48371From Benjamin Franklin to John Paul Jones, 27 May 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : National Archives; copies: Massachusetts Historical Society, Library of Congress I received yours of the 18th. inclosing one for the Countess of Selkirk which I forward this Day via Holland as you desire. It is a gallant Letter, and must give her Ladyship a high and just Opinion of your Generosity and Nobleness of Mind. The Dirty Insinuation you mention is of a Piece with many others...
48372Constitutional Convention. Second of Benjamin Franklin’s Motion that Proposed Executive Serve Without Pay, 2 June 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, June 2, 1787. On this date Benjamin Franklin moved that the expenses of the proposed Executive should be paid but that he should receive “no salary, stipend fee or reward whatsoever” for his service. “The motion was seconded by Col. HAMILTON with the view he said merely of bringing so respectable a proposition before the Committee, and which was besides enforced by arguments that...
48373From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Franklin, [before 1765] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Franklin, Experiments ana Observations on Electricity , 1769 edition, pp. 473–8. In its surviving printed form this letter is headed “To Mr. P. F. Newport, New England,” and since it begins “Dear Brother,” the person addressed could only have been Franklin’s brother, for many years a merchant and shipmaster in that town. Comparatively little is known of...
48374From Benjamin Franklin to ———, 26 July 1778 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Les affaires dont je suis chargé, Monsieur, ne me permettent pas de quitter paris et par consequent d’accepter vostre invitation; je vous prie de croire cependant que j’y suis tres sensible, et que c’est avéc reconnoissance que je suis, Monsieur, vostre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur. Notation: Le Veillard Possibly to Richelet who had invited BF...
48375From Benjamin Franklin to Timothy Folger, 21 August 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Folger Library I received yours of June 28. and immediately sent the same to the Proprietor Capt. Campbell, who was in the Country, desiring he would enable me to give you an explicit Answer. Yesterday being in Town he call’d upon me, and said, that he look’d upon his Lot to be full as good as Mr. Pownal’s which was sold for £500 but after some Discourse he agreed that to save Time, as...
48376From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 6 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I wrote to you of the 14th Feby. and 15th of March, since which I have receiv’d no Line from you. This just serves to cover a Sermon of my Friend the Bishop of St. Asaph. You will find it replete with very liberal Sentiments respecting America. I hope they will prevail here, and be the Foundation of a better Understanding between the two Countries....
48377From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 11 August 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Henry N. Haiken, New York City (1957) This is the best Paper I can get at this wretched Inn, but it will convey what is intrusted to it as faithfully as the finest. It will tell my Polly, how much her Friend is afflicted, that he must, perhaps never again, see one for whom he has so sincere an Affection, join’d to so perfect an Esteem; whom he once flatter’d himself might become his own...
48378From Benjamin Franklin to Woestyn frères, 20 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I am very sensible of the Honor you propose to do me in the naming of your Vessel; to which I have but this Objection, that I cannot merit it by taking a Part in the Enterprize. I have communicated your Scheme to some of my Friends; But they are already engaged in such Undertakings as far as they chuse to be. I shall however try some others, and I most heartily wish...
48379From Benjamin Franklin to Richard Bache, 1 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I have received yours of Oct. 6 and 13. and Sally’s of Oct. 25. It rejoices me to hear that you are all well, and that Benja. is recovered of the Measles. I will write him a little print Letter, as soon as I hear that he can read Print. Thanks to God, I am perfectly well at present, but being so far advanced in Life, I cannot expect a long...
48380From Benjamin Franklin to Schweighauser, 17 September 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I have now before me your favours of july 31. & Aug. 19. Your testimony with Regard to Mr. Wam. Lee, is fully Sufficient to remove the Suspicion of his Sharing in your Commission. I mention’d it not as a Charge against him, but as an Excuse for you; 5 per Cent being, as I understood more then double of what is usual. I could wish I had nothing to do with mercantile...
