47671From Benjamin Franklin to the Comte de Creutz, with Franklin’s Account of Their Conversation, 24 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress I find that I have Powers to treat and conclude in the Affair you did me the honour yesterday of proposing to me. I am ready therefore to confer with your Excellency on the Subject at any Time and Place you shall please to appoint. With great & sincere Esteem & Respect I have the honour to be Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient & most humble Servant Answer to...
47672From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, [before 10 July 1770] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send you a few of your Translations. I did not put your Name as the Translator, (which I at first intended) because I apprehended it might look like Vanity, in you, and as I shall otherwise make it known, I think the omitting it, will look like Modesty. Mr. H. is here, requesting me to speak to Mrs. Tickell, which I have promis’d to do on Friday morning....
47673From Benjamin Franklin to George Blackwell, 14 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am Sorry I cannot give you the Commission you desire having none Left.— But I see nothing amiss in your taking what you can, and carrying it in tho’ without a Commission for since the Congress, in reprisal, have immitated the Governement of England, and encouraged Sailors employ’d in Ships to Seize and bring them in giving them the whole as a Reward for their breach...
47674From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 27 November 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society The violent Party Spirit that appears in all the Votes &c. of your Assembly, seems to me extreamly unseasonable as well as unjust, and to threaten Mischief not only to your selves but to your Neighbours. It begins to be plain, that the French may reap great Advantages from your Divisions: God grant they may be as blind to their own Interest, and as negligent...
47675From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 18 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress M. De Chaumont tells me the Ship will be ready to take in Goods by the End of this Month. You will make the necessary Preparations, that as little time may be lost as possible, it being of the utmost Consequence that the Clothing should arrive before Winter. M. Ross has Shipt 123 Bales of his Goods for the Congress in a Vessel from L’Orient. I do not know if that be...
47676From Benjamin Franklin to Grey Cooper, 11 July 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mr. Albert M. Greenfield (1955) An Application being about to be made for a Grant of Lands in the Territory on the Ohio lately purchased of the Indians, I cannot omit acquainting you with it, and giving you my Opinion, that they will very soon be settled by People from the neighbouring Provinces, and be of great Advantage in a few Years to the Undertakers. As you have those fine...
47677From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 27 August 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I received your Favours of May 28 and June 1. I believe I have already wrote you, that our Friend Smith is not thought here to be the Author of the Pamphlet you mention: ’Tis generally suppos’d to be the Governor’s (with some help from one or two others) as his Messages are fill’d with the same Sentiments and almost the same Expressions. He is, I think, the...
47678To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 4 February 1782 (Adams Papers)
I have received yours of the 25th. past, in which you acquaint me with the Reasons you have for being fully of Opinion that no Loan is possible to be procured by you, till there is a Treaty. Our only Dependance then appears to be on this Court; and I am happy to find that it still continues dispos’d to assist us. Since mine of the 11th. past, tho’ I have obtain’d no positive assurances of...
47679From Benjamin Franklin to Castries, 29 December 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and draft: Library of Congress Permettez moi de presenter à votre Excellence Monsr. le Colonel Searle de la Province de Pensilvanie où il est fort respecté et dont il est l’Agent en France. Cet officier ayant quelque chose à proposer concernant les Intérêts de cet Etat, Je prie votre Exe. de vouloir bien lui accorder une Audience favorable. Je suis avec Respect, Monsieur, De votre...
47680From Benjamin Franklin to Edward and Jane Mecom, 21 May 1752 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 22–3. I received yours with the affecting news of our dear good mother’s death. I thank you for your long continued care of her in her old age and sickness. Our distance made it impracticable for us to attend her, but you have supplied all. She...
47681From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., [on or before 2 April 1772]: fragment (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft; fragment): American Philosophical Society [ Beginning lost : sub]scribers they are now sold at a Guinea and half, and not under. You will take such an Advance on them as you can get in reason, and pay the Money to your Aunt Mecom. My Love to her. Several Ships are arrived from Boston, without bringing me a Line from any Correspondent there. Stick to the Ready Money Only...
47682From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 20 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library I received your Favour of the 6th Instant, with a Copy of the Bill for the provisional Establishment of Commerce, & Mr Day’s Tract. I am much oblig’d by your kind Attention in sending them. I am glad you happen to be on the Spot to say what ought to be said respecting the pretended Loyalists. Setting them in their true Light must be of great Service. The...
47683From Benjamin Franklin to [John Jay], [after 14 February 1782] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Your Comparison of the Keystone of an Arch is very pretty, tending to make me content with my Situation. But I suspect you have heard our Story of the Harrow. If not, here it is. A Farmer in our Country sent two of his Servants to borrow one, of a Neighbour, ordering them to bring it between them on their Shoulders. When they came to look at it, one of...
