2151To Benjamin Franklin from Matthew Boulton, [22 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Assay Office, Birmingham The addition you have made to my happiness in being the cause of my acquaintance with the amiable and ingenious Dr. Small deserves more than thanks and theretofore I take this opportunity, of making my acknowledgements to you in the Same Sort of Coin by introducing to you, my Good friend Mr. Samuel Garbett, who is an admirer of Mr. Francklin in particular, a...
2152From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Fox, 24 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library I have now the Pleasure of informing you, that on Friday last, in a Committee of the whole House, Mr. Secretary Conway mov’d that it should be recommended to the House to give leave to bring in a Bill for repealing the American Stamp Act, which Motion was seconded by Mr. Cooper: But an Amendment to the Motion being propos’d by the late Ministry, viz. instead...
2153From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 24 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Salem County Historical Society, Salem, N.J. The House of Commons after a long Debate, which lasted from Friday 3 aClock to 2 the next Morning, came to a Resolution to repeal the Stamp Act, 275 to 167, the Minority being for explaining and amending . The Party of the late Ministry will give the Bill all the Obstruction and Delay possible, but there is reason now to believe it will pass...
2154To Benjamin Franklin from George Croghan, 25 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I did myself the Honour of writing to you, on the 12th. of December and inclosed you, a Copy of my Journal and Transactions, with the several Western Nations of Indians, that I met with, in my Tour to and from the Ilinois Country; Since which I have had the Pleasure of hearing, that his Majesty’s Troops have obtained,...
2155From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 26 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Maryland Historical Society I wrote to you on the 22d Instant, via Maryland. I now congratulate you again on the Prospect of having the Stamp Act repeal’d. The Grand Committee reported on Monday. Mr. Conway mov’d that Leave should be given to bring in a Bill for repealing the American Stamp Act. The Motion being seconded and agreed to, one of the late Ministry mov’d, that a Clause should...
2156To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 26 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library Permit me to request that you would perfect the inclosed List. It is some Satisfaction to know the company into which one is associated. It would oblige me if Mr. Strahan would furnish a List of the Divines in Scotland now living and dignified with a Doctorate, I am told they are not numerous. Among the Ten Thousand Clergy of the Church of England are there 2 or...
2157From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a few days ago by Mr. Penrose via Mary land, when I wrote also to the Speaker, to Mr. Galloway, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Hall. I have now as little time as then to enlarge, having wrote besides to day so much that I am almost blind. But by the March Packet shall fully answer your late Letters. Let the Vaults alone till my Return: As you have a Wood...
2158From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Penington, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received yours of Nov. 14. with that enclos’d for Mr. Sp[ringett] Penn, which I immediately forwarded to him. He continues in Ireland I know not why. I hear from him sometimes, but to little purpose. I think it not unlikely he may suffer him self to be finally impos’d on by his Uncle in the Affair of Pensbury, but shall endeavour to stir him up...
2159From Benjamin Franklin to [Hugh Roberts], 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I receiv’d your kind Letter of Nov. 27. You cannot conceive how much Good the cordial Salutations of an old Friend do the Heart of a Man so far from home, and hearing frequently of the Abuses thrown on him in his Absence by the Enemies that Party has rais’d against him. In the meantime I hope I have done even those Enemies some Service in our late...
2160From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I forget whether I before acknowledg’d the Receipt of your kind Letter of Sept. 24. I gave an Extract of it to a Friend, with an Extract of mine to which it was an Answer; and he printed both in the London Chronicle, with an Introduction of his own: and I have reprinted everything from America that I thought might help our common Cause. We at length, after a long and...
2161To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you by the Packet, inclosing a Copy of the Extract of a Letter from Thomas Penn Esqr. to his Nephew the Governor, which is inclosed in this Letter. This Account of the Petitions for a Change of this Government from Proprietary to Royal, has struck our Friends with the utmost Consternation. And indeed I am not a little alarmed at the Consequences....
2162“F.B.”: The Frenchman and the Poker, [February–March 1766] (Franklin Papers)
First printing not located; reprinted in The Pennsylvania Chronicle, And Universal Advertiser , March 16–23, 1767. This is the second of two letters Goddard reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle , March 16–23, 1767, the authorship of which he attributed to Franklin. In a letter to his sister, Jane Mecom, many years later, Franklin acknowledged that he had “told” the story. Goddard gave no...
