48211List of Articles Purchased by Fizeaux, Grand & Cie. on Franklin’s Orders: résumé, 26 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
D : Library of Congress <Amsterdam, August 26, 1779: The articles in question, to be purchased in Holland and delivered to Nantes by La Ville de Bordeaux , Capt. Claas, are thirteen in number. Eleven of them call for pharmaceuticals, two for textiles. The pharmaceuticals comprise large quantities of hipoquana root and jalap (both purgatives), sublimated sulphur ( fleur de soufre ), pannacea...
48212Memorandum, [18 April 1746] (Franklin Papers)
MS : American Philosophical Society Sally was inoculated April 18, being Fryday at 10 a Clock in the Morning. Sarah Franklin (Genealogy, D.3) was about two and a half years old. Her brother Francis had died of smallpox before he was inoculated. See above, II , 154. The memorandum is in BF ’s hand.
48213From Benjamin Franklin to Landais, 7 June 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : University of Pennsylvania Library; copies: Harvard University Library, Library of Congress, National Archives (two) I receiv’d yours of the 29th. past, and after the Manner in which you quitted the Ship, my clear and positive Refusal of replacing you contained in mine of March the 12th. and my furnishing you with a considerable Sum to enable you to go to America for a Trial, I am...
48214From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 23 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received your kind Letters of Sept. 26. Oct. and Nov. 7. That of Sept. 26. is directed to my Wife, but she sent it to me, I suppose that I might see your Opinion of Mr. Bache: I am glad you approve the Choice they have made. I write a few Lines to Mr. Leadly: I cannot say much on that Subject till I see Mr. Foxcroft, whom I now expect daily. I am...
48215From Benjamin Franklin to the Massachusetts House of Representatives Committee of Correspondence, 13 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Jared Sparks, ed., The Works of Benjamin Franklin … (10 vols., Boston, 1836–40), VII , 543–5. On my return from a late tour through Ireland and Scotland, for the establishment of my health, I found your respected letter of June 25th, with the papers therein referred to, relating to the townships settled eastward of Penobscot River. I immediately waited on Mr. Bollan to consult...
48216Toasts at an Independence Day Banquet, [5 July 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: American Philosophical Society The anniversary of American independence, which fell on a Sunday in 1779, was celebrated on both sides of the Atlantic on Monday, the fifth of July. While back in Philadelphia the French minister plenipotentiary, consul, local officials, and visiting dignitaries were being hosted by Congress, in Passy Franklin was hosting Americans and French friends of the...
48217From Benjamin Franklin to the Conde de Campomanes, 5 June 1784 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I have received much Instruction and Pleasure in reading your excellent Writings; I wish it were in my Power to make you a suitable Return of the same kind. I embrace the Opportunity my much esteemed Friend Mr Carmichael affords me, of sending you a late Collection of some of my occasional Pieces, of which, if I should live to get home I hope to...
48218From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [August 1765] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragments): American Philosophical Society You should never be without Tubs sufficient in the Area to catch the Rain Water; for if it overflows there often, it may occasion the Foundation to settle, and hurt the Wall. I am sending you per Budden (or Robinson) a Copper to be set in your Kitchen, with some other Things. Let me have the Breadth of the Pier, that I may get a handsome Glass...
48219Extracts from the Gazette, 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , January 3 to December 25, 1744. Wednesday last a Fire broke out in the Roof of a House in Second Street near the Church, but there being sufficient Help at hand, it was presently extinguished. Axes were observ’d to be of great Use; for when Holes were made in the Shingling, the Water from Engines and Buckets readily enter’d, and did ten times the Service...
48220From Benjamin Franklin to Puchelberg & Cie., 3 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: National Archives, Library of Congress I have just received the Letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 28 past, acquainting me that you are appointed by the Officers & Crew of the Alliance Frigate to be their attorneys & Agents to receive for them what may be due to them of Prize Money. I am glad to hear of this appointment, & wish it had been made sooner. But the Demand of...
48221From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 30 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress This is to request that you will accept no more Bills with an Expectation of my Paying them, till you have farther Advice from me: For I find that Mr. Laurens, who went away without informing me what he had done, has made so full a Disposition of the Six Millions granted at my Request before his Arrival, that...
48222From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 6 January 1784 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Mrs. Marion Brawley, Oakley, South Carolina (1959); press copy of ALS , copy, and incomplete copy: Library of Congress I received your kind Letter of the 26th past, and immediately sent the inclosed to Mrs Jay, whom I saw a few days since with the Children, all perfectly well. It is a happy Thing that the little ones are so finely past the Small Pox, and I congratulate you upon it most...
48223From Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Webb, 22 April 1784 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Library of Congress I received your’s of the 15th. Instant, and the Memorial it inclosed. The account they give of your situation grieves me. I send you herewith a Bill for Ten Louis d’ors. I do not pretend to give such a Sum. I only lend it to you. When you shall return to your Country with a good Character, you cannot fail of getting into some Business that will in time enable...
48224From Benjamin Franklin to Triol, Roux & Co., 12 April 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received yesterday the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 4th Instant. I shall take care to forward Copies of it by different Conveyances to Congress, and recommend it to their Consideration. It is only of one of their Loans that they pay the Interest in Europe, agreable to the Conditions of that Loan: But the Bills they draw for the...
48225From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 4 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This is just to let you know that I am well, and that I shall write fully to you per Capt. Sparks or Falconer. My Love to Sally; and Son Bache, and the little Gentleman. I am as ever Your affectionate Husband Addressed: To / Mrs Franklin / Philadelphia / per favour of / Capt. Gill Probably an error for the 3rd; see the next document. Robert Gill, the master...
