31From 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...
32From 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...
33From 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;...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 September 1758 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote you a long Letter of 3 Sheets per Duncan, and sent also in a large Pacquet directed to you, a great Number of Letters for my Friends. By Bolitho I shall send you some Stuff for Chair Bottoms, and an Iron Oven if I can get it on board. Seal the enclos’d before you forward it. I have this Day got a most violent Cold, but hope it will wear off...
35Josiah Franklin Davenport to Deborah Franklin, 22 March 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been Confin’d since Saturday last with a fever, altho now abated I am advised by Doctor Redman not to go abroad, Which is the Occasion I now write my Business. I have sold my House to Mr. Waiscott, and he has just been here and tells me the deeds are finish’d, and that he is to undertake a Journey on Saturday morning from Which he Shall not return...
36From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [c. 7 April 1759] (Franklin Papers)
LS (incomplete): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] By the same I shall write to dear Precious, Cousin Debby, and some other Friends. I have now only to let you know what I have sent in these Ships. There are two or 3 Boxes; Mr. Neate shipt them, but I know not on board which Ship, as he has not sent me the Bills of Lading. They were shipt on board [the] Cornelia Capt. Smith...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 12 April 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Calling here just now, I find a Bag not taken away, and as my Letters are gone or going, part by the Ships now at Portsmouth and part per Packet to be dispatch’d on Saturday, I write this Line to let you know we are well, and that you may not be uneasy at not having one Letter by this Ship. Now I think on’t; there was a Trunk sent last year by the...
38From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 August 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you already by this Ship, but have since receiv’d yours and Sally’s of June 18. and 21. which gave me great Pleasure, as your Letters always do; and the greater as it was long that I had not heard from you. I have wrote you several long Letters this Year, and suppose they got to hand at last, tho’ it seems by yours they have been long by the Way:...
39From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 29 August 1759 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This letter is the first document connected with the long trip the Franklins took to the north of England and to Scotland in the summer and early autumn of 1759. The honors paid Franklin and the new friends he made mark this journey as one of the high points of his first mission to Great Britain. Documentation is inadequate to provide precise dates for the...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 21 February 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Since I wrote you last, I have receiv’d yours of Nov. 7. and 29, Dec. 17. and Jan. 4. the last yesterday by Capt. Monck. I rejoice to hear you and Sally and Mother are well. I have lately been much indispos’d with an Epidemical Cold, that has lain greatly in my Head; but being just now cupp’d by Dr. Fothergill’s...
41From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 February 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Lemar doing me the Favour to call on me, and acquaint me with his going to Philadelphia, I write this Line to acquaint you that I am now quite well of my late Indisposition, which I mention’d in former Letters. By Capt. Bolitho I send you two Saucepans, plated inside with Silver instead of tinning. I bought them at Sheffield, because I thought they...
42From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 5 March 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d the Enclos’d some time since from Mr. Strahan. I afterwards spent an Evening in Conversation with him on the Subject. He was very urgent with me to stay in England and prevail with you to remove hither with Sally. He propos’d several advantageous Schemes to me which appear’d reasonably founded. His Family is a very agreable one; Mrs. Strahan a...
43From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 18 March 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosphical Society Being just told by Mr. Wickoff, that he goes tomorrow for Philadelphia, I write this Line here to let you know I am pretty well recover’d of a slight Illness I lately had, the same that affected me when I came down first from Gnadenhut, if you remember it, a Pain and Giddiness in my Head, I have been cupp’d, blooded, physick’d and at last blister’d for it;...
44From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [28 March 1760?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yesterday I receiv’d your [Letter] of Feb. 10. in which you mention that it was some Months since you heard from me. During my Journey I wrote several times to you, particularly from Liverpole and Glasgow; and since my Return some very long Letters that might have been with you before your last to me, but I suppose the severe Winter on your Coast, among...
45From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 June 1760 (Franklin Papers)
Duplicate: American Philosophical Society I wrote a Line to you by the Pacquet, to let you know we were well, and I promis’d to write you fully per Capt. Budden, and answer all your Letters, which I accordingly now set down to do. I am concern’d that so much Trouble should be given you by idle Reports concerning me. Be satisfied, my dear, that while I have my Senses, and God vouchsafes me his...
46From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 23 August 1760 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I receiv’d your Letters by Mr. Keene, and some others, which I shall answer fully by Capt. Faulkner, who sails in a few Days. By him I send the Eider Down Cover lid, and Bag for the Feet, which cost 12 Guineas; also the Camlet a second time for Sister Peter, to supply what was lost in Capt. House: with some other little things that I shall mention...
