47671From Benjamin Franklin to Castries, 30 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Tho’ late, it is with great Pleasure that I congratulate your Excellency, on the high and most important Office in which the discerning Eye of your souveireign has lately thought fit to place you. A severe Access of the Gout which has kept me for a fortnight past in continual Pain & Fever, prevented my sooner waiting on you with my Respects. They are however not the...
47672From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley: Two Letters, 22 February 1779 (Franklin Papers)
(I) LS , AL (draft), copy, and transcript: Library of Congress; (II) transcript and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your Favor of Jany 23d containing the Answer you had received from the Board of Sick and Hurt, in which they say they are taking Measures for the immediate Sending to France the Number of Americans first proposed to be changed, &c. I have heard nothing since of...
47673From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 8 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Stanley R. Becker, East Hampton, New York (1976); transcript: Library of Congress I wrote you a few Lines the 25th of last Month, mentioning that we had here 200 English Prisoners, and desiring you to propose an Exchange. I hope you receiv’d my Letter and that I shall soon be favour’d with an Answer. We are oblig’d to keep the Prisoners on Shipboard where I doubt they cannot be...
47674Paragraph on the Treatment of Massachusetts, 14 March 1774 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , March 14, 1774. It is proper the Public should be informed, that while every Species of Falshood, Invective and Abuse is daily uttered in every Newspaper against the People of Massachusetts Bay; while they are branded as Rebels, Insurgents, &c. while W——e is hired to calumniate them in Speeches and M——t in Pamphlets; the Representatives are absolutely...
47675From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Bernard, 21 April 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Hyde Collection, Mrs. Donald F. Hyde, Somerville, N.J. (1955) Mr. Williams has acknowledg’d the Receipt of the £12 12 s. 0 d. Dr. Allison is out of Town, and not expected home these 10 Days. As soon as he returns I will speak to him, and write you his Answer. I communicated your Favour of the 1st. ult. to my Son, who desired me to return his grateful Acknowledgements for your kind...
47676[Elegy on My Sister Franklin, 1722] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Pennsylvania Library The University of Pennsylvania acquired in 1934 an eighty-six line “Elegy on my Sister Franklin,” undated but written in an eighteenth-century hand, and signed “B.F.” The Elegy opens as follows: The manuscript is a sheet of four pages and appears to be a copy of an earlier version, for the penman inadvertently skipped lines 35 and 36, but put them in at...
47677To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 7 November 1781 (Adams Papers)
I have been honoured with the following Letters from your Excellency during the last Month, viz. of the 4th. 10th. 18th. 22d. 22d. 25th. 26th. and 27th. which I should have answered sooner, but that I waited for a safe Opportunity, having reason to believe that all your Letters to me by the post are opened, and apprehending the same of mine to you. I send herewith the Covers and Seals of those...
47678From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 15 January 1756 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We move this Day for Gnadenhutten. If you have not Cash sufficient, call upon Mr. Moore, the Treasurer, with that Order of the Assembly, and desire him to pay you £100 of it. If he has not Cash in hand Mr. Norris, (to whom my Respects) will advance it for him. We shall have with us, about 130 Men, and shall endeavour to act cautiously, so as to give the...
47679New Fables, 2 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Public Advertiser , January 2, 1770 The first ascription of these fables to Franklin was by Verner Crane, and his evidence is conclusive. When the second and third fables were composed, as distinct from published, is impossible to say; the genesis of the first goes back almost two years, although in the intervening period it changed considerably. NEW FABLES , humbly inscribed to...
47680From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Wilmot, 9 May 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received the Act you mention, and if tis convenient to you to call at my House on Monday morning any Hour before One, I shall be glad to see you and converse with you on the Subject; being with great Esteem, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant. As in the case of Wilmot’s letter of May 8 (above, p. 314), to which this is a reply, I. Minis Hays...
47681From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 29 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I wrote to you by favour of M. Poissonnier, on the 22d Instant, since which I have received yours of the 20th. with some more Sheets. I have now gone through all that are come to hand, and the following are all the Corrections that occur to me to propose for your Errata, some of which are scarce worth Notice. Premiere Partie Page 295 line 11. from...
47682From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 5 May 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères I have the honour to communicate to your Excellency herewith three Articles proposed between Mr. Hartley and the American Commissioners, respecting Commerce. He has sent them to his Court for their Approbation. I doubt their Obtaining it; But we shall see. I am with Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s Most obedient & most humble Servant In the...
