11To Benjamin Franklin from Simon Meredith, 29 July 1739 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Please to let my Son Hugh Meredith have the Sum of Eight pounds and place the Same to the Account of your Real Friend And very Humble Servant [ Receipted: ] Receiv’d the above Eight Pounds per me July 30. 1739 [ Receipted: ] Borrowed and receiv’d also of Benjamin Franklin Six pounds more per me £6. —. — Father of BF ’s former partner, Hugh Meredith. See...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Spotswood, 12 October 1739 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , December 11, 1740. The Part which your Predecessor, Mr. Andrew Bradford, has acted with respect to the Post-Office Accompts, is no longer to be born with . The Deputy Post-Masters in Great-Britain account every two Months with the General Post-Office there; and I am obliged every half Year to have the Accounts of the General Post-Office in...
13To Benjamin Franklin from William Dewees, Jr., 26 January 1740 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Sent you Last week 7½ Reemes of Large Printing Paper and 8 Reemes of Brown Ditto and Now Send you by the Same Barrer 12 Ditto of Corse printing which I would have you Place to the Cr. of Yours William Dewees, Jr. ( c. 1712–1777), operated a paper mill in Cresham township on the Wissahickon near Philadelphia after 1736. BF’S accounts with him are in Ledger...
14James Franklin: Indenture of Apprenticeship, 5 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed form, with MS insertions in blanks: American Philosophical Society This Indenture Witnesseth, That James Franklin late of Newport in Rhodeisland, but now of Philadelphia in Pennsilvania Hath put himself, and by these Presents, doth voluntarily, and of his own free Will and Accord, put himself Apprentice to Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia, Printer to learn his Art, Trade,...
15John Webbe: The Detection, 17 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , November 20, 1740. Franklin’s advertisement of the General Magazine , November 13, accused John Webbe, to whom as prospective editor he had revealed his scheme in confidence, of carrying the idea to Bradford in order to get ahead of Franklin and reap the advantage personally. Webbe responded immediately with this defense and countercharge. The second...
16To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 26 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from A Select Collection of Letters of the late George Whitefield, M.A .... (London, 1772), I , 226. I thank you for your letter. You may print my life, as you desire. God willing, I shall correct my two volumes of sermons, and send them the very first opportunity. Pray write to me by every ship, that goes shortly to Charles-Town. I shall embark for England, God...
17John Webbe: Defense Renewed, I, 27 November 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , November 27, 1740. The principal End proposed by the Plan of a Magazine, lately published in this Paper, was to lay open the Nature of the Constitutions of the several Colonies, and to give a monthly Account of the Alterations made in each, with the Reasons inducing the Legislature for making such Alterations. The Materials, for executing the first...
18John Webbe: Defense Renewed, II, 4 December 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , December 4, 1740. As it is the indispensible Duty of every Man to defend his Reputation from unjust Calumny, I was, therefore , obliged to step forth to vindicate mine, from the injurious Insinuations in the Gazette . But, notwithstanding the Attempt to destroy my Character, on which my Livelihood entirely depends, I was extremely careful , in my...
19John Webbe: The Postmaster and the Mercury, 18 December 1740 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The American Weekly Mercury , December 18, 1740. A Particular must imagine himself to be of mighty Consequence, when he thinks his private Differences deserve to be decided at the public Tribunal. But when he is dragged there against his Inclination, every one must acknowledge that he has a Right to be heard in his Turn. This was my Case in Respect to the Scandalous Accusation,...
20To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 6 May 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I return thee all thy Books with my hearty thanks for thy trouble in favouring me with a sight of them, and am highly pleased there are any in the Province who are so fond of such studies, and at the same time so well furnish’d with Cash as to take them all together in their present Condition at those prices. But as I have some knowledge of the...
21To Benjamin Franklin from William Coats: Deed, 31 July 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia ABSTRACT : William Coats (spelled here “Coates”) of the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia, brickmaker, grants to Benjamin Franklin an irregularly shaped lot in the Northern Liberties (now in Franklin’s possession by virtue of a bargain and sale to him, dated the day before), which lot was formerly in the possession of...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Christopher and Mary Thompson: Deed, 1 August 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia Abstract : Christopher Thompson of Philadelphia, bricklayer, and Mary his wife grant to Benjamin Franklin a lot in Philadelphia (now in Franklin’s possession by virtue of a bargain and sale, dated the day before), 22 ft. in breadth east and west and 140 ft. in length north and south, bounded north by Apple Tree Alley,...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Hancock, 10 August 1741 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Boston Public Library Inclosed you have Coppys of Seven note of hand from Sundry Persons who have Since Run away in my Debt, and I am Told are Gon Towards Philadelphia the Jerseys and Penciliania. I have therefore Taken the Freedom per this Opportunity to ask the Favor of you to make Inquiery after the within named Gentry, and if to be found pray Secure them, or Oblige ’em to pay the...
