1Robert Hunter Morris to Franklin and Hall, 19 March 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives , 1754–1755 (Philadelphia, 1755), p. 73. Governor Morris’ immediate response to the foregoing message was to demand that the printers eliminate Robinson’s letters from the printed House journals. He told the Council the next day why he had done it, pointing to the dangerous consequences of publishing in full letters from the...
2To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 12 March 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library This accompanies your Letters and Manuscript, which I have perused with very great Pleasure and Admiration. Please to accept my grateful Acknowledgments for them. Must ask your Pardon for not Returning them sooner — but as sundry Gentlemen here were desirous to read them, I hoped your Benevolence and Love of Communicating ingenious Discoveries to Mankind, would...
3To Benjamin Franklin from Michel-Alain Chartier de Lotbinière, 10 March 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society J’etois a paris en 1752 lorsque Les experiences sur lelectricité que vous aviez communiqué a Mr. Collinson parurent traduite en nôtre langue. Je fus temoin De l’admiration qu’elles causerent dans cette Capitale. Je suivois pour lors un Cours de phisique chez Mr. L’abbé Nollet qui nous en repeta plusieures bien singulieres; comme il n’est point douteux que vos...
4To Benjamin Franklin from William Clarke, 3 February 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Massachusetts Historical Society When you was in Boston I thought you a wise man; that you had some knowledge of humane Nature and Politicks, as well as of natural Philosophy; but if you have no greater pretensions to the latter, than you have to the former, I am afraid lest you be obliged to give up all claim to either; for it has been proved by some of our own wise men and Boys, (for...
5To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 27 January 1755 (Franklin Papers)
Transcript: Harvard College Library (Sparks) Your collection of philosophical papers I have perused with a great deal of pleasure. I take notice that several letters of mine to you make a part of it, which gave me an additional pleasure, as it places me in some respect in a situation I should always be glad personally to be in, near my friend Franklin. There are several things in the...
6To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 17 January 1755 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from A Select Collection of Letters of the late Reverend George Whitefield, M.A. (London, 1772), III , 114–15. I hope that this will find you safely arrived at Philadelphia, from your northward expedition, and ready to come further southwards. This leaves me in my last Virginia stage, near the borders of North-Carolina. People as I came along have been very willing to...
7To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Kemble, 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Begg the favour you’d forward the Incloseds, in which you’ll much oblige Sir your most humble Servant Addressed: To Benjamen Franklin Esqr: In Philadelphia Peter Kemble (1704–1789), New Jersey landowner and councilor, lived at New Brunswick, where he was a member of the town council, 1747. His daughter Margaret married Thomas Gage. William H. Benedict,...
8To Benjamin Franklin from ———, 1754 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society This letter, undated, unsigned, and in an unidentified hand, survives among Franklin’s papers. Internal evidence indicates that it was written by someone in the colonies and at about the middle of the eighteenth century. Because the problem of colonial union was being so actively discussed in 1754, it is tentatively assigned to that year. According to your...
9To Benjamin Franklin from William Daniell, 16 November 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Receiv’d 10 Rm. of Paper for which I am Greatly Oblig’d to you for as it Came very Opportunitely. I Beg you will be Kind Enough to Send per first Oppertunity 50 Rm. More of the Like kind as Also (in persuance to my former Letters) a Sheet of Each Sort You Make, I beg Leave to Remind You once More of Sending Me the Rest of my Order as I am Realy much in...
10To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Turner, 7 September 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania At the Request of Col. Charles Carter I send you our Governors proroguing Speech. He and I came home last night late from the Assembly and having this Opportunity he was unwilling to lose it. By the Speech it must appear to those who are unacquainted with our unhappy Difference, that We have refused to do any Thing for our Country in this Time of...
11To Benjamin Franklin from John Franklin, 2 September 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This may serve to Lett you Know that I expected to hear Complaints from Philadelphia of hot wether since we had hear about the Time of your Date about 10 Days of your ordinary sumer wether i.e. hot and moist which occasiond abundence of Complaints Like the Important subject of your Last. Haveing some faith in Blanchards Remedea for the stone I had about a...
12To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Melchior Muhlenberg, 3 August 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Abstract: MS minutes of the German Charitable School Society: Historical Society of Pennsylvania That he rejoiced much in hearing an illustrious Society at home had undertaken to sollicit a Charity and carry on a Scheme for promoting the Knowlege of God among the Germans in Pennsylvania &c. and for making them loyal Subjects to the sacred Protestant Throne of Great Britain; and that he was...
13William Daniell to Franklin and Hall, 29 June 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my Last to you I received your Favour advising of not receiving my paper which I assure Is not oweing to any Neglect as I Never Fail Sending them and am very Sorry they do not Come to your hands, for the Future shall Give more particular directions to the Captain that Carries them, I am Gentlemen Your most Humble Servant Addressed: To Messrs....
14Sarah Sober to Richard Peters and Benjamin Franklin: Trust Agreement, 25 June 1754 (Franklin Papers)
DS : Franklin Institute; transcript: Department of Records, Recorder of Deeds, City of Philadelphia June 25, 1754 Abstract: An indenture by Sarah Sober of Philadelphia, widow (called in this abstract the settlor) and Richard Peters and Benjamin Franklin (called the trustees). Whereas the settlor has assigned to the trustees two bonds, one dated Aug. 17, 1753, from Stephen Shewell and Hannah...