47684From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 27 March 1773: extract (Franklin Papers)
Translated extract: printed in Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, ed., Œuvres de M. Franklin … (2 vols., Paris, 1773), II , 313. Je compte que notre Poke-Weed est ce que les Botanistes appellent PHYTOLACCA . Cette plante porte des bayes grosses comme des pois: la peau en est noire, mais elle contient un suc cramoisi. C’étoit ce jus évaporé au soleil en consistence d’extract que l’on employoit. Il causoit...
47685From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Norris, [10 July 1762] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; abstract reprinted from Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1761–1762 (Philadelphia, 1762), p. 54. Mr. Speaker brought in, and communicated to the House, two Letters of the Tenth of July last, one from Messieurs Sargent, Aufrere, and Company, Merchants, in London, to the Trustees of the General Loan-Office, concerning the Provincial Bills of Exchange; the...
47686From Benjamin Franklin to the Académie Royale des Sciences, 16 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Photograph of ALS : Académie des sciences, Paris A Place among your foreign Members is justly esteemed, by all Europe, the greatest Honour a Man can arrive at in the Republick of Letters: It was therefore with equal Surprize and Satisfaction that I learnt you had condescended to confer that Honour upon me. Be pleased to accept my grateful Acknowledgements, and believe me with the greatest...
47687From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 13 December 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I can only write one Line to let you know I am well, and shall write fully to you and all my Friends as soon as [the] Parliament adjourns for the Holidays, which it will do next Week. I receiv’d [your] kind Letters per Friend and per the Packet. My Love to Sally and all Friends. I am, Your ever affectionate Husband Parliament was summoned to meet on Dec....
47688From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 28 September 1784 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; AL (draft): Library of Congress I communicated immediately to Mr Williams the Letter your Excellency did me the Honour of writing to me the 26th. Instant, with the Memorial of Mr Denevers which accompany’d it.— I inclose a Letter from him to your Excellency, by which it will appear that the Complaint is not well founded; and I am persuaded...
47689From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 7 November 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library (Berg) Finding a Vessel here about to sail to London, I take the Opportunity to enclose you a second Bill, the first of which I sent via Maryland. I left Mr. Hall and all Friends well at Philada last Week, and hope to see them again in a few Days. I have not Time to add but that I am Sir Your very humble Servant Addressed: To Mr Wm Strahan Printer in Wine...
47690From Benjamin Franklin to Goudeman, 10 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society We consider M. Wuibert as one of our Countrymen. Hundreds of them are in the same Situation. We have propos’d to the British Court, thro’ their Ambassador here an Exchange of Prisoners in Europe. The Proposition was rejected with Insolence. We have no Interest with that Court to procure Favour. That Gentlemen may depend on our taking the same Care &...
47691From Benjamin Franklin to the Committee of Commerce, 21 October 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the honour of yours dated the 21st. of july containing an Extract of Mr. Pollocks Letter to you, in which he mentions his Drafts on Mr. Delap for 10,897. Dollars and his Expectation that in case of any difficulty I will See those Bills paid. I Should certainly do every thing in my power to support the credit of the States and of every Person acting under...
47692From Benjamin Franklin to La Rochefoucauld, 14 January 1778 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Bibliothèque municipale, Mantes Mr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to M. the Duke of Rochefoucauld; with Thanks for his Care of the Pacquet. The English Gazette which came yesterday gives a particular Account of the taking of those petty Forts about the Time you mention. ’Tis a wonder they held out so long. After sustaining a Days continual Battery from the Cannon of the...
47693From Benjamin Franklin to [Pierre-Joseph Perreau], 22 April 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress Mr. Mercley whom your Reverence mentions as having made Promises to Monsieur your Brother, was employ’d as a Merchant to purchase some military Stores for the Congress, but I know of no Authority he had to engage Officers of the Marine, or to make any Promises to such in our Behalf. I have not myself, (as I have already had the Honour of telling your Reverence)...
47694From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Cooper, 26 December 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; extract: Library of Congress I have received several kind Letters from you, which I have not now before me, and which I shall answer more particularly hereafter. Your Grandson was well not long since, & I hear good Account of him. I hope his Improvements will answer your Expectations. We have taken some good Steps here towards a Peace. Our...
47695From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 25 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : The Current Company, Bristol, R.I. (1977); transcript: Library of Congress I a long time believed that your Government were in earnest in agreeing to an Exchange of Prisoners. I begin now to think I was mistaken. It seems they cannot give up the pleasing Idea of having at the End of the War 1000 Americans to hang for high Treason. You were also long of Opinion, that the Animosity against...
