711From Benjamin Franklin to John Bartram, 11 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: The Royal Society I thank you for your Account of the Aurora. A very considerable one appear’d here the same Evening, being Saturday, Nov. 12. I did not see it, but have heard of it from several. If it was the same that you saw; it must have been very high, or very extensive, as the two Places are 1000 Leagues asunder. In BF ’s hand. Read before the Royal Society, Feb. 25, 1762, and...
712From Benjamin Franklin to John Nourse, 13 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Stan V. Henkels, Catalogue No. 965 (June 7–8, 1907), p. 15. Please to send by the Bearer, Pere Charlevoix’s History of the French Settlement in America. Yours &c. John Nourse (d. 1780), dealer in French and scientific books, and “for many years bookseller to his Majesty.” H. R. Plomer, G. H. Bushnell, E. R. McDix, A Dictionary of Printers and Booksellers Who Were at Work in...
713From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , 28–9. I wrote a very long letter to you lately, two whole sheets full, containing answers to all yours received during my sickness. I have since received your kind favours of November 13 and November 16th. It has given me great concern that you should be so disappointed in having no letters by captain Luthwycke; you know by this time how it...
714From Benjamin Franklin to [Isaac Norris], 14 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Extract from Mr. Franklin’s Letter. Benjamin Franklin insisted in a Conference with the Proprietaries, that if, when Commissioners were named in a Bill, the Governor might not strike out or change them at his Pleasure, as none but his own Creatures might be admitted, and the Assembly might as well trust him with the whole, and that it was an...
715From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 January 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Duane, Works , VI , 29–30. Mr. Lorimer, a friend who is going over to General Abercromby, to assist him as a secretary, called on me just now, to acquaint me that he is on the point of setting out. I seize a minute or two just to let you know we are well, that is, I am well, compared to what I have been during a great part of the time since my arrival, and I hope...
716From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 17 February 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I received your Favour of December 5th. by Mr. Hunt; but the Papers refer’d to are not yet come to hand, being in his Chest that is still at Bristol. The Affair of obtaining a Permission to export Grain, &c. from the Colonies to the European neutral Ports, meets with Difficulty while the Parliament have the Regulating the Corn Market in England under...
717From Benjamin Franklin to John Waring, 17 February 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I beg Pardon for not answering sooner your Favour of the 16th past. I unluckily mislaid it just after it came to hand, and was in daily Expectation of finding it. It is now before me; and I am of Opinion that for £30 a Year, Sterling, a good Master might be procur’d that would teach 40 Negro Children to read; I think he could scarce do his Duty to a greater...
718From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 February 1758 (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete): American Philosophical Society I have wrote you several long Letters lately; the last was by Mr. Relphe, and at the same time I wrote to my dear Sally. Last Night I receiv’d yours of the 1st and 6th of January, which gave me the great Pleasure of hearing that you and my little Family were well. I hope you continue so, and that I shall have the Happiness to find you so. The...
719From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 22 February 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Salem County [New Jersey] Historical Society I have wrote you a long Letter by this Vessel, and only add this Line to inform you, that I have receiv’d of your Papers but twice since my Arrival here; and when I want to know what they contain am oblig’d to borrow them of Mr. Neate, who has them regularly. The Reason of this I do not know. I am Yours affectionately Addressed: To / Mr David...
720Additional Instructions to the Deputy Postmasters of North America, 10 March 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , April 20, 1758. Whereas the News-papers of the several Colonies on this Continent, heretofore permitted to be sent by Post free of Charge, are of late Years so much increased as to become extremely burthensome to the Riders, who demand additional Salaries or Allowances from the Post-Office on that Account; and it is not reasonable, that the Office, which...
721From Benjamin Franklin to Joshua Sharpe, 21 April 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Boston Public Library I approve very much of engaging Dr. Hay. I know not whether he will chuse to appear for us before the Attorney and Sollicitor General, but before the Committee of Council perhaps he may have no Objection. If the Constitution of the Province is to be attack’d, as you intimate, the Cause is of so much greater Weight. If the Privileges of a single Englishman are of...
722Documents on the Hearing of William Smith’s Petition, [27 April 1758] (Franklin Papers)
I. Copy: Penn Papers, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. II. MS : Boston Public Library. III. AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania (in Franklin’s hand except as noted). IV. AD : New York Public Library. V. Copy: New York Public Library. Following the imprisonment of the Rev. William Smith upon a writ of the Pennsylvania Assembly, and his “trial” before it for alleged contempt, he addressed...
723From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Hubbard, 28 April 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Harvard College Library In persuance of Mr. Winthrop’s memorandum, which I lately rece’d from you, thro’ the hands of Mr. Mico, I have procured and delivered to him the following things, viz. A Mahogany Case lined with lead containing 35 Square Glass Bottles, in 5 Rows, 7 in a Row. A Glass Globe of the same Size and kind with that I used at Philadelphia and Mounted in the same manner. A...
724From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Leech and Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 13 May 1758 (Franklin Papers)
LS with ALS postscript: Yale University Library I receiv’d yours of February 6. with the Votes and other Papers relating to the Commitment of Moore and Smith. We immediately took Advice upon them, and engaged Counsel. It was however some Time before we heard any Thing from the other Side. At length we had Notice from the Attorney and Sollicitor General, that Smith’s Petition was referr’d to...
725From Benjamin Franklin to John Kirke, 3 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
LS : The James Monroe Memorial Foundation Yours of the 1st. of April I received, with a Bill enclos’d for £25 Sterling, which when paid I shall dispose of as the Directors of the Union Library Company desire: But it will fall far short of discharging Mr. Keith’s Account, who says the Orders he has receiv’d for Books will amount to about £100, and seem’d surpriz’d that a larger Bill was not...