48381From Benjamin Franklin to Isaac Gouverneur and Samuel Curson, 22 November 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the Honour of Writing to me the 1st of September. It was by Order of Congress that I directed the Offer of Money to be made you, but it would be a Pleasure to me if I could be otherwise useful to you. If you have furnish’d any Correspondent here with a distinct Account of your Property in the several retaken Vessels you...
48382From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 21 February 1769 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Scottish Record Office I received your excellent Paper on the preferable Use of Oxen in Agriculture, and have put it in the way of being communicated to the Public here. I have observed in America that the Farmers are more thriving in those Parts of the Country where Cattle are used, than in those where the Labour is done by Horses. The latter are said to require twice the Quantity of...
48383Advertisement for Wagons, 26 April 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Broadside: American Philosophical Society; also Boston Public Library Whereas 150 Waggons, with 4 Horses to each Waggon, and 1500 Saddle or Pack-Horses are wanted for the Service of his Majesty’s Forces now about to rendezvous at Wills’s Creek; and his Excellency General Braddock hath been pleased to impower me to contract for the Hire of the same; I hereby give Notice, that I shall attend for...
48384From Benjamin Franklin to Juvel Neveux & Cauchoit, 23 September 1780 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft): American Philosophical Society M. Franklin a reçu la Lettre que Messrs. Juvel neveux et Cauchoit lui ont fait l’honneur de lui ecrire hier. Toute Lettre de Change tirée sur M. Franklin, doit lui etre presentée pour l’Acceptation à son Domicile à Passy. Et toutes celles qui ont passé par cette formalité sont payées à leurs Echéances chez M. Grand, Banquier Rue Montmartre, vis à vis...
48385From Benjamin Franklin to All Commanders of Vessels of War, [4 March 1779] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress To all Commanders of Vessels of War commission’d by the Congress of the United States of North America, These are to certify you, that the Bearer M. Riotto is a Subject of his most Christian Majesty the King of France, appertaining to his Highness the Prince of Conti, and that the Horses and the Dogs, or other Effects that...
48386From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Franklin, 13 January 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society I received your kind Letter of Nov. 8. and rejoice to hear of the continued Welfare of you and your good Wife and four Daughters: I hope they will all get good Husbands. I dare say they will be educated so as to deserve them. I knew a wise old Man, who us’d to advise his young Friends to chuse Wives out of a Bunch; for where there were...
48387Franklin’s Journal, 1–3 January 1782 (Franklin Papers)
AD : Library of Congress Went to Court; which was full, as usual on New-Years day. Visit with the other Foreign Ministers, the King, the Queen, and all the rest of the Royal Family separately, even the little Dauphin. Spoke with the Minister of War, M de Segur, who assur’d me of his Readiness to forward every Operation that might be [ torn: in?] the Service of the United States. Did not meet...
48388From Benjamin Franklin to Soller, 28 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library As the Commerce is now open between France and America, the Residents here no longer make Purchases of Goods for that Country, but leave those Matters entirely to private Merchants. I thank you nevertheless for your kind Offers of Service, and I have sent your Proposals to Mr Jonathan Williams, an American Merchant establish’d at Nantes, who may possibly have in...
48389From Benjamin Franklin to Vergennes, 24 March 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Archives du Ministère des affaires étrangères; draft: American Philosophical Society Je desirerois, Monsieur le Comte, faire imprimer la Traduction du Livre des Constitutions des Etats-Unis de l’Amerique publié en 1781 à Philadephie par Ordre du Congrès Général; plusieurs de ces Constitutions ont dèja paru dans le Journal des Affaires de l’Angleterre et de l’Amerique, d’autres ont déja...
48390From Benjamin Franklin to William Lee, 2 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Before I apply for the Arms you desire, I wish to be informed whether your Brother did not apply for them at the same Time he apply’d for the Cannon he obtained; or since, in Consequence of the Letter you mention to have sent us in January last; and whether they were refused or promised. Since I had the Honor of seeing you I have received an Application from the...
