1401To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 6 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum My State of Health, and Excursions upon that Account into the Country must be my Excuse for not taking an earlier Notice of your very obliging Packet of 8th June, for which I return you my particular Thanks. Your Letter and Replies to Mr. Strahan’s Questions gave me great Pleasure, tho the closing and prophetic Part coming from one so capable of discerning amidst...
1402To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 6 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Massachusetts Historical Society These instructions introduced Franklin to the boiling cauldron of resentment in Massachusetts. Anger was directed at more than the troops in Boston—at what the colonists took to be the helplessness of the civil authority before the military, the secret and false reports sent home, the subordination of the legislature to an executive controlled by...
1403To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Foxcroft, 10 November 1770: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [Philadelphia, Nov. 10, 1770. Encloses a bill of exchange from the Quebec post office for £50 and will send the duplicate by Capt. Osborne. ] John Foxcroft’s brother and the Philadelphia postmaster. Peter Osborne, Falconer’s successor as the master of the Pa. Packet ; his sailing was announced in Pa. Gaz. , Nov. 29, 1770.
1404To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 15 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum I wrote you the 6. Inst. acknowledging the Receit. of your very obliging Packet of June 8th. and mentioning the Use I have made of your Letter &c among some of the leading Men in our H. of Represent. in whom I could confide. They agreed with me that your Principles were incontestible, your reasoning clear and conclusive, and supported by History and Fact. The King...
1405To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 15 November 1770: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extract: reprinted from “Memoir of Thomas Gilpin,” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , XLIX (1925), 314–15. Politics are now rather at a low ebb: nor do I expect they will revive; it will take some time to restore the public agitation and eradicate the remembrance of what has passed: the cause of injury is yet fresh and like a man that has been prompted to delirium time must be...
1406To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 16 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I Clos’d my letter I Received your Verry agreeable favour adviceing of the good fortune of Our Cousin Nancey in her Maraige too Capt. Clark. We Wish them all Happiness We are much Pleased With the Connection. Our Young folks are aquanted With his Late Uncles Famley that Lives at Salem. I Will take Particular Care to have a thrrough Repaire to the...
1407To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 21 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I took the liberty to trouble you with a line the last post, and being but just able to finish my letter in time, I recollect a mistake in the catalogue of books wanted, which I beg you would rectify as follows, I also very much want De la Hire’s diffirens Accidents de la vue . But I should think it might be got without a public advertisement. I have...
1408To Benjamin Franklin from John Bartram, 24 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have thy Kind letter of August the 26th before me which Comforted me as comming from my dear intimate ould friend. The pamphlet and espetially the picture of my dear Peter was very acceptable, and now I am furnished with four of our worthies Lineus, Franklin Edwards and Collinson (but I want Dr. Fothergill,) to adorn my new stove and lodging room which I...
1409To Benjamin Franklin from [Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg], 25 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society J’ai reçu dabord deux, puis cinq exemplaires de la traduction que vous avez daigné faire faire de mon petit Code, et je ne puis assez vous en remercier. Il est si bien rendu en Anglois qu’on auroit pu facilement en faire passer la version pour un original, et il est imprimé tout au mieux. [La seule] faute bien remarquable mais sans consequence, c’est à la...
1410To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Life, 30 November 1770 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Life presents his Complements to Dr. Franklin and acquaints him that the Georgia Acts are referred to Mr. Jackson, that Mr. Life has told Mr. Jacksons Clerk that Mr. Life wishes to have an Attendance on Mr. Jackson before he makes his Report, that Mr. Life ever since he received the Papers, has been very busy in some Conveyancy that must be executed by...
1411To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Smith, 8 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Thy several favours of the 19th of March 10th. and 12th. April and 11th of June have been duly received and communicated to the Committee of Correspondence and by them laid before the House of Assembly at a late sessions at Amboy where they gave very general satisfaction. In answer to that part of thy Letter of 19th March respecting Sherwoods Accounts I may...
1412To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Gale, 10 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Favor per Mr. Bayard, dated 10th Aprill Last, Inclosing a Gold Medal granted me by the Society of Arts, for an Improvement on the Drill plow, I duely receivd, the 10th July, the receipt of which, (with my gratefull returns of Thanks for Your Care in transmitting the same) I should before this time have Acknowledged, but have been prevented by frequent...
1413To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 13 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Capt. Thomas Hall I did myself the pleasure of writing you and then inclosed two Bils of Exchange in part to recompence your kindness and discharge the ammount of the Mace and Gouns for which you have Sir the sincere and greatful thanks of the Assembly. I inclose the second of each of the Bills of same tenor and date which wish safe. I have now the...