726From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Leech and Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 10 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library; draft (incomplete): American Philosophical Society In mine of May 13. I gave you a particular Account of the Hearing before the Attorney and Sollicitor General, on a Reference of Smith’s Petition; they have not yet made their Report, and would now I hear excuse themselves from doing it, as unnecessary, since they have heard that the Prisoners are discharged. But...
727From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 10 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I was down at Cambridge with Billy when Snead sail’d, so did not write again by him as I intended. His sailing so soon was unexpected to me. I am somewhat out of the Way of Vessels, and Mr. Partridge by Mistake wrote me Snead was not to sail that Week; so being very kindly entertain’d there in the Colleges, we did not hurry so soon home as we might have...
728From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 10 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have been so full lately in my Letters to the Committee, which you of course must see, that I need not trouble you particularly with a Letter of any Length. I find myself engag’d in an Affair that will take much more time than I expected. God knows when we shall see it finish’d, and our Constitution settled firmly on the Foundations of Equity and English...
729From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 10 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society I have receiv’d yours of February 6 and February 20. containing a full Account of your Trouble in the Affair of Moore and Smith. I make not the least Doubt of your having acted uprightly in consulting the Members, and from mere Motives of Prudence, without the least Influence of Mr. Allen or any others, and in no other Respect can I think you have been to...
730From Benjamin Franklin to Israel Pemberton, 10 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library I receiv’d your Favour of the 16th. of March but a few days since, which is the first I have had, except a Copy of the Enquiry that came to hand some time ago, but without a Letter, so that I did not know who sent it. I think it well drawn up; and since there seems to be no farther Hopes of accommodating Matters with the Proprietaries, I see no reason to...
731From Benjamin Franklin to John Lining, 17 June 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Benjamin Franklin, Experiments and Observations on Electricity (London, 1769), pp. 363–8. In a former letter I mentioned the experiment for cooling bodies by evaporation, and that I had, by repeatedly wetting the thermometer with common spirits, brought the mercury down five or six degrees. Being lately at Cambridge, and mentioning this in conversation with Dr....
732Gravestone Inscriptions at Ecton and Banbury, [July 1758] (Franklin Papers)
MS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania When Franklin visited Ecton in Northamptonshire and Banbury in Oxfordshire seeking the remains and records of the English Franklins, he had his son copy the gravestone inscriptions of Uncle Thomas Franklin (A.5.2.1) and his wife Eleanor at Ecton, and of Grandfather Thomas Franklin (A.5.2) and his son John at Banbury. The inscriptions, as transcribed by...
733Genealogical Chart of the Franklin Family, [July 1758] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Historical Society of Pennsylvania Soon after returning to London from his July visit to Ecton and Banbury, Franklin made an elaborate genealogical chart in which he brought together both the information he had gathered on this trip and his own previous knowledge. He drew circles to represent individuals and inserted in each (sometimes spilling over the edges) such vital data as he had...
734From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Fisher, 31 July 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania We have been return’d but a few Days from our Ramble thro’ a great Part of England. Your kind Letter for which we thank you, is come to hand, acquainting us of the finding of my Son’s Ring. He has since receiv’d it. Your Entertainment of us was very kind and good, and needed no Apology. When we left you, we went to Ecton, where, by the Help of good...
735A Letter from Father Abraham to His Beloved Son, August 1758 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The New-England Magazine , I , no. 1 (August 1758), 20–8. About a year after Franklin’s nephew, Benjamin Mecom, had set up his press in Boston, he launched upon the ambitious plan of publishing a magazine. The first of the three issues (all that ever appeared) of this journal, the New-England Magazine , was dated August 1758. Among its contents are Mecom’s dedication to “a good old...
736From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 20 August 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My Son I know intended writing to you this Morning, so as to send per this Days Post; but sundry unexpected Hindrances have prevented him as well as me. He is gone to dine abroad, and I doubt will hardly be able to disengage himself before the Post goes. Therefore, as well as to acknowledge the Receipt of your kind Favour of the 18th. I snatch a Moment from...
737From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted in part from Duane, Works , VI , 36–9; in part from The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography , VIII (1884), 403–6; remainder missing. In mine of June 10th, by the Mercury, captain Robinson, I mentioned our having been at Cambridge. We staid there a week, being entertained with great kindness by the principal people, and shown all the curiosities of the place;...
738From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 6 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I have been much in the Country this summer, travelling over great Part of the Kingdom, partly to recover my Health, and partly to improve and increase Acquaintance among Persons of Influence. Being just come to Town, I find this Ship on the Point of Sailing; so can only now say, that I have receiv’d your Favour of July 28. with the Papers enclos’d which I am very...
739Accounts with Isaac Norris, 15 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
MS account: American Philosophical Society; MS account book: Library Company of Philadelphia During Franklin’s first English residence he carried out numerous financial transactions for Isaac Norris. At his friend’s request he bought and sent to Philadelphia a telescope, several books and pamphlets, medicines, and a surprising number of decanters and other forms of glassware; he advanced money...
740From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 16 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I wrote you a few Lines on the 6th Inst. in which I omitted acknowledging the Receipt of your several Favours of April 17. May 9. and June 16. They all got safe to hand with the several Papers as mention’d; but the Votes, except what related to Smith’s Affair, I have not yet received. No Report has yet been made by the Attorney and Solicitor General, nor any now...