24To Benjamin Franklin from Gilbert Tennent, 22 September 1741 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; also transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I thank you kindly for your Love in Sending me Some of the remarks and of my Sermons on justification as well as the notice you give me of exceptions made against one passage in it (of which I have wrotte an explication in a letter to Mr. Robert Ishburn). Likewise I thank you kind Sir for your favour in...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Jacob Spicer, 20 September 1742 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The difficulty I have Labour’d under Some time in the management of my Fathers affairs, for want of giving publick notice, Obliges me to desire you would Insert the advertisement Inclos’d, and for defraying the Charge thereof, I have also Inclos’d Five Shillings, if I mistake not the usual Sum that is Generally given for Services of that Kind, But if in...
26To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, [October 1743] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society Ever since I had the Pleasure of a Conversation with you tho very short by our accedental Meeting on the Road I have been very desirous to engage you in a Correspondence. You was pleas’d to take some notice of a Method of Printing which I mentioned to you at that time and to think it practicable. I have no further concern for it than as it may be usefull to...
27Bill from Alexander Annand, [December 1743] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society Mr Benjamin Franklin to Alexr Annand Dr To James and William Franklins Schooling from Decr 12th 1738 [to] Decr 1739 £6 00 0 To Wms Do from Decr 12th 1739 to Decr 1743 12 00 0 To firing £1 2 s. 01 02 0 To Ovids Epistles 3 s. 00
28To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 26 February 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks); another transcript: American Philosophical Society I have this day read over my version of Cicero’s Cato Major in thy Print, with my Notes on it, and cannot but applaud thy care but wish thou hadst not begun in pa: 49 with Greek Letter, since thou hadst not enough of the same character to go on with it, for to this alone I must impute the failure....
29To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 17 September 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library I have Yours of the 13th and am glad to find by it that you have an opportunity of conversing with a Gentleman who I believe is both willing and Capable of promoting your Philosophical Design. You’l perceive by what you receive on these Sheets that I have open’d to my self a large Prospect either into Nature or into Fairyland and I have in my Imaginations made...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, December 1744 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society The season of the year advancing in which our Correspondence from this place with New York becomes more uncertain and my eldest son going now to New York where he proposes to stay 8 or 10 days I hope you’l excuse my interrupting you in your Business which I know allows you little time for trifles or amusements. In your last you gave me hopes that you would...
31To Benjamin Franklin from John Mitchell, [March 1745?] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The American Medical and Philosophical Register; or Annals of Medicine, Natural History, Agriculture, and the Arts , IV (1814), 383–7. In the short account of the yellow fever, which I left with you at Philadelphia, I have not endeavoured to establish any theory, or even to make any deductions from any established theory of that, or like diseases; but have only...
32To Benjamin Franklin from John Mitchell, 12 September 1745 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society I was surprised to see yours of Jun. 15th. come to my hands only by last Post. What I then received by it from Dr. Colden, I suppose I owe to you; for which I am sorry I can make no other acknowledgement but thanks. I perceive likewise, that you are desirous (if I am not mistaken), that the small Paper I left with you on the yellow fever should come forth. I...
33To Benjamin Franklin from John and Elizabeth Croker: Deed, 12 October 1745 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia Abstract : John Croker of Staten Island, N.Y., yeoman, and Elizabeth his wife grant to Benjamin Franklin forever, for £60 proclamation money, their undivided half of a messuage and lot on the south side of High Street, Philadelphia, 16½ ft. in breadth and 306 ft. in length, bounded north by High Street, east by a lot late of...
34To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Grace: Lease, 30 December 1745 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Haverford College Library Robert Grace (see above, I, 209 n), whose parents died when he was young, was brought up by his grandmother and her second husband, Hugh Lowden, in their home on the north side of Market Street, between Front and Second, facing the Jersey Market. Under Lowden’s will, Grace inherited the life use of the property when his grandmother died in 1725. He was living...