1414To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 13 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Convinced of your good inclinations to every species of mankind, emboldens me to trust you’l excuse my thus troubling you. Mr. Cornelius Winter the gentleman by whom you’l receive this has been employ’d on the Estate of the late worthy Rector of this Parish by the Trustees of the said Estate as Instructor &c to the Negroes thereon agreable to the Will of...
1415To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Crowley, 17 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society On Wednesday last when I scribled a few Lines to accompany the Return of one of the Pamphlets which you was kind enough to Lend me I was then about mounting my Horse, then waiting for me, in Company with a Friend, to Ride about twenty Miles to attend the Funeral of an Intimate Friend, who died suddenly a few Days before; I had not then lookd into the other,...
1416To Benjamin Franklin from the Massachusetts House of Representatives Committee of Correspondence, 17 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Maine Historical Society The House of Representatives of this Province after appointing you their Agent at the Court of Great Britain, directed us to correspond with you in the Recess of the Court upon matters that concern the Interest of the Province. In general there is nothing that will more promote the true Interest of this Province as well as Great Britain herself than a happy...
1417To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Price: On the Effect of the Aberration of Light on the Time of a Transit of Venus … (Franklin Papers)
Printed in the Royal Society, Philosophical Transactions , LX (for 1770; London, 1771), 536–9. I Cannot doubt but that the observation made by your ingenious friend in the paper you sent me is right. The aberration of Venus must, I think, affect the phases of a transit, by retarding them, and not by accelerating them. This retardation is 55½″; for that is the time nearly which Venus, during a...
1418To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Tissington, 29 December 1770 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By this Letter my Wife sends best Compliments to you and Mrs. Stevenson, and by this days Carrier (Clarks Wagon which will be at the Ax in Aldermanbury next Saturday) a Turkey which she hopes will come to hand Sweet and good. In July I left you in London; in August went into Scotland; in September into South Wales to Swansey; have been upon the move most of...
1419To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Cooper, 1 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): British Museum In my last of Novr [15] I mention’d the Uses I had made of the Sentiments you were pleas’d to communicate to me, and the Effect they had upon the leading Men of our House of Commons. I did this with much Caution as that no Disadvantage can acrue to you from any Quarter. The same Caution I shall ever use respecting my Friends on your Side the Water who are so good as...
1420To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 2 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I take this opportunity by my Son to express my own Pleasure, and the general Satisfaction at your appointment as Agent for the House of Representatives. The Council have recommended to their Agent Mr. Bollan to consult and cooperate with you for the best interest of the Province: which as it has distinguished itself in the great cause of American Liberty...
1421To Benjamin Franklin from John Hawkesworth, 5 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Bearer, Mr. Ackland, is a Candidate for the Afternoon Preacher-ship at the Foundling Hospital: and I earnestly recommend him to your Assistance; in this I am not only countenanced by your Friendship, but prompted by Duty. Mr. Ackland is a worthy and ingenious Man, and a most excellent Preacher, and to serve him in his profession is to promote rational...
1422To Benjamin Franklin from John Foxcroft, 14 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of Novr. 7th. I have just receiv’d for which you have my sincere thanks. This will be Deliver’d to you by my Brother whom I beg you will take most cordially by the hand as I do assure you that you will find on being well acquainted with him that he’ll merit every Act of Friendship which you will please to conferr upon him, this sudden Voyage is owing...
1423To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 19 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind favour of the 7 and 9 Novr by Which We are [ torn ] happy to find our Sons and Brother Safe arival and of the kind Reception thay have from you and Good Mrs. Stevensons kind offer of Service to Whom our Respects. By the next post I Shall Send to Mr. Pease for the Bond you mention and Shall Recover the money as Soon as Possible then...
1424To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Life, 24 January 1771: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <Basinghall St., Jan. 24, 1771. Talked with Mr. Jackson on the 21st about the Georgia acts, and agreed to wait on him with Franklin on the 30th. Wants to talk with Franklin first, and if convenient will call on him at noon on Saturday next, the 26th; if inconvenient, please set any time except the 28th.> For the London solicitor see above, X , 369 n. See...
1425To Benjamin Franklin from a Committee of the Library Company of Philadelphia, 25 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society We are appointed by the Directors of the Library Company of Philadelphia, to inform you that your Favour of the 7th July 1769 was received and laid before them by Mr. Charles Thomson, but the Confusion, which necessarily arose from the Union of the several Libraries, gave them so much Employ as to put it out of their Power to answer your Letter, so soon as...
