48201From Benjamin Franklin to Richard and Sarah Bache, 31 March 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library; AL (draft): Library of Congress His Excellency, M. Gerard, who does me the Honour to take Charge of this Letter, goes Minister from this Court to the Congress. He is a Friend to your Country and to your Father, which gives him a double Claim to your Civilities, and to every Kindness in your Power to show him. It is so long since I have heard from you, and there...
48202From Benjamin Franklin to Dumas, 18[–20] January 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Henry E. Huntington Library; AL (draft): Library of Congress; copies: Library of Congress, National Archives Since my last I have been favoured by yours of Decemr. 1, 7, 14 21, 25, & January 1. by which you have kept me constantly well informed of the State of Affairs. Accept my Thanks. You may depend on my mentioning your Diligence & Services to Congress, in the Manner they merit. Tho’ I...
48203From Benjamin Franklin to ——— Durif de Cazaneuve, 19 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress It wou’d be a Pleasure to me if I could comply with your Request, and every other of the same Nature; But the great Excess of Demands upon me for Advances of Money, above the Supplies I receive obliges me to refuse all that are not of absolute Necessity. As M. Adams is now at Nantes, who probably is acquainted with you, I imagine he has been good enough to furnish...
48204From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 30 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Virginia Historical Society On perusing again your late Letters, I find that you imagine the whole 5. Millions of Florins borrowed in Holland, are free to be Disposed of by your Orders. Here it is understood that there are to be great Deductions, and that little of it remains. I shall obtain in a few Days, a State of the Account which I will send you by various...
48205From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 28 August 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Mr. Barclay writes to you fully, but I cannot refuse myself the Pleasure of congratulating you on our having at last obtain’d the Money for the Hospital, viz £7634 11 s. 1 d. 3 per Cent Bank Annuities, with £909 1 s. 4 d. Interest. This Sum will be a great Help to our Institution. With my best Wishes for its Success and sincere Esteem for its...
48206From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 24 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress By the enclosed Letter from M. De Sartine expressing his Majestys Desire that the Alliance should be retained here a little longer, you will see that I am under a kind of Necessity of disappointing you in your Intentions of making your Passage immediately in that Vessel; which would be more unpleasing to me but for these...
48207From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 17 February 1774 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Mrs. Edward M. Korry, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. (1976); ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society I received Yours of Nov. 20, 30, Dec. 28 and Jan. 1. Before this gets to hand you will have heard that I am displaced, and consequently have it n[o longer] in my Power to assist you in your Views relating [to the Post Office and as things ar]e, I would not wish to see you [concern’d in it. For...
48208A Narrative of the Late Massacres, [30 January? 1764] (Franklin Papers)
A Narrative of the Late Massacres, in Lancaster County, of a Number of Indians, Friends of this Province, By Persons Unknown. With some Observations on the same . Printed in the Year M , DCC , LXIV . (Yale University Library) News of the massacre of six Indians at Conestoga Manor by men from Paxton and Donegal, two communities on the Susquehanna, on December 14, 1763, reached Governor Penn on...
48209From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 19 October 1748 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library I receiv’d your Favour of April 25, with the Maps, &c. I am glad the Polybius did not come, and hope you will not have sent it when this reaches your Hands; it was intended for my Son, who was then in the Army, and seemed bent on a military Life; but as Peace cuts off his Prospect of Advancement in that Way, he will apply himself to other Business. Enclos’d I send...
48210From Benjamin Franklin to Edmund Burke, 19 December 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Central Library, Sheffield The Congress had told the seven active colonial agents to deliver its petition into the King’s hands. This instruction raised a delicate question of protocol, for the method of direct presentation, although not entirely unprecedented, was contrary to the normal one of delivering a petition to the American Secretary to be forwarded. The meeting that was the...
48211From Benjamin Franklin to Israel Pemberton, 19 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Boston Public Library I received your Favour of December 11, and January 19. By those Ships you will receive some of the printed Enquiries, to which Post’s first Journal is added, which being more generally interesting, occasions the other to go into more Hands and be more read. Extracts of your and Mr. Thomson’s Letters are also added to make the Thing more compleat. Mr. Hall has Orders...
48212From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, Jr., 19 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Dartmouth College Library; copy: Library of Congress In your receipts for M. Monthieu’s Copper there is mention made of Copper Ore . Explain this to me: For as we bought no Copper Ore of him and as it is not so valuable as Copper, it ought not to be given us instead of Copper. Mr Lee has yet sent me no Ansr—to mine relating to your Accounts. Let me know whether the Reference is accepted...