35To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, [February 1746] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society There is no Question but in the case you mention of a ships being taken up in a Southern latitude and let down in one some degrees more northerly the same moment she would have a degree of Motion Eastward but that it would shorten a Voyage from America to Europe I cannot think because as the alteration is made by insensibly small steps it can only be so much...
36To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, [16 April 1746] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Pennsylvania Gazette , May 22, 1746. As it is a Minister’s Duty to provide Things honest in the Sight of all Men, I thought it my Duty, when lately at Georgia, to have the whole Orphan House Accounts audited, from the Beginning of that Institution to January last; the same I intend to do yearly for the future: An Abstract of the whole, with the particular Affidavits, and common...
37To Benjamin Franklin from George Scholtze, 5 May 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Benj: Franklin to Geo: Scholtze. … Dr. 1733. october 30. To 22 yards of Dowlas at 2 s. 6 d. per £2 15 0 1734. october 31. To 1 lb. of Green Tea at 11 s. per lb. 0 11 0
38To Benjamin Franklin from James Smith, 25 October 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Drayton M. Smith, Philadelphia (1958) Yours of the 17th mentioning my chance in the New York Lottery for which I return you thanks And when you Shall get the money Please to Acquaint me. I may have Occation of Somthing in your way So that if you please to let the money lye with you tell then. I am with respects Sir Your Most humble Servant Addressed: To Mr. Benjamin Franklin...
39To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Lucas, 2 December 1746 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Haverford College Library As my husbeand Robt. Lucas in his Life time Did take the Newes Papers, and now is Decesed I now think it no Longer Proper to have them, these are to Requst the faver of you to Stoop them, and Send Down what his Estate is indebted to you for them and I Shall Pay for them at the time oppointed by Law. From Sir your humble Servant Addressed: To Mr. Benjamin...
40To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 23 February 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Yesterday was the first time that I ever heard one syllable of thy Electrical Experiments, when John Bartram surpriz’d me with the account of a Ball turning many hours about an Electrified Body, with some other particulars that were sufficiently amazing. I have now by me Fr: Hawkesbee’s Experiments printed in 1709 and saw his whole Apparatus in 1710...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Darling, [February 1747?] (Franklin Papers)
MS notes for a letter: Yale University Library 1. How many men imployed in the whole? 2. How many men imediately about the Glass blowing? 3. How maney feet of Glass Do they make a Day? 4. How Do they Sell it per foot in their Philedalphia? 5. What are the Stone they make their furnace of and 6. Where Do they Git them? 7. Where are the pots made that Contain the metal? 8. Who makes them? 9. Can...
42To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 6 March 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I utterly forgot to send thee the N York Paper by my Son who was here this Morning but I now do it with my hearty thanks. I ordered him further to see thee to day and to beg thy Excuse for my desiring thee to send me a List of your Addition of Books to your Library which I did not the least apprehend would be sufficient to fill so much as one...
43To Benjamin Franklin from William Dames, 16 March 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society [ Missing ] letters frequently are sent down by the westren [ missing ] post to Annapolis, which occations a [ missing ] delay, Expence, and trouble, Shall be obliged [ missing ] if you give your Young Man directions [ missing ] all my Letters for our New town, or [Chester?]town post, to be by him forwarded me. [ Missing ] Can in any shape serve...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 1 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I shall be pleased to Hear that Mine per Mesnard and Dowers are come safe to your Hands with the books &c. and 4 Transactions all Committed to the Care of Elias Bland to putt up with his Letters. via N York I advised of your Bill on Oliver for £47 5 s. 5 d. is received and placed to Account. Inclosed are some proposals. Pray send one to J: Logan. I am with...
45To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 23 June 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I thank You heartily for Your kind preamble to the Subscription. I only object against its being made publick so as to engage persons in America and Great Britain. I think such a procedure would betray somewhat of meaness of Spirit and of a confidence in Him who hitherto has never left me in extremity, since I think a private subscription among my Friends...
46To Benjamin Franklin from James Turner, 6 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Herewith I send the Seal which you so long ago Spoke to me for, for Mr. Read. The Occasion of my sending it to you and not directly to him was because that the Seal being very heavy might cause him a great Charge which I thought he might be eased of by my sending it to you as you are Postmaster. I am very Sorry that I disappointed the Gentleman of it so...
47To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 13 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I received this afternoon a Copy of the Proposals for printing another Edition of Universal History of which I had a sight of the first vol: about two or three years since from my Friend Richd Peters, of which notwithstanding I could not approve of some particulars in the Preface which 1 was very sensible were wrong, tho’ I cannot remember at...
