From Benjamin Franklin to Philip Schuyler, 10 August 1775
To Philip Schuyler
ALS: New York Public Library
Philada. Aug. 10. 1775
Sir,
I did myself the Honour of Writing to you by the Return of your Express on the 8th Instant. Immediately after dispatching him, it occurr’d to me to endeavour the obtaining from our Committee of Safety a Permission to send you what Powder remain’d in our Hands; which tho’ it was thought scarcely safe for our selves to part with it, they, upon my Application and representing the Importance of the Service you are engag’d in, and the Necessity you were under for that Article, was chearfully agreed to. Accordingly I this Day dispatch a Waggon with 2400 lb. weight which actually empties our Magazine.8 I wish it safe to your Hands, and to your self every kind of Prosperity.
We find on Enquiry that there is an extream Scarcity of Lead here; and our Committee recollecting that a superfluous Quantity was taken at Ticonderoga, request you would spare us what you can of it.9 With great and sincere Esteem, I have the Honour to be Sir Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
General Schuyler
Endorsed: Benjn. Franklin Augt. 10. 1775 Philadelphia
8. On Aug. 8 the Pa. committee of safety took possession of Philadelphia’s entire stock of powder, which on BF’s suggestion was forwarded, as he says, to Schuyler on the 10th; earlier shipments are mentioned in the note on BF to Schuyler above, Aug. 8. This consignment reached Albany by the 21st; see the note of that date from the Albany committee below.
9. More than nine tons of ball and shot had been captured at Ticonderoga and Crown Point: Force, 4 Amer. Arch., II, 646. BF’s request was on instruction from the committee of safety, which had discovered that there were only five hundred-weight of lead in the city. In his letter below, Aug. 23, Schuyler promised to send “a considerable quantity.”