701From Benjamin Franklin to John Fothergill, [October 1757] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I took the 30 grs. of Comp[oun]d Powder of Contrayerva you prescribed, and had a good Night. I had no Headach in the Morning, as when I took the Hartshorn Drops; and therefore did not cup. But I have had all Day yesterday, a Giddiness and Swimming in my Head, which, every time I rise up, or turn suddenly, makes me stagger a little. I hear a humming Noise...
702From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 November 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society; parts reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , 20–4. During my Illness which continued near Eight Weeks, I wrote you several little Letters, as I was able; the last was by the Pacquet which sailed from Falmouth [above a week since: in that I informed you that my intermitting fever which had continued to harrass me, by frequent relapses, was gone off,...
703From Benjamin Franklin to William Coleman, 8 December 1757 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; abstract: Minute-Book of the Academy Trustees, Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania At a Meeting of the Trustees at the Academy March 14th 1758 Present Richard Peters Thomas White William Coleman Alexander Stedman Mr. Franklin having by a Letter to Mr. Coleman dated from London Dec. 8th 1757 requested him to inform the Trustees that he had on their Account discharged a Bill...
704From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 9 December 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have yours of June 23. July 4. and 31. Sept. 14. and 30. and Oct. 19. and have receiv’d of you since I left Philadelphia, four Bills of One hundred Pounds Sterling each. I thank you for your Care in sending them, and your full Accounts of News, &c. I have been long ill. But I thank God am now pretty well recover’d, and hope to be a better Correspondent...
705From Benjamin Franklin to ———, [13 December 1757] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Library of Congress; also copy: Yale University Library; and French translation: The Rosenbach Foundation Both the date and the addressee of this letter have been subjects of much difference of opinion. Each of the three surviving manuscript versions bears a different date line. That on the draft, in Franklin’s hand, has been heavily scratched out, probably long after the letter was...
706From Benjamin Franklin to John Pringle, 21 December 1757 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Royal Society The following is what I can at present recollect, relating to the Effects of Electricity in Paralytic Cases, which have fallen under my Observation. Some Years since, when the News papers made Mention of great Cures perform’d in Italy or Germany by means of Electricity, a Number of Paralytics were brought to me from different Parts of Pensilvania and the neighbouring...
707Poor Richard Improved, 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris … for the Year of our Lord 1758: … By Richard Saunders, Philom. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall. (Yale University Library) This is the twenty-sixth and last almanac in this series which Franklin prepared himself; thereafter David Hall assumed the responsibility. Appropriately, the contents of this almanac make it...
708From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [January 1758] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragments): American Philosophical Society good Order. I receiv’d also his Letter relating to the Aurora Borealis, it was seen here at the same time, and I shall endeavour to procure him a particular Account of it. It was an unlucky Mistake, that of putting your Letter under Cover to Mr. Colden, as it occasion’d a Week’s Delay in your receiving it. I do not find you have receiv’d a Letter...
709From Benjamin Franklin to John Waring, 3 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send you herewith the Extract of Mr. Sturgeon’s Letter, which I mentioned to you. He is, among us, esteemed a good Man, one that makes a Conscience of the Duties of his Office, in which he is very diligent; and has behaved with so much Discretion, as to gain the general Respect and Good-will of the People. If the Associates of Dr. Bray should think fit to...
710From Benjamin Franklin to John Pringle, 6 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), p. 362. I return Mr. Mitchell’s paper on the strata of the earth with thanks. The reading of it, and perusal of the draft that accompanies it, have reconciled me to those convulsions which all naturalists agree this globe has suffered. Had the different strata of clay, gravel, marble,...