47696From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Vaughan, [c. 21 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), II , 227–8. You mention that I may now see verified all you said about binding down England to so hard a peace. I suppose you do not mean by the American treaty; for we were exceeding favourable in not insisting on the reparations so justly due for the wanton...
47697From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 23 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress The enclos’d which you sent me contain’d a Letter from Mr. Hartley, in which he acquaints me that on the 17th. Lord North had made his Propositions towards a Conciliation with America, and ask’d Leave to bring in two Bills, one to renounce all Claim of Taxation, the other to impower Commissioners to treat with any Persons or Bodies of Men in America on a Peace; which...
47698From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 21 August 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Library I received your kind Letter of the 13th Instant,—acquainting me that the Royal Society have instructed you to present to me in their Name one of the Gold Medals they have struck in honour of Capt. Cook. I am extreamly sensible of this fresh Mark of their favourable Regard for me. They have always been very good to me, and I beg you would be pleased to offer them my...
47699From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Johnson, 28 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am honor’d by yours of the 23d inst & thank you for your kind Congratulations, which are very obliging. If you have & can send me the Bill of the Duties Demanded expressing the kind of Goods &c, I will try if any thing can be done in the Affair; for besides Considerations of Duty, an opportunity of serving you would give me Pleasure. With great Esteem I have the...
47700From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 December 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library (Berg) The above is a Copy of what I wrote you per Mesnard who sailed about 10 Days ago from this Port. This goes per Capt. Hargrave, who is soon to sail from Maryland. Enclos’d I send you a Bill for £15.7.1, which I hope will be readily paid. Enclos’d is also a Letter to Mr. Collinson, containing an Order for Books for the Library, which when you deliver you will...
47701From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 31 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: Library of Congress I duly received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 17th. Inst. inclosing a Copy of one from Mr. John Ross, acquainting me with the Presentation to you of 51 Bills Drawn in his Favour the 22 June last on Mr. Henry Laurens; for the Sum of 40,950 Guilders; and desiring to know...
47702From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 17 November 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been at Blair Drummond on a Visit to my Friend Lord Kaims, thence I went to Glasgow, thence to the Carron Works, viewing the Canal by the Way. Extream bad Weather detain’d me in several Places some Days longer than I intended: But on Tuesday I purpose setting out on my Return, and hope for the Pleasure of seeing you by the Tuesday following. I thank...
47703From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 31 July 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library The above is a Copy of my last (via Corke). This encloses Bills for Twenty Pounds Thirteen Shillings Sterling, for which when receiv’d please to give my Account Credit, and send me by the first Ship a Fount of about 300 lb. weight of good new English Letter, which I shall want to compleat a little Printing house for our common Friend Mr. Hall. I send...
47704From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 July 1783 (Franklin Papers)
L : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; L (draft): Library of Congress M. Franklin a l’honneur d’envoyer à Monsieur Le Comte de Vergennes un Exemplaire des Constitutions des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique qu’il le prie de vouloir bien accepter. M. Franklin prend la Liberté d’envoyer en même tems, ceux destinés pour le Roi et la Famille Royale; et il prie Monsieur le Comte de Vergennes, de...
47705From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 2 May 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : State Historical Society of Wisconsin Your Favour of Feb. 21. was duly delivered to me by Mr. Preston. I immediately bespoke the Mace agreable to your Orders, and was assured it should be work’d upon with Diligence, so that I hope to have it ready to send with the Gowns by a Ship that I understand goes directly to Georgia sometime next Month. By the Estimation of the Jeweller who...
47706From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 20 August 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library I wrote a pretty long Letter to you by Falconer, in which I acquainted you with what had heretofore pass’d between Lord Hillsborough and myself relating to the Change of our Government; and that I proposed waiting on him again in a few Days, in consequence of an Intimation I had received that he was now disposed to favour the Petition. I have accordingly been with him,...
47707From Benjamin Franklin to Jean de Neufville & fils, 6 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives Since writing to you by yesterdays Mail, I have received the honour of yours, proposing to accept Bills drawn on M. Laurens, if I will authorise you so to do, and accept your Bills to equal Amt. Having no Orders about those Bills, or even any Advice of such being drawn, and knowing that the English have plai’d many...
47708From Benjamin Franklin to Anne-Louise Boivin d’Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy, 29 November 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University; press copy of ALS : American Philosophical Society Je vous felicite trés cordialement, ma trés chere amie, de l’heureux Accouchement de notre Fille. Puisse l’Enfante être aussi bonne & aussi aimable que sa mere, sa grandemere, sa grandegrandemere, &c. Je me souviens d’avoir un jour rencontré chez vous quatre de vos Generations, quand vos Enfans etoient tres jeunes; & que...
