To Benjamin Franklin from Miss Ralph, 31 December 1761
From Miss Ralph9
AL: University of Pennsylvania Library
Decr. 31. 1761.
Miss Ralphs best respects wait upon Dr. Franklin, she with Pleasure, informs him that her Pappa, as the Doctor Said, yesterday, was out of Danger; but, he remains very Low, and weak, She is very Sorry, that she had not the Pleasure of seeing Dr. Franklin, a Tuesday;1 but, she having set up all Night, was oblig’d, to go to Bed, in the Morning. She desires her Compliments to Mrs. Stephenson.
Addressed:2 To / Dr [?] / Franklin / in / Craven Street / in the Strand / London
| Notes on the cover:3 | Mr Lo |
| Mrs | |
| Mr AC | |
| Dr R | |
| Mrs R | |
| Mr R |
9. The English-born daughter (first name unknown) of BF’s old friend James Ralph; see above, I, 58 n. Leaving an American family behind, Ralph had gone to England with BF in 1724 and had remained there, as a professional writer. In 1757 BF told DF that he had seen Ralph, who had married again and had one child; above, VII, 274. His home was in Chiswick, in the western outskirts of London, about three miles from Craven St. In spite of the optimistic tone of his daughter’s note, he was now in his last illness. He died Jan. 24, 1762, and his daughter also died on the following March 1, in her eighteenth year. London Chron., Jan. 23–26, March 2–4, 1762; Thomas Faulkner, The History and Antiquities of Brentford, Ealing, and Chiswick (London, 1845), pp. 354–5.
1. BF had apparently gone to Chiswick to see Ralph on Tuesday, December 29.
2. The letter sheet was oddly folded; only “Franklin” being in the normal place and the other words appearing at different angles on the flaps.
3. Scrawled in what appears to be BF’s hand; the significance of the notes is not clear, although two may stand for Dr. William Rose of Chiswick and his wife. Rose became one of Ralph’s executors. “James Ralph,” DNB.