11To Benjamin Franklin from James Kinsey, 26 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By the favor of Mr. Wister I transmitt the Votes and Laws of the last Session of Assembly, Which I hope will be delivered safely to you together with this inclosing a Duplicate of the petition to the King. In my last I Stated Mr. Wilmotts Affair fully, hope he will see by it that the Colony has not been to blame and that he will speedily receive his Money....
12To Benjamin Franklin from Josiah Quincy, Sr., 25 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society My dear Son has repeatedly acknowledged your friendly Reception and Patronage of him, since his Arrival in London: Be pleased, therefore, to accept of my gratefull Sense of your Goodness to him; with my ardent Wishes, that your united Endeavors to preserve your native Country from impending Ruin may be attended with Success. You would hardly be perswaded...
13From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin: Journal of Negotiations in London, 22 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AD and copy: Library of Congress When Franklin at long last set sail for home, memories of the past months were churning inside him. He spent much of the voyage recounting, in the guise of a letter to his son, the events that had crowded upon him since the previous summer and particularly since early December. He had with him a mass of papers with which he documented his journal; the bulk of...
14Franklin’s Remarks on Judge Foster’s Argument in Favor of the Right of Impressing Seamen, [before 17 September 1781] (Franklin Papers)
Copy with autograph additions: Library of Congress Sir Michael Foster (1689–1763) was one of the most respected jurists of the eighteenth century. In 1743 he was recorder for the city of Bristol, a judicial post that required him to prosecute criminal cases such as the one which led to his discussion of the Royal Navy’s right to impress or forcibly recruit sailors. On April 25, 1743, Alexander...
15Memorandum for Mrs. Stevenson, [on or before 20 March 1775] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Dr. William Hewson, Philadelphia, Pa. (1957) Franklin, like so many travelers embarking on a long voyage, had been unable to deal with everything before his departure; and as usual Mrs. Stevenson took care of tidying his affairs. But she was much more deeply involved in them than this memorandum indicates. He left owing her four years’ rent at £100 per annum, and she covered additional...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Arthur Lee, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Harvard University Library I leave Directions with Mrs. Stevenson to deliver you all the Massachusetts Papers, when you please to call for them. I am sorry that the Hurry of Preparing for my Voyage and the many Hindrances I have met with, prevented my meeting you and Mr. Bollan, and conversing a little more on our Affairs before my Departure. I wish to both of you Health and Happiness,...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Votre derniere lettre m’ayant eté remise par Mr. Williams m’a fait un plaisir singulier. L’avantage qu’il a de vous appartenir de si près formoit un prejugé bien favorable pour lui, sa physiognomie ne previent pas moins en sa faveur, les qualités de son esprit et la douceur de ses moeurs y repondent parfaitement. Il se fait aimer generalement icy des hommes...
18To Benjamin Franklin from John Fothergill, 19 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and extract: Library of Congress Be kind enough to take the charge of the inclosed and convey them at thy leisure. [ Deleted ] is a staunch Anti American. I have received a letter from him to day by way of Liverpool which hurts me much. Get him, Jas. Pemberton and two or three more together, and inform them, that whatever specious pretences are offerd, they are all hollow and that to get a...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Anthony Todd, 18 March 1775 (Franklin Papers)
AL (letterbook draft): Library of Congress Dr. Franklin presents his Compliments to Mr. Todd, and sends the above Extracts of Letters from Mr. Foxcroft to show what reason Dr. F. had to suppose the Accts might now have been settled. In reply to the preceding letter. Above, Nov. 2, 5; Dec. 7, 1774; Jan. 4, 1775.
20David Barclay to James Pemberton, 18 March 1775: extract (Franklin Papers)
Extracted from ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania This letter and Fothergill’s to Dartmouth above, February 6, seem to be the only comments by British negotiators on why their efforts failed. Whereas Fothergill expressed his despair before the game was played out, Barclay retained some hope until after the middle of February. The plan that he produced on the 16th elicited a number of...