48391From Benjamin Franklin to David Hartley, 26 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New York Public Library; transcript: Library of Congress I receiv’d yours of the 18th and 20th. of this Month, with Lord North’s proposed Bills. The more I see of the Ideas and Projects of your Ministry, and their little Arts and Schemes of amusing and dividing us, the more I admire the prudent, manly and magnanimous Propositions contained in your intended Motion for an Address to the...
48392From Benjamin Franklin to John Morgan, 16 August 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I ought before now to have acknowledg’d the Receipt of a Letter from you after your Arrival in Scotland. It gave me a good deal of Pleasure to hear you were well receiv’d there, and that you conceiv’d your being there would prove advantageous to you. I have not now your Letter before me, or should answer it more particularly. I am just departing for America,...
48393Draft of a Petition from the Colonial Agents to the House of Commons, [between 24 February 1769 and 7 March 1769] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Charles Garth Letterbook, South Carolina Archives Department The fate of the petition that follows illustrates the difficult position of the colonial agents. In the late winter they had, or thought they had, indications that the mounting excitement in America might induce the administration to repeal the Townshend Acts if there were some way to cover its retreat. The problem was to find...
48394Advertisement to Wagoners, 6 May 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Broadside: Yale University Library Notice is hereby given to all who have contracted to send Waggons and Teams, or single Horses from York County to the Army at Wills’s Creek, that David M’Conaughy and Michael Schwoope of the said County, Gentlemen, will attend on my Behalf at York Town on Friday next, and at Philip Forney’s on Saturday, to value or appraise all such Waggons, Teams and Horses,...
48395From Benjamin Franklin to [Jean-Baptiste] Le Roy, [after 18 December 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society M. Franklin requests M. Le Roy to tell him the Name of the present Governor of Dominique, who is the Husband of one of the Ladies where we din’d at Epinay.— Also the Name of the Gentleman at whose house we din’d, M. F. having forgot it— This note may well be linked to Christopher Baldwin’s letter of Dec. 18. Right after the conquest of Dominica by the...
48396From Benjamin Franklin to Elizabeth Hubbart Partridge, 13 January 1772: fragment (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft; incomplete): American Philosophical Society I received your angry-a-little Letter by Mr. Marchant, written to me “tho’ I had suffered a preceding one to remain two Years unanswered.” If I did so, which I doubt, I was exceedingly to blame, and must desire you to excuse me in consideration of the many I have to write and the little time I have for Writing. I am sure I...
48397From Benjamin Franklin to Adamoli, 29 January 1780 [i.e., 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 22. Instant, with a Copy of the Vessels in which I find myself mention’d but too advantageously.— Please to accept my thankful Acknowledgements.— I do not perfectly comprehend your Plan of finding the different Relations of Weights, Measures, &c. by means of Compass. But I believe the English Society of...
48398From Benjamin Franklin to the Abbé Morellet, [after 5 July? 1779] (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from M. Lémontey, ed., Mémoires de l’abbé Morellet … (2 vols., Paris, 1821), I , 294–7; copy: American Philosophical Society Vous m’avez souvent égayé, mon très-cher ami, par vos excellentes chansons à boire; en échange, je désire vous édifier par quelques réflexions chrétiennes, morales et philosophiques sur le même sujet. In vino veritas , dit le sage. La verité est dans le vin....
48399From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 3 April 1779 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Massachusetts Historical Society; copy: Library of Congress I received the Letter you did me the honour to write to me of the 24th past. I am glad you have been at Brest, as your Presence there has contributed to expedite the Operations of Capt. Landais in Refitting his Ship. I think with you, that more has been made of the Conspiracy than was necessary; but that it would have been well...
48400“A Virginian”: Second Reply to Mr. Pym, 5 September 1765 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Lloyd’s Evening Post, And British Chronicle , September 9–11, 1765. The grounds for believing that this second letter by “A Virginian” was written by Franklin are indicated in the headnote to the first letter by the same writer, above, pp. 243–6. This piece is clearly an amplification of the other; the three intervening issues of Lloyd’s Evening Post contain no response by “William...