47From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 3 March 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have wrote to you and [to] my Friends per Capt. Hammet. [My] Letters are in a little Box directed for you. There are also in the Box two Books to be delivered to Mr. Coleman. Hearing that another Vessel is [to] sail about the Same time, I write [this] by her, just to let you know [that we] are well, and have wrote fully as above. My Love to all. I am,...
48From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 7 August 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you June 13. July 11. July 22. and July 24. I have now little to add, except to acquaint you that we continue pretty well, tho’ I begin to feel the want of my usual yearly Journeys. We shall therefore, having little to do at present, set out in a few Days for Harwich and possibly may take a Trip over to Holland, but purpose to be again in London,...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 September 1761 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you just before we left London, that we were about to make a short Tour to Holland. I wrote to you since from Antwerp in Flanders, and am now to acquaint you, that having seen almost all the principal Places and Things worthy Notice in those two Countries, we are now on our Return to London, where we hope to be next Saturday or Sunday, that we...
50From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [November? 1761] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragments only): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] Billy is now down at Bath. Inclos’d is a Letter I have just receiv’d from him inviting me there. But I must not at present leave London, as I daily expect Bills drawn on me by the Trustees. I shall be glad to receive from you, and hope it is on the Way, an Account of what is due on Mr. Spoffords Mortgage, as I have...
51From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 24 March 1762 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I condole with you most sincerely on the Death of our good Mother; being extreamly sensible of the Distress and Affliction it must have thrown you into. Your Comfort will be, that no Care was wanting on your Part towards her, and that she had lived as long as this Life could afford her any rational Enjoyment. ’Tis, I am sure, a Satisfaction to me, that I...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 24 February 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We din’d at Bristol, and got here last Night in good time; the River was hard and firm, and we got well over. Sir John Sinclair came to us and very obligingly offer’d his Chariot and four for the rest of the Journey. This Morning we set out for Brunswic. The Thing I wanted to mention to you, but forgot, was; that in the Hurry of our Arrival from Chester I...
53From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 16 June 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We left Woodbridge on Tuesday Morning and went to Eliz. Town, where I found our Children return’d from the Falls and very well: The Corporation were to have a Dinner that day at the Point for their Entertainment, and prevail’d on us to stay. There was all the principal People and a great many Ladies: after Dinner we set out and got here before dark. We...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 31 October 1763 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We arriv’d here safe [ torn ] this Morning about 11 aClock, [after a] very pleasant Journey, and without [the] least ill Accident. Thanks to God. We purpose to proceed homeward tomorrow, if the Weather, &c. is suitable. I have receiv’d here a Number of Letters from you for which I thank you. We must stay a Day at Woodbridge and then shall go forward so as...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 9 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This Line is just to let you know that we have this moment come to an Anchor here, and that I am going ashore at Portsmouth, and hope to be in London on Tuesday Morning. No Father could be tenderer to a Child, than Capt. Robinson has been to me, for which I am greatly oblig’d to Messrs. James and Drinker’s but we have had terrible Weather, and I have often...
56From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 December 1764 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have just heard that a Ship which left London before I arriv’d is still at Portsmouth and that a Letter may reach her. I can only write a Line or two, just to let you know that I am now almost well, tho’ for 10 or 12 Days I have been severely handled by a most violent Cold, that has worried me extreamly. Those of my old Friends who were in town, have...
57From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 9 February 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have been so hurried of late, that I could not write much by this Packet. One Letter to the Speaker, and one to you, is all I shall be able to make out. Thanks to God, I am got perfectly well, my Cough quite gone. My Arms, too, continue mending, so that I can now put on and off my Cloaths, but do not practice it yet, as it still hurts me a little. John...
58From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1765 (I) (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Enclos’d is a Letter from Mrs. Stevenson, and Bill of Lading for a Chest of Goods sent you. The Pamphlets in it are to be sent up to Billy. There are some Books for Cousin Cuthbert, not all he wanted, but the rest will be sent as soon as they can be got. I wrote to you per Packet on Saturday. Love to dear Sally and all Friends. In great Haste, Your...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 14 February 1765 (II) (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society By Capt. Robinson you will receive a Case Mrs. Stevenson has sent you, with the Blankets, Bed ticks, &c. you wrote for. No new China was to be had that would match the Cup and Saucer; but a Friend who has a Set at the same time with me, spar’d me the Remains of his, which are now sent. In the Case I return Mr. Thomas Wharton’s Woollen Gown, which he was so...
60From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 18 April 1765 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Quartering British troops in America was a problem which in 1755 had not been solved to the satisfaction of either the Army or the colonists. From the Army’s point of view the principal difficulty was the colonists’ contention that those sections of the British Mutiny Act that regulated quartering did not apply to them because they had never been specifically...