48213Toleration in Old and New England, 3 June 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Packet , June 3, 1772; incomplete draft: American Philosophical Society I Understand from the public papers, that in the debates on the bill for relieving the Dissenters in the point of subscription to the Church Articles, sundry reflections were thrown out against that people, importing, “that they themselves are of a persecuting intolerant spirit, for that when they had...
48214From Benjamin Franklin to Carié le jeune, 1 February 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 24th. past, desiring to be inform’d whether Mortgages of Lands in America executed in France before a Notary, will be held good in that Country? In my Opinion such Mortgages, duly certified under some public Seal in France will be deemed good in America. But as there are Laws in most of the United States...
48215Certificate for Arendt, [18 May 1780] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Colonel D’Arendt in the service of the United States of America, having had leave to come to Europe for the recovery of his health, and being about to return to his Duty, I do hereby certify at his request, such Captains or Owners of Ships as he may apply to for a Passage, that from his Character for Probity, and the Pay he must have due to him in America, I make no...
48216“Une Abonnée,” [after 27 August 1783] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress; copy: American Philosophical Society Letters to the editor written in the guise of a woman were one of Franklin’s earliest and favorite forms of satire. The present example is the only instance we have seen of his crafting this sort of spoof in France. Whether it was truly intended for publication or simply meant to amuse his friends is not known; no mention of...
48217From Benjamin Franklin to William Hodgson, 8 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received your Favour of the 20th past. That of the 8th of May came regularly to hand. I thought I had before acknowledged it. At least I wrote a Letter which answer’d a part of it, that related to Bouffé & fils, acquainting you that they were broke. Digges has not appeared here. I am sorry for Mr Day’s Loss by him. Is there no way of getting at him...
48218From Benjamin Franklin to Deumié Groc, 25 February 1785 (Franklin Papers)
Copy of translation: American Philosophical Society Jay recu la Lettre que Vous m’aviez fait l’honneur de mécrire le 26me. 9bre. dernier Touchant L’aimable Elizabeth Vau. [Vaisseau] françois destiné pour philadelphie, mais dèserté En mer par son Capitaine et Equipage et Ensuitte Conduit à terre neuve. Jay immediatement Ecrit à Monsieur Barclay notre Consul pourlors á Lorient requerant de lui á...
48219Poor Richard, 1739 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard, 1739. An Almanack For the Year of Christ 1739 ,... By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. (Yale University Library) Encouraged by thy former Generosity, I once more present thee with an Almanack, which is the 7th of my Publication. While thou art putting Pence in my Pocket, and furnishing my Cottage...
48220From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 26 June 1753 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Huntington Library I received a Letter from you on the Road hither, with one of the supplemental Papers on Electricity; and a Letter from our Friend Kalm. I condole with you sincerely on the Death of good Mrs. Collinson: I do not, however, offer to comfort you by Arguments drawn from Philosophy or Religion; such will readily occur to a Person of your Understanding and Piety. Natural...
48221From Benjamin Franklin to James Russell, Silvanus Grove and Osgood Hanbury, 20 May 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received from his Excellency Thomas Sim Lee Governor of Maryland a Letter dated at Annapolis in Council the 4th. of January, requesting me to transmit to you the Copy of an Act (which I inclose accordingly) and to desire your immediate answer, whether you will transact the Business, sell out the Stock, & accept and pay the Bills drawn in pursuance of the...
48222From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Carroll and Samuel Chase, 27 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library We arrived here safe yesterday Evening, having left Mrs. Walker with her Husband at Albany, from whence we came down by Land. We pass’d him on Lake Champlain; but he returning overtook us at Saratoga, where they both gave themselves such Liberties in taunting at our Conduct in Canada, that it came almost to a Quarrel. We continu’d our Care of her, however, and...
48223From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 5 August 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress Having just received these Letters under Cover to me from New- England, I Send them immediately to your Excellency. Being with great Esteem, and Respect, Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient and most humble Sert. Endorsed: M d F expédies la réponse a toutes les lettres que j’ai recuës de M de la Touche pour la faire partir par l’ariel...
48224Note on Marginalia in Another Letter, an Anonymous Pamphlet, [1770?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notations appear on pp. 139–40 of a copy in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania of Another Letter to Mr. Almon, in Matter of Libel (London, 1770). The author is discussing the American claim that Parliament has no jurisdiction over the colonial assemblies because they are constitutionally coequal with it. Franklin’s comments were largely obliterated when the copy was cropped in...
48225From Benjamin Franklin to Castries, 7 September 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Archives de la Marine J’ay l’honneur de transmettre à V. E. la copie d’une lettre que je viens de recevoir de M. de Veimerange au sujet des avaries arrivées à un des Batiments de transports chargés des munitions destinées pour les Etats unis de l’amerique. Je pense qu’il est a propos que Votre Gouvernement ayant eté chargé jusqu’a present de ces sortes d’affaires, continue à les diriger,...