1426To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Fitzmaurice, 26 January 1771: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania <Pall Mall, Saturday evening, Jan. 26, 1771, a note in the third person. If Franklin is disengaged tomorrow, should be glad of his company in Pall Mall for dinner and the evening, where he will meet a friend or two. Had hoped to deliver the invitation in person this morning, but was prevented.> For the younger brother of Lord Shelburne see above, X , 348...
1427To Benjamin Franklin from William Henly, 29 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I think myself highly honour’d by your very obliging favour, and return you my sincerest thanks for your improvement of my Electrometer. I shall take the first opportunity to make that addition to my Apparatus, and am well satisfied ’twill remove the objection at once. I will now beg leave to assure you Sir that if I have been able to produce any...
1428To Benjamin Franklin from William Knox, 29 January 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Inclosed I send you the Plan of the Lands in Georgia claimed by Sir Wm. Bakers Representatives which you desired in your Letter which was delivered to me yesterday. I also inclose the several Papers which came with it to my hands as I imagine they may contain some information which you may think useful. I have kept no Copies of them, neither would I give...
1429To Benjamin Franklin from Isaac Garrigues, 31 January[?] 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Received your Note of winsday Noon. But you may be assured I never Received your letter in Answer to mine of Sunday Morning or I should not have attemted to have given you Trouble the second time. I likewise wonder much I never received it. I thank you worthy Sir for all favours and have been very uneasy since receiveing the Note Yesterday—as you are...
1430To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Life, 2 February 1771: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society <A long and chatty bill running from November, 1770, to February 2, 1771, for services in connection with BF ’s Georgia and Pennsylvania agencies. The principal entries for Georgia, in November, January, and February, are (1) for attending BF to consult on various papers sent him by the Assembly and on its act for governing slaves, for accompanying him in...
1431To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Sherwood, 12 February 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library Some Years ago there was a dispute between Lord Baltimore and the Penn’s Family, respecting as I understand the Boundaries of the two Provinces. I should be much obliged to thee to be Informed in what Year the Decree was made in that Cause, and the Names of the Parties, and indeed every other particular thou can inform me, relating to this Business,...
1432To Benjamin Franklin from Katherine French, 18 February 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your very valuable opinion is much desired upon the Work I now send for your perusal. A particular friend has requested this favor of me. He says, he thinks, you are not a Stranger to this performance, as it was shewed to you some time ago, in an incompleat state. By a Letter from the late Docr. Greg. Sharpe, which Letter I send you a Copy of, I conclude it...
1433To Benjamin Franklin from Mrs. William Deane, 1 March [1771–75] (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Mrs. Deane presents her Compliments to Dr. Franklin with many thanks to him, for the benefit she hopes, she has received, from the perusal of Richards Maxims , which are so Excellent they ought to be framed and hung up in every House. Mrs. Deane is much obliged to Dr. Franklin for his kind remembrance of her, and hopes he will Consider of the other...
1434To Benjamin Franklin from Katherine French, 1 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I return you my Thanks for the unquestionable proof you have given of your approbation, of the Work I sent you. I made my friend extremely happy in shewing your Letter to him. When I am in possession of the other 5 sets Will dispatch them to your House. I was unwilling my friend Miss Jennings’s civil acknowledgement of your kind favor, should wait a moment,...
1435To Benjamin Franklin from Theodorus Swaine Drage, 2 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society In this long letter, from a man whom Franklin had sponsored for Anglican ordination almost two years before, the writer described his struggle to establish a missionary parish in the piedmont of North Carolina. The letter is in bad condition: the ink is faded, some of the pages are torn or stained, some clearly missing, so that the text as...
1436To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 4 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take this oportunity to acquaint you that on the 22d. of last month our Assembly met with the same fate of that in Decr. 1768, the principal cause seemed to be their having Committed the deputy Secretary for refusing to give evidence to a Committee of the House on an information against the deputy surveyor general for taking double fees in his Office...
1437To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 7 March 1771: résumé (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society <March 7, 1771. Encloses two issues of the Gazette dealing with the dissolution of the Assembly.> Presumably the weekly Ga. Gaz. ; no copies for 1771 appear to be extant.
1438To Benjamin Franklin from Michael Collinson, 9 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I return the Soliloquy which is indeed in too many Places but too wickedly entertaining and Pointed at the expence of the good old Gentleman, and the Allusion to 1715 &ca with the help of the Key which in Confidence you furnished Me with is palpable enough. I am very happy, my dear Sir, that I have it just still in my Power to oblige myself by...