47709Slippery Sidewalks, 11 January 1733 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 11, 1732/3. Walking the Street on one of these late slippery Mornings, I caught two terrible Falls, which made me, by way of Precaution for the future, get my Shoes frosted before I went home: for I am a stiff old Fellow, and my Joints none of the most pliant. At the Door before which I fell last, stood a Gentleman-like Looby, with a couple of...
47710From Benjamin Franklin to Anne-Catherine de Ligniville Helvétius, [October? 1778] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, L.L.D., F.R.S., &c … (3 vols., 4to, London, 1817–18), III , 332. Arranging a party with Mme. Helvétius was not always an easy enterprise. Two undated notes, in as many hands, allow us a glimpse into the complexity of getting friends together. Taking up the pen herself, for once, the lady begged...
47711From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 10 December 1751 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete): Yale University Library; remainder reprinted from American Journal of Science and Arts , V (1822), 157–9. The Rector of our Academy Mr. Martin, came over into this Country on a Scheme for making Potash in the Russian Method: He promis’d me some written Directions for you, which expecting daily I delay’d writing, and now he lies dangerously ill of a kind of Quinsey: The...
47712“A Virginian”: First Reply to Mr. Pym, 23 August 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Lloyd’s Evening Post, And British Chronicle , August 30–September 2, 1765. During 1765 and 1766 the English newspapers printed many letters and other contributed pieces on both sides of the controversies relating to the colonies. Unquestionably, one of the most important of the writers was Benjamin Franklin. Yet, because he, like most of the others, signed his pieces only with a...
47713From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 18 September 1744 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you per Capt. Evans, and enclos’d you Bills for £20.13.0 Sterlg. of which I now send you the Seconds. I sent you also a Box containing 300 Books I had printed, and by this Ship I send you 200 Copies of our late Indian Treaty which I hope will come to hand and sell with you. I will take Books of you in Exchange for as much of them as you can [get]...
47714Authorization to William Frizzel to Carry Mail, 10 March 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Princeton University Library I do hereby permit William Frizzel, to carry and deliver Letters between Philadelphia and Lancaster, and to receive the usual Postage for his own Use, till a regular Post shall be established for that Stage. Endorsed: Benjn. Franklin’s Comission to of [ sic ] Wm Frizzle to ride Post 1757 William Frizel ( sic ) announced in Pa. Gaz ., Aug. 24, 1758, that after...
47715From Benjamin Franklin to Nogaret, 9 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
Facsimile: Th. Delarue, Isographie des Hommes Célèbres, ou Collection de Fac-simile de lettres autographes et de signatures (4 vols., Paris, 1843), II , [unpaginated]. I received duly the elegant Present of your Poetical Works. I thank you much for the Pleasure I have had in perusing them. I should have made this Acknowledgement sooner; but intending to request your Acceptance of my Opuscules...
47716An Open Letter to Lord Buckinghamshire, [4 March 1774] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , March 9, 1774. You gave us Reason to expect some Weeks ago that you would move the House of Peers with a Subject of some Importance. The Public was amused, as the Custom is on such Occasions, with guessing what the Subject might be. It is now said that you intended to bring on the Affairs of North America, but the Motion is deferred till some further Accounts...
47717Silence Dogood, No. 11, 20 August 1722 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Courant , August 20, 1722. Neque licitum interea est meam amicam visere. From a natural Compassion to my Fellow-Creatures, I have sometimes been betray’d into Tears at the Sight of an Object of Charity, who by a bear [ sic ] Relation of his Circumstances, seem’d to demand the Assistance of those about him. The following Petition represents in so lively a Manner the...
47718From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 February 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Here are three Ships about to sail. I can only write to my Friends by the last of them or by the Packet, that goes to morrow Week. Yet I must write a Line to you by every one of them, tho’ it be only to tell you I am well and very busy. I have received your Letters by the December Packet and by Captain Beves. I have got the Clothes and have worn them, but...
47719From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Rush, 7 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia This letter of introduction is the initial appearance in Franklin’s correspondence of a young man who later became important to him, first as his editor and then as Shelburne’s emissary during the peace negotiations of 1782. Benjamin Vaughan (1751–1835) was the eldest son of Samuel Vaughan, a wealthy English merchant with interests in...
47720From Benjamin Franklin to Adolf Benzelius, [November 1769 or December 1769] (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Uppsala Library Dr. Franklin presents his best Respects to Mr. Benzel, and will be glad to see him and his Friend tomorrow morning at Eleven a Clock, if that time will suit them, and they think fit to do him the Honour of a Visit in Craven street. Addressed: To / Mr Benzel / at Mrs Philips’s / Jeweller. / St Martin’s Court Adolf Benzelius or Benzelstierna (1715–75) came of a...