48226From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 23 March 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society A violent Cold which affects my Head and Eyesight, makes it inconvenient to me to write much; yet I would not miss the Opportunity of giving you this Line just to let you know that I am otherwise as usual. I hope you and yours are well, and am ever Your affectionate Brother
48227From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 1 May 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I receiv’d your Favour of Decemr. 20. You cannot conceive the Satisfaction and Pleasure you give your Friends here by your political Letters. Your Accounts are so clear, circumstantial and compleat, that tho’ there is nothing too much, nothing is wanting to give us, as I imagine, a more perfect Knowledge of your Publick Affairs than most People have that live...
48228A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, 1725 (Franklin Papers)
A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain. London: Printed in the Year MDCCXXV . (Yale University Library) As a journeyman in Samuel Palmer’s printing house in Bartholomew’s Close Franklin worked on the third edition of William Wollaston’s The Religion of Nature Delineated . Some of the author’s arguments “not appearing ... well-founded,” he composed “a little metaphysical...
48229From Benjamin Franklin to the Marquis de Castries, 3 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives de la Marine; copy: Library of Congress The Arms for the Exportation of which Mr Williams has requested Permission, do really, belong to the Congress, being Part of a Quantity of old Arms purchased by us near three Years since, and repaired at Nantes. Your Excellency will much oblige me by granting the Passport required. With great Respect, I am, Sir Your Excellency’s most...
48230From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 9 August 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library At my Return home I found your Favour of June the 28th. with the Bishop of Cloyne’s Letter enclos’d, which I will take care of, and beg Leave to keep a little longer. Mr. Francis, our Attorney General, who was with me at your House, from the Conversation then had with you, and reading some of your Pieces, has conceiv’d an Esteem for you equal to mine: The...
48231To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Franklin, 1 October 1785 (Jefferson Papers)
I wrote to you by a former Opportunity , to acquaint you with our safe Arrival. Mr. Houdon, who had been much perplex’d by the Accident of leaving his Things behind him, has found here the Tools and Materials he wanted, and set out last Wednesday for General Washington’s. My Grandson went the Day after to New York, where the Congress are still sitting, and likely to sit the Year out, having as...
48232From Benjamin Franklin to Granville Sharp, 21 January 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Miss T. Olive Lloyd-Baker, Hardwicke Court, Glos. (1956) Dr. Franklin presents his respectful Compliments to Mr. Sharp, with many Thanks for the Copy of his excellent Work, of which he desires 50 may be sent him; with a Bill of what he is indebted. Addressed: Granville Sharp Esqr BF had long known Sharp’s work against slavery, and had made his acquaintance by early 1773. Above, XVII , 38...
48233From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 24 December 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you largely by this Packet, but omitted mentioning two Things I want you to send me per first Ships, for two of my Friends here. One is, Miller’s German Newspapers for two or three Months back; and to be continued. The other a Lump of that Sort of Stone we make Steps and Cheeks of Cellar doors of, at Philadelphia. Your Care in these Particulars will...
48234On the Conduct of Lord Hillsborough, [beginning of August 1772?] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Because this essay exists only in a copy, it cannot be accurately dated. It was written for the public, to turn it against the Minister and his policies, at a time when Hillsborough’s political fortunes were declining and before his resignation became known during the first week in August. His replacement by Lord Dartmouth, a happy event for Franklin, led him to...
48235From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 10 June 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : National Archives; draft: Library of Congress I received yours of the first Inst. with the Papers enclosed, which I have shewn to the other Commissioners, but have not yet had their Opinion of them. I only know that they had before, (in Consideration of the Disposition and Uneasiness of your People) expressed an Inclination to order your Ship directly back to America. You will judge from...
48236From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 24 May 1764 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from [Jared Sparks, ed.,] Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin; Now for the First Time Published (Boston, 1833), p. 93. The bearer is the Reverend Mr. Rothenbuler, minister of a new Calvinist German Church, lately erected in this city. The congregation is but poor at present, being many of them new comers, and, (like other builders) deceived in...
48237Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion, 20 November 1728 (Franklin Papers)
Autograph MS : Library of Congress; also transcript: Library of Congress Franklin mentioned this private liturgy in his autobiography. Though he had had a conventional religious upbringing and contributed to the support of the Presbyterian meeting in Philadelphia, he seldom attended public worship, preferring to use Sundays for his own studies. Once, however, persuaded to go to church, he went...
48238Proposals for Preparing the Academy Building, [December 1749?] (Franklin Papers)
AD (fragment): American Philosophical Society With by-laws signed and funds promised for the Academy, the trustees had next to decide on its location. Some (including Franklin at first) favored a country town as less corrupting to students’ morals; others preferred Philadelphia, where James Logan offered a lot in Sixth Street. In either case a suitable building would cost a good deal of money....
48239From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 13 September 1750 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Columbia University Library I am sorry to hear of your Illness: If you have not been us’d to the Fever and Ague, let me give you one Caution. Don’t imagine yourself thoroughly cur’d, and so omit the Use of the Bark too soon. Remember to take the preventing Doses faithfully. If you were to continue taking a Dose or two every Day for two or three Weeks after the Fits have left you, ’twould...
48240From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 11 January 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Clements Library Since mine of the 9th. past, I have received your Favour of Nov. 8. with the Bill for £500. Wharton on Whitmore; for which I am greatly oblig’d to the Assembly; and to you for your kind Care in so speedily remitting it. I am perfectly of the same Sentiments with you, that the old Harmony will never be restor’d between the two Countries, till some Constitution is agreed...