48401From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Gardoqui & fils, 4 July 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Your respected Letter of the 25th. past came duly to hand. Captain Haraden (whose Bravery in taking and retaking the Privateer give me great Pleasure) is very good in offering the Spare Room in his Ship for the Service of the States. Having lately received the enclosed List of Articles wanted in America which came under a Cover directed to me without a Letter and not...
48402From Benjamin Franklin to John Jay, 30 June 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Royal Library, Windsor; AL (draft) and two copies: Library of Congress You acquaint me that Bills have appear’d drawn on you in March last, and ask very properly if this can be reconciled to the obvious Dictates of Prudence & Policy?— It cannot. And if you are unable to pay them, they must be protested: For it will not be in my Power to help you. And I see that nothing will cure the...
48403From Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste LeRoy, 21 September 1768 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Bibliothèque Nationale I received your Favour by M. L’Abbé Taglieri, and am oblig’d to you for the Acquaintance of so agreable and intelligent a Man. I have introduc’d him, as you desir’d, to Sir John Pringle, who is much pleas’d with him, and desires me to present his best Respects whenever I write to you. I shall not fail to use my Endeavours to procure for your Friend some of the...
48404From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 13 June 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your pleasing Letter of the 1st of May thro’ the hands of Mr Hodgson, and one since by Mr Oswald. You cannot be more pleas’d in talking about your Children, your Methods of Instructing them, and the Progress they make, than I am in hearing it; and in finding, that instead of following the idle Amusements, which both your Fortune & the Custom of the Age...
48405Notice to Subscribers, 25 January 1752 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Die Hoch Teutsche und Englische Zeitung, January 25, 1752. Die Hoch Teutsche und Englische Zeitung was Franklin’s second attempt at publishing a German newspaper in Philadelphia, and it was only a little less unsuccessful than the first. When Gotthard Armbrüster’s German paper failed in 1749, Franklin bought the equipment, placed Johann Boehm in charge, and the Philadelphier...
48406From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Norris, 2 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania The enclos’d Account was settled by the late Commissioners, on which there is due to me £26 17 s . 10 d . It will oblige me, if without Inconvenience you can advance me the Money. The new Commissioners will at any time sign an Order for it; I am Yours affectionately [ In the margin: ] 26. 17. 10 B Franklin 90. 12. 0 Wm. Franklin.
48407From Benjamin Franklin to Madame Brillon, [before 1 July 1781] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Hôtel des Commissaires-Priseurs, Paris (1970) ; AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Pour vous faire mieux comprendre la force de ma Demonstration que vous ne m’aimez pas, je commence par un petit Conte. Un Mendiant demandoit d’un rich Eveque un Louis en Aumone. Tu es un Extravagant: On ne donne pas des Louis aux Mendiants. Un Ecu, donc. Non: c’est trop. Un Liard, donc:—ou vôtre...
48408From Benjamin Franklin to [Mary Hewson], [after 27 November 1778] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society I am sometimes apprehensive that my not Writing to you, may give you some Pain: but I have fear’d on the other hand that my Writing might subject you to greater Pain. Yet I cannot forbear desiring to know how you do from time to time, & wishing that you should know my Love for you & yours continues unchang’d and unchangeable. I have also great...
48409From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Willson Peale, 4 July 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your obliging Letter of April 21 and it gave me great Pleasure to hear that you had met with such Encouragement at Philadelphia, and that you succeed so well in your Business in your native Country. If I were to advise you, it should be, by great Industry and Frugality to secure a Competency as early in Life as may be: For as your Profession...
48410From Benjamin Franklin to [Pierre Delaunay?] des Landes, 23 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Not understanding well enough the french language and the technical Terms used in the Description of your Observatory, I cannot form, from the description such an Idea of its Situation and Circumstances, as might enable to me to Answer the Questions you propose to me. But as my Learned and Ingenious friend Mr. LeRoy, Member of the Academy of Sciences, is perfectly...
