2101To Benjamin Franklin from [Henry] Potts, [1765–1767] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Potts presents his Compliments to Doctor Francklin and desires the favor of his Company at Dinner Thursday next the 19th Instant. An Answer is desired. Addressed: Benjamin Francklin Esq. / Craven Street Analysis of handwriting has led the editors to conclude that this note and the one immediately following were written by Henry Potts, secretary of the...
2102To Benjamin Franklin from [Henry] Potts, [1765–1767] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Potts presents his Compliments to Mr. Francklin, will be glad of the favor of his Company tomorrow to eat part of a Haunch of Vension. An Answer is desired. At four oClock. Addressed: To / Benjamin Francklin Esqr. / In Craven Street / Strand
2103To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Pownall, [1765–1775] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Govr. Pownall presents his Compliments to Mr. Franklin and shou’d be very glad to the favour of his company to Dinner to Day. If he is engaged Govr. Pownall shou’d be very glad to see him any Part of this Evening if not otherwise engaged. [ Memo in Franklin’s hand: ] Forts. and Indian Expenses. Ministers make an impossible Act and run mad that it will not...
2104To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Pownall, [1765–1775] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society If you have nothing better to do will you be so good to call on me this Morning and take a Family Dinner with us. I would call on you but having the symptoms of a great Minister strong upon by name the Gout I am not able to walk. I wish much to see you. Your friend and Servant Addressed: To / B Franklin Esqr / &c William Pitt, a famous sufferer from the...
2105To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Pownall, [1765–1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Govr. Pownall presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklin finds he shall necessarily be detained at home here to too late an hour for breakfasting with Dr. Franklin. But will if not inconvenient call upon him about eleven. Addressed: Dr Franklin / at Mrs Stevenson’s / Craven Street/ Strand
2106To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Salt, [1765] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your’s received was glad to hear of your Safe Arivall to England. As your Stay will be for Some time hope youll take a Tower in this Country and Shall be proud to See you at Bir[ming]ham but Should with a grate dale more Plesure had I not Lost the best of friends the Dearest Companion your Relation my wife who Departed this Life the 26 of January 1764. I do...
2107To Benjamin Franklin from William Strahan, [1765–1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Strahan presents his best Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and begs he would send the Letter by the Bearer. This note might have been written at any time when BF was in London after he had received his honorary doctorate from the University of St. Andrews in February 1759. It is possible that the letter Strahan referred to was one of BF ’s communications to...
2108To Benjamin Franklin from William and Margaret Strahan, [1765–1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. and Mrs. Strahan present their Compliments to Dr. Franklin and the Ladies, and conceiving it may be more agreeable and convenient for them, will not dine till three o’Clock to day. Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin / or / Mrs. Stevenson Apparently “the Ladies” were Mrs. Stevenson and her daughter Mary (Polly), if the note was written before the latter’s...
2109To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Whately, [1765] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Whately presents his Compliments to Mr. Franklyn and will be much obliged to him, if he will do him the favor to call upon him at the Treasury tomorrow morning between twelve and one OClock. Addressed: To / —— Franklyn Esqr. / Craven Street / T Whately Thomas Whately ( c. 1728–1772) was secretary to George Grenville and then to the Treasury, October 1763...
2110To Benjamin Franklin from Mr. and Mrs. Wood, [1765–1775] (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. and Mrs. Wood present their Compliments to Dr. Frankland and beg the favour of his Company to dinner to morrow at three o’ Clock. An undated note from Mrs. Stevenson of about 1767–70 mentions a Mr. Wood who called while BF was away from Craven Street for a few days. The caller told her that BF knew where he lodged and that they had seen each other in...
2111The Mother Country. A Song, [1765–1772?] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Cornell University Library This song occupies one side of a single sheet, at the bottom of which Jared Sparks wrote “(Franklin’s hand-writing) J. S.” The present editors agree with his identification. Nothing has been found to indicate whether Franklin composed these verses himself or merely copied them from another source because they amused and pleased him. They probably date from the...
2112To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Hutchinson, 1 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Archives, Office of the Secretary of State Upon a review of my last letter from you I find that you asked my opinion upon an application to Parliament for repres[entation] from the colonies and that I omitted taking notice of your desire in my answer. When the scheme of a stamp duty was first known in the colonies the general voice was that it would deprive them...
2113“Pacificus Secundus”: Reply to “Pacificus,” 2 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted in The Pennsylvania Chronicle, And Universal Advertiser , February 16–23, 1767, from The Public Advertiser , January 2, 1766. Franklin’s contributions to the newspaper debate in England that followed the passage of the Stamp Act and the emergence of colonial opposition in 1765 continued into the early weeks of 1766. The problem of identifying his contributions and the grounds for...