2163From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [February–March 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society There is a brown Paper Packet for you directed but contains chiefly a Letter and Parcel of News papers for Billy, which pray send to him directly. I mean the Newspapers. You need not indeed open the Pacquet, if it were not to take out a Letter or two for Neighbour Sumain, and the Beans. But pray send him up the Papers directly before they are...
2164To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, [February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] myself so much as to think I am able to [carry to completion] this large plan. I only propose to do it [if I can leave] it to you and my other friends in Lon[don readily to sup]ply my deficiencies. In the mean time I should be glad to have your sentiment of it. [Asking your pardon for] trespassing so long upon your patience...
2165From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Fox, 1 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William Logan Fox, Philadelphia (1956) I wrote to you of the 22d past, via Maryland. Inclos’d I send a Copy of the late Votes on the Affair of the American Stamp-Act. The Repeal is now in a fair way of being compleated, on which I congratulate you and the Assembly. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, P.S. An Act will pass at the same time with the Repeal of the Stamp Act,...
2166From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 1 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I acknowledge the Receipt of your kind Letters of Nov. 12. and Dec. 20. the latter per Mr. Williams. I condole with you on the Death of your Husband, who was I believe a truly affectionate one to you, and fully sensible of your Merit. It is not true that I have bought any Estate here. I have indeed had some thoughts of re-purchasing the little one in...
2167To Benjamin Franklin from Philip Syng, 1 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 26th of September last, with your very agreeable Present Doctor Lewis’s new Work. You judged very right that I should find in it entertaining Particulars in my Way— the Management of Gold and Silver is treated of in it better and more particularly than I have met with in any Author. The regard you have always shewn me requires my...
2168To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 2 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society About a week since, I wrote thee a few Lines per Capt. Robinson via Lisbon; which Letter was principally to enclose thee an Extract of a Letter wrote by T. Penn to his Governor, respecting the assurances he had obtained that, there would be no change of Government: This account filled the minds of our Friends with great concern, as we thereby—(if it be...
2169To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 3 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society I was in hopes of a Letter from you by the Packet, but disappointed, was glad however to know from those that had, that you was well. Inclosed have sent you a Copy of the Accounts settled by Mr. Parker with me on your Account, which I hope will be Satisfactory, as, to the best of my Knowledge I think they are right; tho’, as I suppose he told...
2170To Benjamin Franklin from John Free, 4 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Books inclosed in these Parcels, to wit; Dr. Free’s Controversy with the Methodists His Petition to the King, His Petition to the H. of Commons, against the two Archbishops, His Speech at Oxford; and Voluntary Exile a Poem, are a Present from the Author, who lives at Newington Butts near Southwark To an old Subscriber of his Mr. Richard Dunscomb of new...
2171To Benjamin Franklin from Amelia Evans, 6 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I write to beg ten thousand pardons for not having waited on you before I left town but having been excessively hurried with the necessary preparations for our embarkation I deferred seeing most of my friends till I found I was not mistress of a moment. But I hope you will pardon me Sir and allow me to intreat yours and Mrs. Stevensons wishes for success to...
2172To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 7 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This waits upon you by Dr. Grant, with whom I have had the pleasure of an acquaintance during his Residence in Newport the winter past. He was educated at Aberdeen and received the Finishings in Medical Literature at Edinburgh and Paris. Your Reputation in the learned World excites a Curiosity in Gentlemen of Taste and Erudition to be known especially to one of...
2173To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 9 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will give us great pleasure if you will favour us with your company to day, our dinner shall be ready at any hour you will appoint, four o’clock will be as convenient to us as any other time; say you will come and you make us happy. My mother gave us hope that you might come to day, and thought it was the only one you could. I will flatter myself that I...
2174From Benjamin Franklin to Matthew Boulton, 19 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Assay Office, Birmingham You will I trust excuse my so long omitting to answer your kind Letter per Mr. Garbet, when you consider the excessive Hurry and Anxiety I have been engag’d in with our American Affairs. I thank you for introducing me to the Acquaintance of that very sensible worthy Man, tho’ I could have but for a short Hour the Pleasure of his Company. I know not which of the...
2175To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Franklin, 23 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our dear Friend Mrs. Smyth after an illness of 5 months and 6 days Expired Yesterday morning. In the whole time she had not been out of bed a quarter of an hour at a time, so thankfull she was for any thing her friends did for her and patient to a Miracle. Poor Mrs. Dufield and poor Mama are in great distress, it must be hard to lose a Friend of 50 Years...