15To Benjamin Franklin from William Daniell, 23 June 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society In my Last of the 12th Ultimo I made proposal for Dealing with you for paper which if Convenient should be glad you would be as Expeditious as possible in Sending me the 50 Rms. of Demy Paper I wrote for as also a Sheet of Each sort of writing or printing paper you make with the prices per Rm. wrote on Each sheet as I am taking some things in hand for the...
16To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 20 June 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society; also transcript: Library of Congress I inclose the papers which I received from Mr. Alexander to be conveyed to you by the first opportunity to Albany. You will find that I make remarks with that freedom which I believe you expect from me that in case you find any weight in any of them you may make your scheme more perfect by avoiding reasonable exceptions...
17To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Timothy, 14 June 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Favour of the 23th of April, by Capt. Robeson, has been received. Perhaps if you had been by when I read it, you would have pitied me; for my Concern was great, and very visible. I own you had some Reason to be so severe: But had you been in my Place, you might have acted as I did; Robeson came here under the Character of a professed Gamester; and...
18To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Shippen, 24 May 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society The inclosed came to hand just now, which I send to you, to let you see the Spirit of some of our back Setlers. If the Managers of the Lottery for the Battery should think Proper to encourage those People, they may be pleased to send fifty small Arms to Captain John Harris, who ought to engage himself to see them forthcoming. I am out of all...
19To Benjamin Franklin from William Clarke, 6 May 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I received your Favours, by the two last Posts; for both of which I am very much obliged to you; the former I should have acknowledged, by the return of the Post; but was obliged to be out of Town. I now return you the Papers, with my hearty thanks for the trouble you have taken. I fully agree to your observation in your last, that although several of the...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 26 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Massachusetts Historical Society As you are not only a lover of Learning but without a Compliment an Ornoment to it in the Age wherein you live you will forgive the freedom I take in Recommending to your Favour and Friendship Mr. John and Samuel Winthrop two worthy young Gentlemen making a Journey this Way partly for their Health as also to see this Country. The elder is...
21To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 2 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society I should have acknowleged your favour of the 1st of January sooner if you had not at the same time told me that you was to be from home for some time after the writing of it and I had my thoughts engaged in a chain of thinking that I was unwilling to interrupt as that season was the only time of the year in which I could hope to pursue it without...
22To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 2 April 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: New-York Historical Society Any knowlege I have of the winds and other Changes which happen in the atmosphere is so very defective that it does not deserve the name. Neither have I receiv’d any Satisfaction from the attempts of others on this subject. It deserves then your thoughts as a subject in which you may distinguish your self and be usefull. Your notion of some things conducting...
23To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas-François Dalibard, 31 March 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Je Reçus, Monsieur et très cher ami, le 15. Janvier dernier votre très obligeante lettre du 28. 8bre.1753. et je n’y répondis pas sur le champ, parceque je jugeai à propos d’attendre ce que vous deviéz m’envoyer par le prochain vaisseau que vous me marquiéz devoir partir 8. ou 10. jours après; j’ai toujours attendu jusqu’à présent sans avoir reçu autre...
24To Benjamin Franklin from William Clarke, 18 March 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society The enclosed Account I had some time ago from a Gentleman in this Town as the substance of what he had collected from conversing with Mr. Pattin, when he was last here, but as it was only from recollecting what had passed between them Months before, some Articles may be wrong; and as I should be glad of a particular information of several other things not...
25To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Jackson, 17 March 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and AD : American Philosophical Society I would fain merit a Correspondence, I have so much Pleasure in, and have therefore ventured to digest and commit to paper the Thoughts I have before mentioned to you, on the Subject of a Medium of Commerce, including a Plan of a Provincial Bank, which if any way Eligible, you will be able to adapt to the Circumstances of the Province of...
26Samuel Chandler to James Hamilton, William Allen, Richard Peters, Benjamin Franklin, Conrad Weiser, and William Smith … (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Horace W. Smith, Life and Correspondence of the Rev. William Smith, D.D. (Philadelphia, 1880), I , 40–2. William Smith delivered this letter to Governor Hamilton a few days after he returned from England on May 22. Hamilton communicated it at once to the others named in it. Franklin, Peters, and Weiser were about to set out to Albany, so no meeting could be held...
27To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 7 March 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your favours of the 16 and 7th and 29 came not to My Hands untill the First of March and the Philosophical pacquet you Mention intended for my Winters amusement is not yett Come to hand. But indeed a Large pacquet came by Capn. Mitchell and that unworthy Man (tho in particular Directed to the Contrary) putt it into the Post Office and I was Charged Thirty...
28William Smith to Richard Peters and Benjamin Franklin, [February 1754] (Franklin Papers)
Letter: ALS : American Philosophical Society; enclosure: draft: American Philosophical Society The attitudes and behavior of the Germans of Pennsylvania toward politics, defense, and war had concerned Franklin as far back as 1747, when he flattered them in Plain Truth , hoping to win their support for the Association (see above, III , 203). He did not succeed in detaching them from the...
29To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 13 February 1754 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The want of an opportunity is the only reason why I have not before this acknowleged your favor of the 6th of Decr. and the same cause prevented my having the pleasure of yours of the 1st of last month till a few days since that my son Alexander brought it with him. I am exceedingly pleased with the friendly complement you make me in that of Decr. 6th for...
30To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Shippen, 8 February 1754 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society After paying yourself for the Postage of the Inclosed Letter to Boston please to send the remainder of the Piece of 8/8 in a few [of] your best Quills (I mean English) by our Post. Some time ago I sent a six shilling bill to Doctor Shippen for some and he sent me feathers which he Sayd he had from Mr. Halls. If you can send me a few good ones you...