, acquainting me that Capt. Gillon is gone without the Goods, and of the Difficulties you meet with respecting two Vessels that were engag’d to carry them under his Convoy; upon which you desire my Directions.— The whole Affair of that enormous Purchase was a Deceit and...
45844Remarks on a South Carolina Currency Scheme, 31 May 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , May 31, 1733. As there are frequently Things published in the neighbouring Provinces, which to see would be agreeable to my Readers, but being of too great a Length, I have been obliged either to retail ’em Piecemeal, which disjoints or breaks the Connection of Thoughts, or wholly to omit them; I am therefore lately advised to abstract and give the...
45845From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I feel still some Regard for this Sixth of January, as my old nominal Birth-day, tho’ the Change of Stile has carried the real Day forward to the 17th, when I shall be, if I live till then, 67 Years of Age. It seems but t’other Day since you and I were rank’d among the Boys and Girls, so swiftly does Time fly! We have...
45846From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 24 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote you at large per My Son, in answer to your former Favours, and sent you an Extract of Mr. Collinson’s Letter, who much admires your Tracts on Husbandry. Herewith you will receive a Manuscript of a Friend of Mr. Collinson’s, and a printed Book; which you may keep till Spring, and then return to me: I believe they will afford you Pleasure. I send you also...
45847From Benjamin Franklin to Keziah Coffin, 29 August 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS not found; reprinted from The Nantucket Inquirer , January 26, 1824; transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I had the Pleasure of hearing yesterday, on Enquiry of our Cousin Folger, that you and your Husband and Daughter were well, when he was last on the Island. I recollect that when I sent you the Sliding Plate, I received a Dollar more than it came to, which I thought to have...
45848An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-Places, [15 November 1744] (Franklin Papers)
An Account Of the New Invented Pennsylvanian Fire-Places: ... Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin. 1744. (Yale University Library) According to his autobiography, Franklin invented the Pennsylvania fireplace in 1742, but the winter of 1739–40 is a more likely date. Writing of it in the summer or fall of 1744, he says that he and his family and friends have enjoyed its warmth “for...
45849From Benjamin Franklin to Officers of the Alliance, 7 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress I received your Letter dated the 12th. of April past, expressing that you were in necessitous Circumstances, and that you were allarmed at having received neither Wages nor Prize-Money when the Ship was so nearly prepared for Sea. Having had nothing to do with the Prizes, and understanding that they could not soon be turn’d into Money, I had...
45850From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Oswald, 11 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : William L. Clements Library; copy: Library of Congress, transcript: National Archives I did intend to have waited on you this Morning, to enquire after your Health, and deliver the enclos’d Paper relating to the Parole of Lord Cornwallis; but being oblig’d to go to Versailles I must postpone my Visit till tomorow. I do not conceive that I have any Authority in Virtue of my office here to...