2176To Benjamin Franklin from [Joseph Priestley], 25 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society I have received your letter, containing some remarks on my experiments, and a printed paper for the transactions which has given me very great satisfaction, and for which I think myself much obliged to you. I shall think myself very happy if the accounts you are pleased to permit me to send you of my imperfect experiments do but revive your...
2177To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Hutchinson, 26 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Massachusetts Archives, Office of the Secretary of State My son being bound to London I give him a letter to you that he may have a better Pretence for waiting on you and Paying his own as well as my respects to you. I expected to have gone my self some of my friends advising to it; others thought it best for me to remain here and that I...
2178To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 27 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was from Burlington, with the Accounts from whence I was soon after Summoned here on the Occasion of my Son’s being, as was then thought, at the Point of Death: It pleased God however to spare him a little longer, and tho’ he is not yet well Yet he is Stirring about, and has some hidden Disorder lurking in his Bowels, which we cannot...
2179Heads of a Bill to Authorize Paper Currency, [31 March–5 April 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; facsimile of ad: Parke-Bernet Galleries, Catalogue 223, The John Gribbel Sale, October 31, 1940, no. 252; photostat: American Philosophical Society Franklin’s belief that a viable system of paper currency was essential to the colonial economy goes back to 1729, when he published a pamphlet he called A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper-Currency . His most...
2180Marginalia in Protests of the Lords against Repeal of the Stamp Act, [March 1766] (Franklin Papers)
I. ms notations in the margins of a copy of Protest against the Bill To repeal the American Stamp Act, of Last Session . A Paris, Chez J. W. Imprimeur, Rue du Colombier Fauxbourg St. Germain, à l’Hotel de Saxe. 1766, in the collections of the New York Public Library. II. ms notations in the margins of a copy of Second Protest, with a List of Voters against the Bill to Repeal the American Stamp...
2181From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As the Stamp Act is at length repeal’d, I am willing you should have a new Gown, which you may suppose I did not send sooner, as I knew you would not like to be finer than your Neighbours, unless in a Gown of your own Spinning. Had the Trade between the two Countries totally ceas’d, it was a Comfort to me to recollect that I had once been cloth’d from Head...
2182To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 10 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library I should not so soon have troubled you with another Letter, before I had known your receipt of my former ones, but to oblige my Friend Capt. Fred Hamilton. Mr. Swift Attorney at Law in Bo[ston] by a Letter to Capt. Hamilton last Winter, informed him that a Gentleman in London had, in the Name and at the desire of the “Lady of the Earl of Peterborough...
2183From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 12 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Rosenbach Foundation I received your Letters of Jan. 13. and 20. and communicated them to Mr. Jackson. The Petition, praying a Repeal of the Act of Parliament prohibiting the Paper Money of the Colonies being a lawful Tender, was immediately presented according to your Directions, and referred to a Committee. We have for a long time been extreamly busy with our general American...
2184Petition to the House of Commons, [12–15 April 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Library of Congress At the request of members the House of Commons ordered to be read aloud on Friday, April 11, 1766, part of an act that provided for the transportation of felons from England to the American colonies. Thereupon the House granted leave to bring in a bill extending to Scotland the system of transporting felons to America. Within a few days Franklin had drawn up a...
2185From Benjamin Franklin to [Joseph Galloway], 12 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract printed in Pennsylvania Gazette , June 19, 1766 Our Friends here are in Pain, lest the Condescension of Parliament, in repealing the Stamp-Act, will encourage the Americans to farther Excesses; and our Enemies, who have predicted it, hope to see their Prophecies fulfilled, that they may disgrace the present Ministry; but I hope we shall behave prudently, and disappoint...
2186To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 13 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I this day received your favour of the 10th instant, and the day before yesterday another letter, with several parcels of books, containing all that are mentioned in your letters. At the same time I received a parcel from Dr. Watson, containing, among others, the same history of electricity which you have sent me. I shall immediately apply myself to the...
2187To Benjamin Franklin from George Read, 14 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from William T. Read, Life and Correspondence of George Read (Philadelphia, 1870), p. 23. From your known goodness, and the knowledge you have of me and my family, I have presumed to beg the favor of you to apply to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury on my behalf, for the appointment of Collector of the Port of New Castle, made vacant by the death of Mr. William...
2188From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Ronayne, 20 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; 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), iii, 364–6. I received your very obliging and ingenious letter by Captain Kearney. Your observations on the Electricity of Fogs, and of the air in Ireland, and of the several circumstances attending a thunder-storm, are very...
