47491From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 20 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress Your very obliging Letter communicating the News of the important Victory at York, gave me infinite Pleasure. The very powerful Aid afforded by his Majesty to America this Year, has rivetted the Affections of that People, and the Success has made Millions happy. Indeed the King appears to me from this and...
47492From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson and Thomas Mifflin, 27 January 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Amherst College Library Enclos’d is Bill of Lading and Invoice of the Books you order’d, which I wish safe to hand, and am, Gentlemen Yours and the Company’s most obedient Servant P.S. On looking over your Letter I see that I am desir’d to add other Books if the List does not amount to your Money. Now that I have receiv’d the Invoice and find it amounts to so little, I shall look out for...
47493From Benjamin Franklin to Meÿer, 20 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me dated the 9th. Instant. I am quite unacquainted with the affairs of the Ranger, and never had anything to do with the Payment of Shares of her Prizes to any Person whatever: I cannot therefore understand Mr. Schweighhauser’s referring you to me; but I will write to him about it. I have the honour to be, Sir...
47494From Benjamin Franklin to John Walsh et al., 2 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am sorry to understand by your Memorial of the 16. Past, which came to hand but Yesterday, that you are still in that uncomfortable Situation on board the Brigantine in Brest Road, having understood that Orders had been long since given for taking you on Shore. I write again this Day to the Minister of the Marine, to obtain a Renewal of those Orders; and I hope in...
47495From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 24 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library Being desirous of thoroughly understanding M. Monthieu’s Accounts, which I am much press’d by him to settle, I request you would please to send me by the Bearer all the Papers you have relating to it.— I should be glad also to have Mr Grands first Accounts, with Mr Deane’s Remarks upon them— I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant...
47496From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes: Letter and Memoir, 15[–16] February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 6th. Instant, enclosing an Aperçu of the Situation of the Congress Account for the Year 1781. On considering that Account this Day, there seems to me an Error in stating one of the Sums, viz. that of 2,216,000. l.t. I have therefore drawn a...
47497From Benjamin Franklin to Taverne Demont Dhiver, 28 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am honor’d with yours of the 22 Inst. applying for two Commissions. I should have a Pleasure in complying with your Request; But it is not in my Power, till I shall have receiv’d fresh Orders from Congress. I have the Honor to be, Sir &c.
47498From Benjamin Franklin to Jean de Neufville & fils, 4 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me on the 29th past, relating to certain Bills drawn on Mr Lawrens and requesting to know if I will engage to reimburse you, if you in his Absence, accept & pay them. As I have received no Orders nor any Advice relating to any such Bills, know not by whom they are drawn, whether for...
47499Standing Queries for the Junto, 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces , ed. Benjamin Vaughan, (London, 1779), pp. 533–6; also draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1727 Franklin “form’d most of my ingenious Acquaintances into a Club for mutual Improvement, which we called the Junto.” An important inspiration for it was the deep influence which Cotton Mather’s...
47500From Benjamin Franklin to John Bondfield, 4 July 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress This Morning some Bills drawn by you were presented to me amounting to 19800 livres which I declin’d accepting for want of advice. The Person who brought them was hardly out of the house before I found on my table unopened yours of the 29th past which advises of those Drafts. I immediately Sent after him, but he was not overtaken; and not knowing from what house in...
47501Obituary of Thomas Hopkinson, 14 November 1751 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , November 14, 1751. Last Week died here the honourable Thomas Hopkinson , Esq; Judge of the Admiralty for this Province, one of the Governor’s Council, and Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, &c. A Gentleman possessed of many Virtues, without the Alloy of one single Vice; and distinguish’d for his Attachment to the...
47502From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 19[–24] October 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bristol, R.I., Historical Society We hear you have had an Alarm at Philada. I hope no ill consequences have attended it. I wonder I had no Line from you. I make no doubt of our People’s defending their City and Country bravely, on the most trying Occasions. I hear nothing yet of Mr. Goddard, but suppose he is on the Road. I suppose we shall leave this Place next Week. I shall not return...
47503From Benjamin Franklin to Hugh Roberts, 9 August 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I wrote you lately that 20 Guineas was demanded by Kirk for engraving the Hospital Seal. I have since found a Man who will undertake it for 10, but I suppose will hardly do it so well. Let me know your Sentiments of this Expence. A Friend in Paris has requested me to procure him two of our Pensilvania Fire Places. I wish you could get me a Couple of...