48226From Benjamin Franklin to Katherine French, 26 February 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library After so full an Opinion in favour of your Friend’s Work from the late learned Dr. Sharpe, my Sentiments of it seem unnecessary, as they can add no Weight. They will appear, however, by my requesting that Five Sets more may be sent me, which I intend as Presents to my Friends the Speakers of so many American Assemblies or Parliaments. These added to the Set you...
48227From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 12[–16] October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 4th. Instant. I have never known a Peace made, even the most advantageous, that was not censured as inadequate, and the Makers condemn’d as injudicious or corrupt. Blessed are the Peacemakers , is I suppose to be understood in the other World: for in this they are more frequently...
48228Speculation on the Speed of Ships, 5 April 1775 (Franklin Papers)
MS : Library of Congress During his homeward voyage Franklin took time off from writing his journal of the peace negotiations in London to return to a question that had intrigued him for years: why do westbound ships have a longer crossing of the Atlantic than eastbound? Almost three decades earlier he had advanced a tentative answer in terms of the earth’s rotation; he now sketched a new one...
48229From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 3 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives, American Philosophical Society; transcript: National Archives Enclos’d are Copies of a Number of Publick Letters taken from the English in a late New York Pacquet, of which I have already sent Duplicates by several Conveyances. I have the honour to be, with great Respect, Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant Notation: Letter May 3. 1781 Doctr. Franklin Recd....
48230From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 16 November 1753 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in Merwin Sales Company, Catalogue No. 557 (1914), p. 16. I wrote to you via Bristol and desired you to bespeak some Letter and a Press for me. I desired Mr. Hall to look out for such a Bill for me, but he has not been able to procure one at any reasonable rate. Among the lost [long?] list of type is 300 lb. long Primer with Figures and Signs sufficient for...
48231From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Leech and Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 13 May 1758 (Franklin Papers)
LS with ALS postscript: Yale University Library I receiv’d yours of February 6. with the Votes and other Papers relating to the Commitment of Moore and Smith. We immediately took Advice upon them, and engaged Counsel. It was however some Time before we heard any Thing from the other Side. At length we had Notice from the Attorney and Sollicitor General, that Smith’s Petition was referr’d to...
48232Address to the Associators, 7 December 1747 (Franklin Papers)
MS (fragment): American Philosophical Society The Associators—almost 600 in number—assembled with their arms at the court house on December 7 for their first meeting. Secretary Richard Peters, at the order of the President and Council, informed them that their “Proceedings are not disapprov’d by the Government,” and assured them that commissions would be “readily granted” to the officers...
48233From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Hancock, 11 September 1755 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard College Library You may remember that when I last had the Pleasure of seeing you, I mention’d the Inconvenience attending the Want of a Fund to increase and improve your College Library. I imagined that a Subscription set on foot for that purpose might with proper Management produce something considerable. I know you are a Friend to the College, and therefore take the Freedom of...
48234From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 5 [August] 1767 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Samuel Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania , XVI , No. 5 (August 1, 1835), 65–6. I received your obliging favour of May 16. I am always glad to hear from you when you have Leisure to write, and I expect no Apologies for your not Writing. I wish all correspondence was on the Foot of Writing and answering when one can, or when one is dispos’d to it,...
48235From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 2 July 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I have sent you via New York 24 of your Books, bound as those I sent you per Post. The Remainder of the 50 are binding in a plainer Manner, and shall be sent as soon as done, and left at Mr. Stuyvesant’s as you order. Our Academy, which you so kindly enquire after, goes on well. Since Mr. Martin’s Death, the Latin and Greek School has been under the Care of...
48236From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 5 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Columbia University Library; al (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress I have received your Favours of the 18th. and 24th. of April. It was with great Satisfaction I read Gen. Morgan’s Soldierly Account of his Engagement with Tarleton, which you so kindly sent me. I have, with the Approbation of Col: Laurens accepted the second of a Set of Bills drawn on you for 4444 Dollars in...
48237From Benjamin Franklin to Ferdinand Grand, 16 March 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I find in my Bill Book, that I accepted on the 19 of february, the following Congress Bills drawn in favour of Wm. Dennie, Dollars 600, 12, 600, 30, 120, 12, 120. These Bills were probably Part of a Number sent by the said Dennie to Mess. J. Williams & ——— Moylan; and as one of the Vessels he wrote by is known to have been taken, it is suspected they have been...