48To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 19 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) I can scarce ever forgive thee for not shewing me, in now above two years and a half, Dr. Colden’s Answer to my Objections to his Fluxions: For he had good reason to say that either my Memory had fail’d me, or I had read that piece with little attention; the last of which is exactly true, tho’ I remember not now what other business diverted me from...
49To Benjamin Franklin from G. Row[se?], 21 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I’m informd of Some Letters from Virginia being directed for your care, if any arrived please send per Enoch Story and if any shoud Soon come to hand please to Order the Post to deliver them at my house which will much oblige Sir Your humble Ser[vant] Addressed: To Mr. Benjn. Franklin Postmaster in Philadelphia By favour Captn. West The signature is...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Jonas Green, 25 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will receive by this Mail two Packets from Barbadoes, which came inclosed to me from Mr. Ja. Bingham. One of them incloses the W. India Monthly Packet, which Mr. Bingham wrote me word he sent open that I might have a sight of it. They came by Capt. Seager. Our Assembly added this Session 5 Pounds in each County to my Salary, but added to the Work...
51To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Dowse, 27 July 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mrs. Steel who got here last week desires me to write you in her behalf, to acknowledge the many kind Acts of Freindship she hath received from you and at the same time to sollicit you to let me or her know what new Matter you had received after her leaving Philadelphia to be displeased with her or her conduct as you Seem to be in a letter she received...
52To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Cheston, 2 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your Favour of the 23d Ulto With Mr. Thos Fayerweathers order on Mr. Edward Scott in favour of Mr. Jeremiah Osborn Inclosed and Immediately Applyed to Mr. Edwd Scott for the Money who promised Me to pay It before the Return of our Mercury. But being Gone Down to Talbott County am afraid Shall not see him time Enough to Send It per this next...
53To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 3 August 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : New-York Historical Society Baxters [book] was gon so much out of my memory that I could not for some time recollect any thing of it. I cannot now recollect whether I sent back your observations on it. If I have not they are among my papers which I carried to the Country and are now there. I can remember that when I lookt into that book I thought that he did not understand the subject on...
54To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 7 September 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Whiting came and [paid the] whole last Saturday Evening in Jersey Money, except 5 s. in York, of the Pay[ment] for the Postage. I don’t know any Body has any of the Spanish Paper to sell cheap. I believe 5 or 6 s. will be the lowest. I know several ask 8 s. I can yet gladly spare you 4 or 5 Bales of that I have, having got about 10 Bales yet entire. If...
55To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 21 September 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Last Week I accidently met Mr. DeLancey in the Streets: I ask’d him, if he had heard any Thing about the Affair, and he said No. I ask’d him, if he were willing to take the Money? He said Yes. I ask’d him how much it was? and he said £37 principal: which is more than what you mention. However, I will pay it, let it be what it may; On which I told him, I had...
56To Benjamin Franklin from Daniel Cheston, 28 September 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am sorry to Acquaint you that with Assiduity Equal to the Want of the Gentleman In whose favour the order was Drawn I have not Been able to procure anything But Promises. I would Advise (if It meet with yours and the Gentlemans Approbation) a threatning Line or two to Mr. Edward Scott who has made Such an Assumption in favour of Mr. Osborn As may [torn]...
57To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 28 September 1747 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I am obliged by your favour of the 24th and the Information you give. I have not heard that any of the Indian History are in this place and am very desirous to see one of them assoon at least as any other in this place may because I really do not know of what papers it consists. I sent Mr. Collinson accounts or relations on that subject at several times and...
58To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 3 December 1747 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from Sparks, Works , VII , 24–7. I have expected to see thee here for several weeks, according to my son’s information, with Euclid’s title-page printed, and my Mattaire’s Lives of the Stephenses; but it is probable thy thoughts of thy new excellent project have in some measure diverted thee, to which I most heartily wish all possible success; of which, notwithstanding, I have some...
59To Benjamin Franklin from James Logan, 19 February 1748 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook abstract: Historical Society of Pennsylvania My Friend B.F. I wrote to him about the Title page of Euclid and the Lottery now fully drawn and desired his direction concluding his Affectionate friend. See above, p. 219.
60To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 9 April 1748 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society I received yours of 2d Instant last night and am obliged for your care of my Letters as I shall for any others [that] may come to you. I desire you to Send me your weekly news Paper at the price others give you. Sir with my Compliments to Mrs. Franklin, Your Ready Friend and humble Servant. On Belcher, see above, I , 176 n. He was appointed...