47504From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 21 February 1757 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Pieces of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 48. I am glad to hear your son is got well home. I like your conclusion not to take a house for him till summer, and if he stays till his new letters arrive, perhaps it would not be amiss; for a good deal depends on the first appearance a man...
47505From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Martin, 5 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : John Carter Brown Library; copy: North Carolina Office of Archives and History Mr Edward Bridgen, Merchant of London, a particular Friend of mine and a zealous one of the American Cause, acquaints me that his Lands on the Sound in Cape Fear River, with his Negroes & Debts owing to Bridgen & Waller have by virtue of some late Laws of your Province been all Confiscated. I have not seen...
47506From Benjamin Franklin to Robert R. Livingston, 4 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
LS , press copy of LS , and transcript: National Archives We detain the Washington a little longer expecting an English Passport for her in a few Days; and as possibly some Vessel bound for North America may sail before her, I write this Line to inform you that the French Preliminaries with England are not yet signed, tho’ we hope they may be very soon. Of ours, I enclose a Copy. The Dutch &...
47507Extracts from the Gazette, 1732 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 4 to December 28, 1732. ⁂ We have no Entries this Week, the River being full of Ice. [January 4] Lost last Saturday Night, in Market Street, about 40 or 50 s. If the Finder will bring it to the Printer hereof, who will describe the Marks, he shall have 10 s. Reward. [March 30] [ Advertisement ] Choice Flour of Mustard-Seed , in Bottles, very...
47508From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 29 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received yours of the 16th.— I am excedingly vex’d at the Delay of the Ship. M: Chaumont tells me he offer’d you to Leave the Decision to any Merchants of Nantes that you should chuse; his Friends at Bordeaux advise him against submitting it at all. For God’s Sake finish it some how or other. The Delays in sending the Cloathing have been an immense Prejudice to our...
47509From Benjamin Franklin to [Mary Hewson], 1 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Health and Prosperity, and many happy Years, to my dear Friend, and to her Children, for whom I send the three enclos’d little Books. Let me know if you have not the compleat Year.— Endorsed: Passy Jan 1 — 84 44 The October, November, and December issues of L’Ami des enfans. Berquin ceased publication of the series at the end of 1783. BF had evidently lost...
47510From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 20 May 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library; enclosure: AD : Yale University Library I had no Line from you per last Packet. I hope you are well. We have been extreamly busy here lately in the Affair of Paper Money. Enclos’d I send you a Copy of the Report of the Merchants, obtained after many Meetings and delivered to the Ministry: But there are still great Difficulties, the Board of Trade being...
47511From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 27 January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I believe my last to you was of the 2d. October. I was soon after laid up with a long & severe fit of the Gout, which confined me for near 8 Weeks, and I have not quite recovered the free use of my Feet: This put my writing Business a good deal behind hand, & has brought me much in Arrear with you; having since...
47512Agreement to Admit the Ohio Company as Co-Purchasers with the Grand Ohio Company, 7 May 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from The Historical Magazine and Notes and Queries, Concerning the Antiquities, History and Biography of America , second series, III (1868), 18. As soon as word got about that the Grand Ohio Company had asked in January for a grant of twenty million acres, rival claimants to western lands became intensely active in London. The Mississippi Company, represented by Arthur Lee, had a...
47513From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Loudoun, 3 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Huntington Library I thank your Lordship for the Information you have been pleas’d to favour me with, relating to the Sailing of the Pacquets. It was intended that I should take Passage in the first; But I shall now wait your Lordship’s Arrival here, that if in any thing I can be of Service, I may be ready to obey your Lordship’s Commands; being, with the sincerest Respect and...
47514To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 10 May 1779 (Adams Papers)
I received the honour of yours of the 29th. past from Nantes. I hope you are before this time safely arrived at L’Orient. M. De la Luzerne is making diligent Preparation for his Departure, and you will soon see him. He and the Secretary of the Embassy are both very agreable and sensible Men, in whose Conversation you will have a great deal of Pleasure in your Passage. What Port the Ship will...