2114“Homespun”: Second Reply to “Vindex Patriae”, 2 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 2, 1766 This is the second of two letters that Goddard reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle , Feb. 16–23, 1767, the authorship of which is attributed to him there and in William Franklin’s memorandum. It is his second response to a letter by “Vindex Patriae” printed in the Gazetteer , Dec. 23, 1765, refusing to admit the economic...
2115“F.B.”: On the Paving of Chancery Lane, 4 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 4, 1766 While there is no certainty that Franklin wrote this squib, the editors agree with Verner W. Crane ( Letters to the Press , pp. 44–5) that “the probability . . . is strong enough to justify its inclusion” among his writings. The style and lightness of touch are characteristic; his interest in street paving appears several...
2116To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 4 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society About eight Days after mine per December Packet, yours of Sept. 26 1765 per Capt. Robinson came to Hand: The Chief Matter in yours, which my last will not serve for an Answer to, is that part relating to Mr. Balfour: Tho’ I have the highest Sense of your Kindness in what Answer you return’d him, yet I have now wrote to them, and inclose it to you, first...
2117“N.N.”: On the Tenure of the Manor of East Greenwich, 6 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 11, 1766. This letter was the first of two that Goddard reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle , March 2–9, 1767, the authorship of which William Franklin later also attributed to his father. It is part of his newspaper controversy with “Vindex Patriae” and the second in the series that he signed “N.N.” His opponent’s first letter,...
2118From Benjamin Franklin to ———, 6 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society I have attentively perus’d the Paper you sent me, and am of Opinion that the Measure it proposes of an Union with the Colonies is a wise one: but I doubt it will hardly be thought so here, ’till tis too late to attempt it. The Time has been when the Colonies, would have esteem’d it a great Advantage as well as Honour to them to be permitted to send Members...
2119“N.N.”: Communicating Massachusetts Documents, 7–9 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , January 7–9, 1766 This introductory note to the printer is attributed to Franklin chiefly because its signature, “N.N.,” is one he certainly used for three other letters to the press in the winter of 1765–66 and continued to use from time to time during later years. With this communication Franklin sent copies of the instructions adopted by the Boston town...
2120From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 11 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Extract: printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania , v (Henry Miller, Phila., 1775), 446, in the record of May 6, 1766; also as a broadside headed “Addendum,” but taken from the Miller edition (n.p., n.d., copy in Yale University Library). In Compliance with the Direction in the Committee’s Letter, I have procured, and now send you...
2121To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 12 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [As it] is verey Cold I did not go ought to day so was a writeing a letter to our Sister Janey in anser to one I had wrote to her sense the deth of her husband I Cante helpe thinking the more trials shee do meet with the more shee shines I pray god to bless and kep her. So this minit or with in this ower the poste Come in and the packit is arived and I have...
2122To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 13 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your favours of Sept. 26, and Novr. 9th. We are Sensible of the many Obstructions and unavoidable Difficulties which you have met with in proceeding on our Petitions. And from the perfect Confidence we repose in you we have not the least doubt, but that every thing has been done for the Obtaining the Desirable Object, a Royal Government, should...
2123“F.B.”: Third Reply to Tom Hint: Two Taylors, 14 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 14, 1766. This is the second of two letters that Goddard reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle , March 2–9, 1767, the authorship of which William Franklin later also attributed to his father. In December 1765 “Tom Hint” and Franklin, the latter writing as “F.B.,” had twice exchanged letters in the Gazetteer (above, XII , 406–7,...
2124From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan: Report on William Pitt’s Speech in the House of Commons, [14 January 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL : Pierpont Morgan Library When Parliament reassembled on January 14 after a recess of about four weeks, the King delivered a speech from the throne recommending in deliberately indefinite terms that the members give attention to “the just Rights and Authority of the British Legislature” and the “Welfare and Prosperity of all my People.” The king promised that his ministers would lay papers...
2125“Homespun”: Further Defense of Indian Corn, 15 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 15, 1766. This is the first of two letters Goddard reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle , March 16–23, 1767, the authorship of which William Franklin later also attributed to his father. On January 2, writing as “Homespun,” he had replied briefly to aspersions on Indian corn by “Vindex Patriae” (above, pp. 7–8), and that writer had...