48411From Benjamin Franklin to Robert Morris, 12 August 1782 (Franklin Papers)
Copy and transcript: National Archives I have received, many of them at the same time, your sundry letters of March 23. April 8 & 17 May 17 18, two 23 two and 29. It would be a Satisfaction to me if you would likewise mention from time to time the Dates of those you receive from me. Most of your Letters pressing my obtaining more money for the Present year. The late Losses suffer’d in the W....
48412From Benjamin Franklin to the Chevalier de Noeufville de Brunaubois-Montador, 12 January 1779 (Franklin Papers)
L (draft) or copy: Library of Congress Les affaires dont je suis chargé, Monsieur, ne m’ont pas permis de faire reponse plutost a la lettre que vous mavez fait lhoneur de mécrire, et de vous remercier de l’ouvrage que vous y avez joingt; je n’ai pas assez d’usage du français pour bien apprécier la poësie, mais l’idée de vostre fable me paroist tres ingénieuse et bien appliquée; je me rejouis...
48413From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Huntington, 3 December 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Two LS and transcript: National Archives; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress I duly received the Letter your Excellency did me the honour of writing to me the 12th. of July past, by Mr. Searle: and have paid the Bills drawn on me by Order of Congress in favour of the President and Council of Pensilvania for 1000£ Sterling, which were presented by him.— He is at present in Holland. The...
48414From Benjamin Franklin to the Prince de Montbarey, 18 January 1780 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress Monsieur Noirmont de La Neuville has produced to me a Number of Testimonies from American Generals and from the Congress, of his Valour and good Conduct in several important Actions of the War, by which he has acquired great Esteem in that Country; At his Request I have certified the Authenticity of Those Papers; and I beg leave to add, that I am persuaded, if his...
48415From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 11 February 1752 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your Favour per my Son, and return my Thanks for your kind Entertainment of him at your House. I delivered yours to my Friend Bartram, and enclose you his Answer; he is much pleased with the Prospect of a Continued Correspondence with you: is a Man of no Letters, but a curious Observer of Nature. I like very well the Paragraph you propose to insert...
48416From Benjamin Franklin to John Adams, 31 March 1782 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received yours of the 10th Instant, and am of Opinion with you, that the English will evacuate New York & Charlestown, as the Troops there, after the late Resolutions of Parliament, must be useless, and are necessary to defend their Remaining Islands where they have not at present more than 3000 Men. The Prudence of this Operation is so obvious, that I...
48417From Benjamin Franklin to [the Comtesse de Golowkin], [before 1 February 1781?] (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. F. prie sa fidelle Interpréte de jetter ses beaux yeux sur ces ecrits allemandes, & de lui dire à la premiere rencontre, leur contenu en peu de mots. We assign this date on the basis of BF ’s Feb. 1 request, below, to return “the German Papers.” He first wrote “afin de lui dire à leur premiere rencontre le pourport” and then interlined his...
48418From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 24 December 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received yours of Oct. 23. and condole with you most affectionately in the Affliction you must have suffered by the Loss of so valuable and so amiable a Child. The longer we live we are expos’d to more of these Strokes of Providence: but tho’ we consider them as such, and know it is our Duty to submit to the Divine Will, yet when it comes to our Turn...
48419Power of Attorney to Deborah Franklin, 4 April 1757 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society Know all Men by these Presents, That I Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia Printer Have constituted, made and appointed, and by these Presents do constitute, make and appoint, my trusty and loving Friend and Wife Deborah Franklin, to be my true and lawful Attorney, for me, and in my Name and Stead, and to my...
48420From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 3 May 1779 (Franklin Papers)
Copies: Library of Congress, Harvard University Library I did write to the Gentlemen at Nantes concern’d in fitting out the Vessels for America, offering them the Alliance as a Convoy and order’d her to Nantes accordingly. They did not chuse to accept that offer Knowing, as I Supose, her Weakness, but Sail’d for Brest, to go with the french Convoy without waiting her arrival and would probably...