47515From Benjamin Franklin to Catharine Greene, [10 November 1763] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I should ask Mr. Greene’s Permission now to call you so, which I hope he will give me, making Allowance for the Strength of old Habits. This is to acquaint you and him that your Guests, after a very pleasant Journey, got well home on the 5th. Instant, without the least ill Accident, and had the additional Happiness of finding their Friends all well. Mr....
47516From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Tucker, 26 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: Library of Congress I thank you for the Frankness with which you have communicated to me the Particulars of the Information you had received relating to my supposed Application to Mr. Grenville for a Place in the American Stamp-Office. As I deny that either your former or later Informations are true, it seems incumbent on me for your Satisfaction to relate all the...
47517From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 30 March 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I begin to think it long since I had the Pleasure of hearing from you. Enclos’d is one of our last Gazettes, in which you will see that our Dissensions are broke out again; more violently than ever. Such a Necklace of Resolves! and all Nemine contradicente, I believe you have seldom seen. If you can find Room for them and our Messages in the Chronicle,...
47518Silence Dogood, No. 9, 23 July 1722 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Courant , July 23, 1722. Corruptio optimi est pessima. It has been for some Time a Question with me, Whether a Commonwealth suffers more by hypocritical Pretenders to Religion, or by the openly Profane? But some late Thoughts of this Nature, have inclined me to think, that the Hypocrite is the most dangerous Person of the Two, especially if he sustains a Post in the...
47519On 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....
47520From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 30 November 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I have had a severe Fit of the Gout which has confined me six Weeks; but 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...
47521From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 5 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Nesbit has a Demand for Money furnished to subsist some Prisoners in their Journey hither from Dunkirk. If you should think fit to discharge it by a Draft on our banker, I shall concur in approving it. I have the honour to be Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Addressed: Honourable Arthur Lee Esqr / Chaillot Notation: April 5th. 1778 The Lorient...
47522From Benjamin Franklin to ———, 26 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu, avec ma petite Dialogue, votre charmante Epitre & Puisque je trouve que Madame la Goutte est de votre Connoissance, ma tres chere Amie je vous prie de grace que quand elle me fait une autre Visite, vous voudriez bien l’accompagner. Votre Présence me dedommagera de la sienne. Avec une telle Garde, la Peine deviendra Plaisir. We can identify...
47523From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Necker, 10 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am much oblig’d by your kind Attention to the Request of Mr. Williams, of Nantes, and beg you to accept my Thanks. I am with great Respect, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant. This was presumably JW ’s request about the Aurora , for which see his letter of Feb. 4. An answer had already come indirectly through Castries (annotation of JW to BF , Feb. 29),...
47524From Benjamin Franklin to Gérard de Rayneval, 12 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I send you here with the best Copy I have of the address I mentioned to you. It was worn in the Carriage, but the Difficiency is supply’d from another. I request you would show it to M. le Comte de Vergennes and remark particularly the Sentiments express’d by the Congress, of the Alliance, and the absolute Unanimity with which the address passed. With great Esteem I...
47525From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Franklin Bache, 2 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have receiv’d several Letters from you, and in the last a Specimen of your Drawing, which I was pleas’d with, as well as with your Letters. I am not going yet to England, as you supposed. When I do go there, I shall certainly take you with me. I send you the Medal you desire; but I cannot afford to give Gold Watches to Children. When you are more of a Man,...
47526Silence Dogood, No. 13, 24 September 1722 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Courant , September 24, 1722. In Persons of a contemplative Disposition, the most indifferent Things provoke the Exercise of the Imagination; and the Satisfactions which often arise to them thereby, are a certain Relief to the Labour of the Mind (when it has been intensely fix’d on more substantial Subjects) as well as to that of the Body. In one of the late pleasant...
47527From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 3 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : South Carolina Historical Society This Line is just to acquaint you that the Definitive Treaty between England and the United States was signed this Morning at Paris, and the others are suppos’d to be sign’d at the same time at Versailles. I shall write to you fully in a Day or two. With great & sincere Esteem, I have the honour to be Dear Sir, Your most Obedt & most humble Servt...