2126To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Kent, 19 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With a pleasing pride I often recollect, your former complaisance in calling me Brother Ben and agreable to the Old saying non Animam Mutant, qui trans mare Currunt. I still challenge the Honour of being your Friend: but I should be but a miserable private Friend, If I was not the Friend of all men: and it is from that, principle, as well an especial Love...
2127To Benjamin Franklin from John Beveridge, 20 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Herewith you will receive three Copies of some familiar Epistles &c, which I have printed. Two bound to be delivered to Dr. Pringle, and one on Common paper as they were Sold here for your self. I have given one bound in the same manner to Mrs. Franklin, which waits your return at your own house, but this common one is in order to shew to any of your...
2128Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence to Richard Jackson and Benjamin Franklin, 21 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania . . ., v (Philadelphia, Henry Miller, 1775), p. 454. Inclosed is a Copy of our last, with a Duplicate of the Address to the House of Commons therein mentioned, on the Subject whereof, and the other Matters recommended to your Attention in the said Letter, we have nothing more to add. We have laid Mr. Richard...
2129“A Friend to Both Countries”: More Arguments against the Stamp Act, 23 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 23, 1766. The sketch in your last Friday’s paper, of the arguments on both sides , relating to the American stamp act, (signed A Friend to my Country ) is, I think, on the whole, a pretty fair one. There are, however, a few omissions in it, which I beg leave to supply. On behalf of the colonies it is farther said, that, allowing the...
2130“Pacificus”: Pax Quaeritur Bello, 23 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted by Verner W. Crane, ed., Benjamin Franklin’s Letters to the Press 1758–1775 (Chapel Hill, [1950]), pp. 54–7, from The Public Advertiser , January 26, 1766. While there is no certainty that Franklin wrote this piece, the probability is strong, as Verner W. Crane has pointed out in Letters to the Press , pp. 54–5. The satirical vein is characteristic of a good deal of Franklin’s...
2131To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Chew, 24 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I wrote to you last this Colony has Rather increased in the Confusion and distraction of the times then otherways. Meetings have been Called by the Populace &c. where the most Ext[raordina]ry Votes have Passed and our friend Ingersoll has been more then humbled. He has been so intimidated as to give up his Letters publick and Private —almost Every...
2132James Parker: Valuation of the Printing Office, 27 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Columbia University Library The partnership agreement between Franklin and Hall provided that at its termination Hall should “have the Preference of purchasing the said Printing-Presses, Types and Materials (if he shall be so disposed . . .) at their present Value, allowing for the Wear thereof what shall be judged a reasonable Abatement, considering the Time they shall have been used”...
2133“N.N.”: Reply to Vindex Patriae on American Representation in Parliament, 29 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 29, 1766 This letter was not reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle among those attributed to Franklin, but the signature “N.N.” is the same as that he had used in two earlier replies to “Vindex Patriae” on political and legal aspects of their controversy the authorship of which appears well established. The style is...
2134Magna Britannia: Her Colonies Reduc’d, [January–February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
“Explanation” and “Moral” reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. F.R.S. &c. (quarto edition, London, 1817–18), i, 219–20. Philadelphia “Explanation” reprinted from print in American Philosophical Society Library. Among the methods Franklin used during the winter of 1765–66 to gain support for the repeal of the Stamp Act was the...
2135Fragments of a Pamphlet on the Stamp Act, [January 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Plan, notes, rough draft, and fair copy: American Philosophical Society During the period of agitation and discussion before the repeal of the Stamp Act Franklin began to prepare a pamphlet to supplement his letters to the newspapers. No published pamphlet that he might have written has been found, and it is probable that, well before he had finished writing, the movement for repeal had gained...
2136To Benjamin Franklin from William Dunlap, 1 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is now upwards of a Twelve month since I sail’d from Philadelphia for Barbados, in order to inspect into the State of my Affairs there, and if possible procure some Kind of Subsistance on the Spot that might Support my Family: When I arriv’d, I found my little Interest on the Island badly regulated, and the Partnership Accounts in worse Order; the...
2137James Parker: Final Report on the Franklin and Hall Accounts, 1 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Haverford College Library (2 copies), Historical Society of Pennsylvania (1 copy) According to the agreement between Franklin and David Hall, Jan. 1, 1748 (above, III , 263–7), their printing partnership was to commence on Jan. 21, 1748 (new style), and continue for eighteen years. The agreement provided that Franklin was to furnish the presses, type, and other printing equipment; Hall...
2138[William Hall]: Account of Benjamin Franklin with the Estate of David Hall, [1 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society After the partnership of Franklin and Hall had come to an end and James Parker had completed his examination of the books, as reported in the document immediately above, David Hall opened an account of his financial relations with his former partner. From time to time he sent Franklin a statement of the transactions shown in his records, but neither man...