48238From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 13 April 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter by Mrs. Wright, and shall do her all the Service in my Power. I think I wrote to you by Cousin Josiah, who sailed in Acworth last Week, and I hope will get safe home to his Friends. I continue well, and purpose returning this Summer, God willing, and then may hope next Year for the Pleasure of seeing you, as 1773 is my Period for...
48239From Benjamin Franklin to Leopold Caldani, 26 April 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Facsimile of ALS in Heinrich Lempertz, comp., Bilder-Hefte zur Geschichte des Bücherhandels und der mit demselben verwandten Künste und Gewerbe (Cologne, 1853–65), p. 46; AL (draft): University of Pennsylvania Library I am extreamly sensible of the Honour done my [me] by your Academy, in admitting me one of its Foreign Members, and I beg they would accept my thankful Acknowledgements: Your...
48240From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Le Despencer, 26 July 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I heartily wish your Lordship would urge the Plan of Reconciliation between the two Countries, which you did me the Honour to mention to me this Morning. I am persuaded that so far as the Consent of America is requisite, it must succeed. I am sure I should do everything in my Power there to promote it. I beg leave to lay before your Lordship, and to request...
48241From Benjamin Franklin to James Searle, 15 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
L : New York Public Library Dr Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr Searle and requests the Honour of his Company at Dinner tomorrow. Addressed: Honble Mr. Searle / Hotel de Valois / Rue de Richelieu Notation: Note from Dor. Franklin 15 March In WTF ’s hand. Searle sent an acceptance later that day ( APS ), but he may not have attended. On April 7, below, BF told Dumas that Searle had...
48242From Benjamin Franklin to Sartine, 18 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress By Letters I am daily receiving, I find there are in various Prisons of France a number of American Sailors, who having been forced into the english Service and since taken, remain confined with those of that Nation; but are very desirous of serving their own Country, in any of our Ships of War; and to that end, request I would obtain their Discharge from their...
48243From Benjamin Franklin to a Member of the Royal Society, 26 November 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Council of the Royal Society having put Sir John Pringle, Bart. in nomination for President; and being myself persuaded from what I know of his Learning in general, his thorough Acquaintance with Experimental Philosophy, his constant Attendance at our Meetings, and his extensive Reputation in the Republick of Letters throughout Europe, that he would...
48244From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 9 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have just received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 7th. of January, with the Duplicates of Sundry others. In mine by this Conveyance you will be pretty fully informed of the State of our Funds here, by which you will be enabled so to regulate your Drafts as that our Credit in Europe may not be ruined, and your Friend kill’d with Vexation. The...
48245From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [1 September 1778] (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society September saw a turning point in the relationship between Madame Brillon and the Doctor, and we outline here our tentative reconstruction of their correspondence during that month. It is obvious from the exchange published under July 27 that, “peace treaty” notwithstanding, an impasse had been reached. The solution they adopted, certainly one of the lady’s...
48246From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 16 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress The Person mentioned in your Excellency’s Letter of yesterday, has been with me, and by the Papers he show’d me I was Satisfy’d of his having been a Lieutenant in our Canadian Regiment, commanded by Col. Livingston. I gave him Money, as he had none Left, to bear his Expenses to Nantes, where he hop’d to find a Passage to America. He proposed to set out directly for...
48247From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Pownall, [before 20 September 1755] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract reprinted from New York Colonial Documents , VI , 1008–9. Conraed Weiser informs me that the Six Nations have actually sent a Message to the Indians in their Alliance at Aukwick and the Ohio, to sharpen their arrows and prepare for war, for they are now determined to drive the French from Ohio, and do all in their power to assist the English. In a letter from Pownall to...
48248From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Lafreté, [1781?] (Franklin Papers)
Printed by Benjamin Franklin, Passy: Yale University Library This letter, known to modern readers as “Bilked for Breakfast,” is one of the least-known of the bagatelles and the only one which has left no trace as to its origin. The manuscript has not survived, and there is nothing conclusive in the text to suggest any one year over another. By 1780, Franklin had developed the bantering tone...
48249From Benjamin Franklin to Sir Alexander Dick, 17 September 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Western Reserve Historical Society It gave me great Pleasure to learn from Dr. Robertson, that you and Lady Dick and your lovely Bairns, were all well and happy. Now that the long Litigation between our Province and the Proprietaries, which I had the Care of, is finished, I hope to be a better and more punctual Correspondent. My Time will be more my own. I am in debt to my Friends in...
48250From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 23 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 , 428. I received the letter you did me the honour of writing to me requesting a recommendation to America of Mr. Joshua Grigby. I have accordingly written one; and having an opportunity the other day, I sent it under cover to Mr. Benjamin Vaughan. The...