2189To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 26 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of writing thee, on the 25th. Ulto, since when We have not had the satisfaction of receiving any of thy Favours. Various have been the Reports spread through the Continent, respecting the Repeal of the Stamp-Act; and as often as they arrived sometimes in favour and other times against Us, we were acted upon, by our Fears, and different...
2190From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 28 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received several of your kind Favours since my Arrival in England, the last by your good Brother, the Subject not in the least disagreable as you apprehend, but in Truth it has not been at all in my Power to do what you desir’d; if for no other Reasons, yet for this, that there has been no Vacancy. I congratulate you on the Repeal of that Mother of...
2191To Benjamin Franklin from James Johnson, [28 April 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from George Everett Hastings, The Life and Works of Francis Hopkinson (Chicago, [1926]), p. 122. The Bishop of Worcester presents his Respects to Dr. Franklin and begs the favour of Him to let the Inclos’d to Mr. Hopkinson go in his Packet when He has an opportunity of sending to Philadelphia. For James Johnson, Bishop of Worcester, whose kinship to the Hopkinson family...
2192To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 30 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Favour of the 25th. of Febry. is just come to hand. The one you mention to have sent me on the 16th. I have not receiv’d. Perhaps it was on Board that unfortunate Vessel from Bristol which was lost on our Coast. If so, and you have kept any Copy do favour me with it for I should be very loath to lose any of your Letters. You cannot conceive the...
2193To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 1 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society In mine of the Third of March, Via Belfast, by Captain Henderson, I told you Mrs. Franklin had of me Fifty Pounds, for the Purchase of a Bill from Mrs. Stevens. On the 18th of February One Hundred Pounds, towards paying for the Purchase of the Lot; and that on the Tenth of March I was to give her One Hundred Pounds more, for the last mentioned...
2194To Benjamin Franklin from James Pemberton, 1 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Historical Society of Pennsylvania It is not with a view to add to the number of thy Correspondents, and thereby encrease thy trouble of writing; but from a motive of regard that I Send this. Conscious of thy integrity abilities and firmness to Serve thy Country I rest fully Satisfied in respect to myself but Observing with Concern every occasion however frivolous is taken to keep alive...
2195To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 6 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Agreeable to your Requisition and Opinion, in yours to me of the 11th of May, and 8th of June last, I am now come up to this City: and been accepted to the Exercise of the Place of Land-Waiter here the 3d of this Month: and an Account with the Bond executed, and a Certificate of the Matter would be sent with this Packet, but the Surveyor-General, Mr....
2196Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence to Richard Jackson and Benjamin Franklin, 8 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Library of Congress When the Assembly reconvened in May after a recess of about three months, “A Member of the Committee of Correspondence,” undoubtedly Joseph Galloway, presented letters from Franklin “addressed to that Member only, and not to the said Committee, though relative to the Business of the Public.” When the letters had been read the House resolved that the Committee “do...
2197From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 9 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Samuel Hazard, ed., Hazard’s Register of Pennsylvania xvi, No. 5 (August 1, 1835), 65. I received your kind letter of March 3, and thank you for the Intelligence and Hints it contained. I wonder at the Complaint you mentioned. I always considered writing to the Speaker as writing to the Committee. But if it is more to their Satisfaction that I should write to them...
2198From Benjamin Franklin to Francis Hopkinson, 9 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I have been so busy that I have not had time to go to the Customhouse about your Salary, since mine of Feby. 26. (but will now do it soon) nor to write to you since I saw the Bishop, which was some time after he receiv’d your Letters. He express’d a Pleasure in hearing of and from his Relations, enquir’d in what manner he could send Letters to you, and...
2199From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hopkinson, 9 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Dr. Myron Prinzmetal, Beverly Hills, California (1956); copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of Oct. 1. with the Order on Mr. Barclay, of which I have not yet made any Use, but shall when I next see him; Tho’ it was not necessary for you to take Notice of those small Expences till my Return. Your Acknowledgements are far beyond the Occasion, and bring me in...
2200To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 9 May 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of writing thee a few Lines per Packet. Since which our Assembly met and have this day adjourned to meet the 2d of June next. It is with great pleasure that, I acquaint thee, that the reason for this short Adjournment is, that they may take the earliest Opportunity of returning to the King, Lords and Commons their unfeigned Thanks for the...