1439To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Crafton, 11 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I hope you (as an American) have not caught that epidemical Disorder, that infects our Senators on this Side the Atlantic: Law Makers should not be Law-Breakers! You and I, cum aliis, laid our wise Noddles together, and framed a wise Statute; that we and all other Persons under a certain Predicament therein express’d, should dine every Thursday at the Dog...
1440To Benjamin Franklin from [Susannah?] Jennings, 20 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library Miss Jennings presents Her Compliments to Doctr. Franklin, she has used the permission He gave of shewing the list to Mr. Con way, and the enclosed Abstract of Doctr. Franklins Copy is a list of those kinds which Mr. Conway and self would be glad to have, at the same time Miss Jennings hopes if this Catalogue should appear unreasonably long, that Doctr....
1441To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas, 22 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society [ Beginning lost: ] Monsieur, que vous resterez encore quelque tems en Angleterre. Ayez donc la bonté de m’apprendre si je pourrai encore vous faire tenir cela à Londres, ou si j’en chargerai l’un ou l’autre Capitaine qui fera voile de nos Ports pour Philadelphie. Il y aura aussi un Exemplaire pour la Bibliothêque. Je finirai, comme j’ai...
1442To Benjamin Franklin from William and Mary Hewson, 22 March [1771–74]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : University of Pennsylvania Library <March 22, [1771–74 ]: a note in the third person, in Polly Hewson’s hand. Reminds Franklin that he has promised to dine with them next Thursday.> The Hewsons were married in July, 1770, and he died suddenly in May, 1774. The invitation could have been in any March between those dates, and according to our practice we are assigning it to the earliest...
1443To Benjamin Franklin from John Hope, 26 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania As formerly you took the trouble of transmitting some letter from a Society at Edinburgh to Mr. John Bartram; I presume to beg you will have the Goodness of transmitting the inclosed. That Society is now dissolved. I have the honour to be Sir with the greatest respect Your most obedient Servant The Edinburgh physician and professor of botany; see above,...
1444To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 30 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have reseved yours of Jan the 2 and was much plesed to hear that you was well in helth which is a graite pleshur to me to hear. I have bin impashent to hear that Capt. Folner was Cume or Capt. Sparkes that I moute hear from you by sum bodey hough you had seen you. I had not knone that the packit was to go tell a week longer or I had mis understood by the...
1445To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 30 March 1771 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society I wrote a few Lines to you by this Packet and enclosed a Letter to L.H. I have several other Letters to write to him by this Opportunity which prevents my writing fully to you. I have just had the Pleasure of hearing from Mr. W. Logan that you were well the first of Janry. his Son having seen you at that Time. Addressed: To / Benjn. Franklin, Esqr / Depy....
1446To Benjamin Franklin from Anthony Todd, 4 April 1771: résumé (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania <General Post Office, Thursday, April 4, 1771. An invitation, in the third person, to dinner at four the next day with Mr. Wharton and Major Trent. A bizarre postscript, in Todd’s hand, reads “Salt Fish and Brandy.”> Samuel Wharton and William Trent, two of the prime movers in the Walpole Company. The dinner was presumably to discuss its affairs.
1447To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 5 April 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress By Order of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania, I herewith transmit a Petition to his Majesty respecting the Duties imposed by the late Revenue Act of Parliament, which remain unrepealed. This Petition it is their Desire that you shoud present to his Majesty in the most proper Manner. I am Sir, with great Esteem and Regard your most obedient...
1448To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Wilson, 14 April 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By last post we had a Letter from Mr. Kettleby in Dublin, informing us that he had had a Letter from you inquiring if he could furnish some Fonts of Printing Types for a Printing Office in America, and that in return he had mentioned us and recommended our Types. I now use the freedom in letting you know that we have just now ready finished Several Fonts of...
1449To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 19 April 1771 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library I am glad that you have received your Comm Bonon . safe. I thank you for the use of them, and think myself [fortunate] in having an opportunity of doing you the smallest favour. I told you I either had or expect very soon to be possessed of the memoirs of all the philosophical societies, of note , in Europe, and the following account of the price of them will, I...
1450To Benjamin Franklin from Charles Willson Peale, [21 April 1771] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society In Compliance with that promise that I had the honor to make you when I was about leaving London, I now assume the Liberty of a Correspondent, in addressing this letter to you. I ever retain a grateful sense of the respect you shewed, and the notice you took of me when in England, marks of respect, of this nature make the strongest...