47683From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Reed, 1 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress A Gentleman from Holland, one of the Senators of Ziricsee, M. Van Noemer, being desirous of settling in our State, with his Family, and being well recommended to me, as a Person of Character, for Learning & Virtue, & likely to make a good & useful Citizen, I beg leave to present him to your Excellency, and to request for him those Civilities &...
47684From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 30 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; copies: National Archives, Library of Congress; transcript: National Archives I have within these few Days received a Number of Dispatches from you which have arrived by the Mercury and other Vessels. Hearing but this Instant of an Opportunity from Bordeaux, and that the Courier Sets out from Versailles at 5 this Evening, I embrace it just to let you know that I have...
47685From Benjamin Franklin to Lenoir, 19 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress In October last, there came to me a Person who call’d himself Thierry de Lavau, a Frenchman, representing that he had lived some Years in America, had married there & acquired a small Fortune, & had left Virginia with his Wife to come to France, but that the Vessel foundered at Sea, that the People were saved by another Ship in Company, but that he lost...
47686From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Digges, 9 October 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the China portrait of Washington in good order, But no other you mention. Nor has the Picture of the good Bishop ever yet appeared, I begin to be in pain about it, having heard nothing of it from any Place on this Side of the Water, and I have more than one Reason for setting a high Value on it. Your Favour of the 20th. & 29th. past came duly to hand, and...
47687From Benjamin Franklin to the Earl of Shelburne, 26 November 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Reprinted from Christie’s auction catalogue “Important Autograph Letters from the Historical Archives of Bowood House” (London, Oct. 12, 1994), p. 35. Mr Vaughan brought me some time since from your Lordship a Remedy you were so kind as to send me for my Gravel. I intended to thank you by him. He staid here much longer than I expected, and when he went it was so suddenly that I had not...
47688From Benjamin Franklin to [American Merchants in France], [after 15 February 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Press copy of ADS : Library of Congress By the 22d Article of the Preliminaries of Peace between the Kings of France & Great Britain, signed the 20th of January 1783. it is agreed that all Vessels should be restored that might be taken In the Channel & North Seas 12 Days after the Ratification of the Articles. Thence as far as the Canaries, whether in the Ocean or Mediterranean, after one...
47689From Benjamin Franklin to John Ellicott, 13 April 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The London Hospital I yesterday receiv’d your Favour of Jany. 8. and as it would be a particular Pleasure to me to be any way serviceable to your Hospital, I shall cause the Enquiry you desire to be carefully made at New York; and to that end I write to a Friend there by this Post: But as the Father of Capt. Holland is said in the Will to have been of James River, which is in Virginia,...
47690From Benjamin Franklin to Humphry Marshall, 22 April 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I duly received your Favours of the 4th. of October and the 17th. of November. It gave me Pleasure to hear, that tho’ the Merchants had departed from their Agreement of Non-Importation, the Spirit of Industry and Frugality was likely to continue among the People. I am obliged to you for your Concern on my Account. The Letters you mention gave great Offence here;...
47691From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 6 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have been much in the Country this summer, travelling over great Part of the Kingdom, partly to recover my Health, and partly to improve and increase Acquaintance among Persons of Influence. Being just come to Town, I find this Ship on the Point of Sailing; so can only now say, that I have receiv’d your Favour of July 28. with the Papers enclos’d which I am very...
47692From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Life, 5 June 1775: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Papers of the Earl of Dartmouth deposited in the Staffordshire County Record Office I have just received your Favor of April 5. giving me an Account of the Progress of my Suit. I called at your House just before I came away to settle Matters with You, and it was no small Disappointment to me that I did not meet with You. I did then propose returning in October, but I find Things here...
47693From Benjamin Franklin to Nathaniel Falconer, 18 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your kind Letters of May 15. and June 7. and was glad to hear of your Welfare and safe Arrival in England.— I wish you much Success in entring again upon your old Occupation, and should be happy if I could be ready to return in a Ship under your Care. But I have not yet receiv’d the Permission I requested from Congress, nor do I know...
47694From Benjamin Franklin to James Lovell, 7 October 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I receiv’d your Favour (without Date) communicating a Method of Secret Writing, for which I am oblig’d to you. I have since receiv’d yours of July 4. I was very sensible before I left America, of the Inconveniencies attending the Employment of Foreign Officers, and therefore immediately on my Arrival here I gave all the Discouragement in my Power to their...
47695From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 26 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received your favour of the 11th. Instant. I am much oblig’d by your immediate Application to The Board of sick and hurt after the Receipt of mine of Jan. 20th. and Very glad to hear that another Cartel is soon to sail from Plymouth with 100 Americans. The English Prisoners to exchange for them, will be ready at morlaix.— And I am authoriz’d to repeat what...