2139To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 3 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (first and longer version): Columbia University Library; ALS (second and shorter version): New York Public Library After completing his examination of the Franklin and Hall accounts and drawing up a report, James Parker wrote this letter to accompany one copy of the report he planned to send to Franklin by the New York packet. He then copied the first long paragraph that deals with the...
2140Observations on Mr. Parker’s State of the Account, [undated] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Haverford College Library This undated document is placed here for convenience because it relates so closely to Parker’s final report on the accounts between Franklin and Hall, Feb. 1, 1766 (above, pp. 87–99), and his letter of February 3 about that report (immediately above). Franklin could hardly have received the report and letter before the middle of March 1766, but they had reached...
2141To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, [5–8 February? 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete) : American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] as I am a lone [ torn ] down to Chat a littel with you all thow I have not aney thing extray[ordinary to say. I] have had Parker hear for 3 weeks under a viloant fitt of the Goute in [the limbs] and the Stumack he ses his harte I say it was the stamp ackte or the illnes of his Son but be it as it will he is better and went...
2142“A Lover of Britain”: Preface to Three Letters to William Shirley, [8 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , February 6–8, 1766. In the issue of Feb. 6–8, 1766, the London Chronicle printed three letters Franklin had written to Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts twelve years earlier, together with an introductory letter that Verner W. Crane has identified as being also written by Franklin. His letters to Shirley, Dec. 3, 4, 22, 1754, have been printed earlier...
2143To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Crowley, 8 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Subsequent to our Conversation at or near the House of Commons, I was informd by one of the Committee that he had been informd that I was the author of the Paragraph inserted in the Gazetteer 1 feb: alledging that “by a Calculation of an Eminent American Merchant it appears that the whole Taxes in all the American Provinces, do not amount, upon an Average...
2144Privy Council: Referral of Franklin’s Application for a Land Grant, 10 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Public Record Office Franklin’s interest in Nova Scotia lands has been examined in the preceding volume, where documents were printed showing that, as a member of two land speculating syndicates headed by Alexander McNutt, he acquired in 1765 claims to thousands of acres in what is now the province of New Brunswick. See above, XII , 345–50. The petition summarized here differs from...
2145To Benjamin Franklin from Springett Penn, 12 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received Mr. Penningtons Letter you was so Kind to forward. I wrote to you a long time since to desire the favour of you to ask Mr. Life for somuch Money (as he had some of my Mothers in his Hands) as would purchase a Lottery Tickett since which have not had the favour of a Line from you. My Mother and myself join in Respects and good Wishes to you and...
2146Examination before the Committee of the Whole of the House of Commons, 13 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Text of the Examination printed in The Examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, before an August Assembly, relating to the Repeal of the Stamp Act, &c. [Philadelphia, Hall and Sellers, 1766]; Franklin’s Notes, ad: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Nathaniel Ryder’s Notes, transcription of shorthand ms : Harrowby Manuscript Trust, The Earl of Harrowby, Sandon Hall, Stafford. During the...
2147“Pacificus”: On Chastising the Colonies, [13 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , February 11–13, 1766. The authorship of this piece has not been established with any certainty, and the editors can offer little evidence that Franklin wrote it. He often used anecdotes to support or illustrate his ideas, but he was by no means the only writer of the time to employ such a device. The London Chronicle , with which his friend William Strahan was...
2148To Benjamin Franklin from Amelia Evans, [18 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This morning I have had my difinitive answer from the family I am in, and am to go with them. The Ship in which they are to sail is now ready at Portsmouth and they only wait for the Consuls Credential letters which are hourly expected. The reason therfore Sir for my troubling you in this manner is to beg you will endeavour to have some estimation put on...
2149Amelia Evans: Receipt, 19 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society Receiv’d Feb. 19. 1766 of Benja. Franklin Five Guineas for the Plate of the American Map made by my Father Lewis Evans and the Right to the Copy of the Book wrote by him to explain that Map. Endorsed: No 73 Amelia Evans £11. 11. 0 Note, Herein is an Order on Mrs Strettell for £6. 6 s. 0 d . Sent to Mrs Franklin Jan. 26. 1771 The entire document except the...
2150From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am excessively hurried, being every Hour that I am awake either abroad to speak with Members of Parliament or taken up with People coming to me at home, concerning our American Affairs, so that I am much behind-hand in answering my Friends Letters. But tho’ I cannot by this Opportunity write to others, I must not omit a Line to you who kindly write me so many. I...