47528From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 29 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Please to furnish Capt. Elisha Hart with the Same sum you advanced to the Officers Prisoners, who came over in the first Cartel with the approbation of Mr. Adams, taking his Promissory Notes for the Same per triplicate, payable to the President of Congress, or his Order. I have the honour to be, Sir
47529From Benjamin Franklin to Watson & Cossoul, 2 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 27 of last Month: as the Copy of the Letter you inclosed does not mention the Name of the Person in whose Favour the Bills intercepted by the Enemy were drawn, nor their Dates, it is impossible for me to find out whether or not they have been already accepted. I shall do my utmost to discover them...
47530From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand, 6 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I approve of the Bill drawn on you by Mr. Williams for £12018.17.6 on the publick Service. As I know not how much will be wanted by him to compleat his Orders, I cannot name a Sum within which to limit his Credit. It will be a sufficient Check, if from time to time you mention his Drafts to Mr. Lee or my self before you accept them, for our Approbation. I am,...
47531The Organization of John Van Etten’s Company, 12 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
I. DS : New York Public Library. II. MS , and III. DS : Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission The three documents printed together here illustrate how a company of provincial troops was organized in 1756 and, in general, what was expected of its members. All three are in the hand of William Franklin, who accompanied and assisted his father throughout the period of service on the...
47532An Account of the Export of Provisions from Philadelphia, [16 February 1741] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The General Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for all the British Plantations in America , I (January 1741), 75. (Yale University Library) Eighteenth-century periodicals contained almost nothing original, and the General Magazine was no exception. The printer extracted news from American and English papers, essays from London journals, and laws, proclamations, treaties, debates,...
47533From Benjamin Franklin to Sir John Pringle, 10 May 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity … London, 1769), pp. 492–6. You may remember that when we were travelling together in Holland, you remarked that the trackschuyt in one of the stages went slower than usual, and enquired of the boatman, what might be the reason; who answered, that it had been a dry season, and the water in the canal was low. On being...
47534From Benjamin Franklin to C. F. d’Inarre, 10 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and press copy of LS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 22d of last Month, requesting my Advice as to your Removal to America. The enclos’d Pamphlet will answer most of your Questions. Understanding Agriculture there is no doubt of your being able to live comfortably in Pensylvania, where there are many wealthy German...
47535From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones: Two Letters, 12 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
(I) ALS : National Archives; (II) LS : National Archives; copy: Library of Congress You are hereby directed to proceed as soon as possible with the Ship under your Command, to the Port you can best make in North America, and deliver the Arms, Powder & other Stores, to such Officers of Congress as are appointed to take Care of such Matters, for which this shall be your Order. I am, Sir, Your...
47536From Benjamin Franklin to Charles James Fox, 5 September 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; copies: Library of Congress (two), Massachusetts Historical Society I received in its time the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me by Mr. Hartley: And I cannot let him depart without expressing my Satisfaction in his Conduct towards us, and applauding the Prudence of that Choice which sent us a Man possess’d of such a Spirit of Conciliation, and of all...
47537From Benjamin Franklin to James Cuming, 30 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 22d. Inst. Several Parcels or Packets have lately come to my hands from Mr. Lovel Sent by different Vessels and I make no doubt but those you mention were among them. If the Bills you write about were originally drawn in favour of Mr. Thorp, his Letter to you relating to them may perhaps be nearly...
47538From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 16 April 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I received yours of Jan. 25: with a Catalogue of Books to be purchased for the Library Company. The Collection is making with all possible Expedition, but I fear will scarce be ready to go with this Ship. I beg you would not imagine it giving me Trouble when you send me the Commands of the Company. If I can execute them to their Satisfaction, it will, on the...
47539Genealogical Chart of the Franklin Family, [July 1758] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Soon after returning to London from his July visit to Ecton and Banbury, Franklin made an elaborate genealogical chart in which he brought together both the information he had gathered on this trip and his own previous knowledge. He drew circles to represent individuals and inserted in each (sometimes spilling over the edges) such vital data as he had...
47540From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Shelburne, 15 January 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : G. T. Mandl-Trust, Nestal, Switzerland (2001) As Jonathan Williams, Jr., requested on January 9, Franklin appended this note to the letter Williams wrote to Shelburne regarding the mutinous seizure of his merchantman Trio . The vessel had been brought into Kinsale and was awaiting condemnation as a prize. The British government’s encouragement of mutinies on American-owned ships had long...