47696From Benjamin Franklin to Henry Laurens, 19 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I had the honour of receiving yours of the 7th Instant. The Account you give of your bad State of Health alarms your Friends. Mr Oswald informs me, that the Waters of Bath used to recover you effectually. And tho’ we are very sensible that if you could get well to America, you might be of great Service to the Publick, yet we think the Hazard is too great,...
47697From Benjamin Franklin to Van der Oudermeulen, 22 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two copies: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of writing to me, the 15th. Inst. containing the Sketch of a Plan for commerce with America by establishing there and in Europe Companies with Privileges for that Purpose, upon which you desire my Sentiments. I cannot from so small a Sketch understand fully the Extent of your Plan: But I will mention what occurs to me...
47698To John Adams from Benjamin Franklin, 18 May 1787 (Adams Papers)
I received by D r White the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 27th of January, together with two Copies of your Defence of the American Constitutions, one for myself for which I beg you would accept my Thanks, the other for the Philosophical Society, whose Secretary will of course officially acknowledge the Obligation. That Work is in such Request here, that it is already put...
47699From Benjamin Franklin to the Eastern Navy Board, 15 March 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I acquainted you in a former Letter, that there were great Misunderstandings between Capt. Landais and the other Officers of his ship. These Differences arose to such a Height, that the Captain once wrote me, he would quit the Command rather than continue with them. Some of them leaving the Ship, that Disturbance Seem’d to be quieted. But there has Since arisen...
47700From Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, 13 June 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wonder’d it was so long before I heard from you. The Packet it seems was brought down to Philadelphia, and carry’d back to Burlington before it came hither. I am glad to learn by your Letters that you are happy in your new Situation, and that tho’ you ride out sometimes, you do not neglect your Studies. You are now in that time of Life which is the...
47701A Man of Sense, 11 February 1735 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , February 11, 1734/5. Franklin wanted his newspaper to instruct as well as inform, and sometimes published in it, he wrote in the autobiography, “little Pieces of my own which had been first compos’d for Reading in our Junto. Of these are a Socratic Dialogue, tending to prove, that, whatever might be his Parts and Abilities, a vicious Man could not properly...
47702From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 9 October 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dr. William Hewson Baltzell, Philadelphia, Pa. (1957) I write this Line just to acquaint our dear Polly, that I left her amiable Friend Miss Henckel well at Calais on Wednesday noon, waiting for good Weather to come over. She has been four Months at Spa. She enquir’d concerning Miss Stevenson’s Health and Welfare in the most tender and affectionate Manner; and will be disappointed in not...
47703From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 14 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress Permit me to repeat my Congratulations on your Election to the Government of your Country, and my best Wishes for your Health & Happiness. A Privateer of this Country having taken an English Packet bound to New York, with her Dispatches, some of which it may be of particular Use to your State that your Excellency should see, as...
47704On Railing and Reviling, 6 January 1768 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 8, 1768; autograph draft in the American Philosophical Society. On January 5, 1768, the Gazetteer published an intemperate attack on the Boston nonimportation resolutions and on the American attitude in general, signed “ Old England .” The next day Franklin dashed off a reply, written on the back of a notice he had just received of a...
47705“F.B.”: First Reply to Tom Hint, [19 December 1765] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , December 19, 1765. In The Pennsylvania Chronicle, and Universal Advertiser , Feb. 9–16, 1767, the printer, William Goddard, reprinted several letters from English newspapers which he prefaced with the following note: “Agreeable to our Promise, we now lay before our Readers three of the Pieces wrote and published by Dr. Franklin, in Defence of...
47706From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, [1760–1762] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Here is a Coach from your House, and no Line to me from you. I will never forgive you, if you do not immediately write me a long Letter in the room of that you stole from me yesterday. You know the Penalty of the old Law was four fold. See that you punish yourself fully, and thereby disarm the Resentment of Your injured Friend “If a man shall steal an ox,...
47707From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 4 May 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; copy: Library of Congress; transcripts: Massachusetts Historical Society, National Archives I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency, that Mr Oswald is just returned from London and now with me. He has deliver’d me a Letter from Lord Shelburne, which I enclose for your Perusal, together with a Copy of my Letter to which it is an Answer....
47708From Benjamin Franklin to Sir Grey Cooper, 11 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library Receiving frequent Accounts by American Prisoners, who have escap’d from your Goals, of the miserable Situation and hard Treatment of their Countrymen at Portsmouth and Plymouth, we have prevail’d with a Gentleman, Major Thornton, (to us much a Stranger but who appears a Man of Humanity) to visit the...
47709From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 2 June 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Incomplete copy: Library of Congress; extract: reprinted from William Temple Franklin, The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. F.R.S. &c. … (2nd ed.; 2 vols., London, 1817), I , 40–2. I have received yours of june [Jan.] 16. You observe that you Seldom hear from me, I have the Same reason to complain; but I do not complain of you. This [’Tis] the Loss of Ships, and the Sinking...
47710From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I have had no Line from you by several late Opportunities: I flatter myself it is owing not to Indisposition, but to the Opinion of my having left England, which indeed I hope soon to do. Mr. Dillwyn tells me he never saw so fine a Child as your youngest Grandson: Has he eclips’d poor Benjamin of whose pretty History I us’d to receive so...
47711From Benjamin Franklin to William Withering, 1 March 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr Vaughan communicated to me a very ingenious & judicious Letter (as it appear’d to me) written by you on the Subject of calculous Complaints & the Remedies that had been propos’d for them. You were so good as to say that if I would send you a state of my Case, you might perhaps be able to point out some Plan of Proceeding that would be serviceable. I...
47712From Benjamin Franklin to Claude-Carloman de Rulhière, 2 March 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This is Franklin’s earliest surviving letter in French, and it was more consequential than it seems. The recipient, the Chevalier de Rulhière (1735–91), was a man of some distinction, a poet, historian, and diplomat, who had been the secretary of the French embassy in St. Petersburg and had written extensively on recent developments in Russia and Poland. He...
47713From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Priestley, 8 February 1780 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress Your kind Letter of Sept. 27. came to hand but very lately, the Bearer having staid long in Holland. I always rejoice to hear of your being still employ’d in Experimental Researches into Nature, and of the Success you meet with. The rapid Progress true Science now makes, occasions my Regretting sometimes that I was born so soon. It is impossible...
47714From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin: Journal of Negotiations in London, 22 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress When Franklin at long last set sail for home, memories of the past months were churning inside him. He spent much of the voyage recounting, in the guise of a letter to his son, the events that had crowded upon him since the previous summer and particularly since early December. He had with him a mass of papers with which he documented his journal; the bulk of...
47715From Benjamin Franklin to George Fox, [before 30 March 1783] (Franklin Papers)
Printed invitation with MS insertions: University of Pennsylvania Library Dr. Franklin requests the honour of Mr. Fox’s Company at Dinner on Sunday the 30th Inst . Passy, March 1783. The favour of an Answer is desired. Addressed: A Monsieur / Monsieur Fox / Hotel de Montgomery / Rue du Collombier.— WTF ’s friend, who would soon leave for America:
47716From Benjamin Franklin to Ezra Stiles, 19 December 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This Line is just to salute you, and acquaint you with my Return to America, Thanks to God, well and hearty. I hope you are so. With this you will receive a Thermometer which craves your Acceptance. With the greatest Esteem, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant BF had promised to send Stiles a thermometer, May 23, 1757; above, VII , 217. On...
47717From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Walpole, 12 January 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : David Holland, London (1955) This letter, the first in a brief correspondence with Walpole during the next two months about the affairs of the Walpole or Grand Ohio Company, touches an important question: to what extent, if any, did Franklin’s connection with the Company affect his conduct as a diplomat? He seems here to be severing the connection, but in fact he retained it; and it...
47718From Benjamin Franklin to [John Franklin], 2 April 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: American Philosophical Society I should be glad you’d send me the first informations you receive, of what Admiral Warren is doing or like to do in England. And whether the wasted[?] is returning in Orders. We want much to hear that the Fleet is preparing to come from England, in Order to carry on the Expedition. Billy is so fond of a military Life, that he will by no means hear of...
47719From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 25 July 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I send herewith per Capt. Falconer, a Box directed for the Library Company, containing the following new Books, which I hope will be agreeable to them; viz. Sketches of the History of Man per Lord Kaims, 2 Vols 4to. Letters of Lady Caroline Russel 4to. Discovery of new northern Archipelago, 8vo. Warton’s History of English Poetry. 4to. Leland’s History...
47720From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Shippen, 2 June 1755 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : G. Willing Pepper, Philadelphia (1956) I am sorry it so happened that you had no Money put into your Hands for the Affair of the New Road; for Laverty and Coleman’s Return for want of a little Assistance, will, I am afraid, discourage many that intended to go. The Committee, on Sight of your Letter to the Governor, ordered 100 Dollars into his Hands to be sent to you, which I hope you...