151From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [27 September 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract reprinted from [Jared Sparks, ed.,] A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 277–9. I have mentioned the Ilinois affair to Lord Shelburne. His Lordship had read your plan for establishing a colony there, recommended by Sir William Johnson, and said it appeared to him a reasonable scheme, but he found it did not...
152From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 27 September 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library Since my last of the 12th Instant, I have been told that one Williamson of Pensilvania who is here, reads Letters at the Coffeehouse, said to be from you to me, or from me to you, I know not which, nor have I been told the Import of them, so I cannot judge whether they may not be Forgeries. He is going over, and probably you may hear more of the Matter there than...
153From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 27 September 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Salem County Historical Society, Salem, N.J. I have before me your Favours of May 1. and July 12. and thank you for the Readiness with which you have supplied Mrs. Franklin from time to time. Here is a dead Calm of Politicks at present, the Publick being tired with the Invectives against Lord Chatham, and no fresh Game started for the political Beagles to hunt down; and probably none...
154From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 27 September 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I received your very kind Letter of May 20. which came here while I was absent in Germany. The favourable Sentiments you express of my Conduct with regard to the Repeal of the Stamp Act, give me real Pleasure; and I hope in every other matter of publick Concern, so to behave myself as to stand fair in the Opinions of the Wise and Good: What the rest think and say of...
155From Benjamin Franklin to Daniel Wister, 27 September 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : James W. Wister, Philadelphia (1955) I received your Favour of June the 7th. with the German Paper enclos’d. I am exceedingly oblig’d to my Friends for the constant Care they take of my Good Name in my Absence in defending it from the Slanders of my Enemies. Among the rest, I beg you would accept my thankful Acknowledgements for the generous Part you have always taken in that kind Work,...
156To Benjamin Franklin from William Heberden, [Before 29 September 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL : William Pepper, Philadelphia (1956) Dr. Heberden sends his compliments to Dr. Franklin and desires the favor of his company at dinner on monday next (Sept. 29th.) at half an hour past three. On Dr. Heberden, distinguished physician, for whose pamphlet on smallpox inoculation BF had written the preface, see above, VIII , 281. Since the invitation was for “monday next (Sept. 29th.),” it...
157From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [30 September 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in [Jared Sparks, ed.,] A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 279. I have just had a visit from General Lyman, and a good deal of conversation on the Ilinois scheme. He tells me, that Mr. Morgan, who is under-secretary of the Southern department, is much pleased with it; and we are to go...
158To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Kent, [c. September 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I Assure you I am not so mercinary as to expect the undeserv’d favour of A Line from you; but agreable to An old Observation, on which I much rely viz Non animam Mutant qui trans mare Currunt I shall make my self as free with you, as when you used to flatter me, with the kind appellation of, “Brother” Ben. And If these should Interrupt your grand Concerns...
159Remarks on the Plan for Regulating the Indian Trade, [September 1766-October 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Library of Congress During June 1764 the Board of Trade had spent considerable time and effort preparing a “Plan for the Future Management of Indian Affairs,” and on June 15 it ordered that copies be sent for comment to the superintendents of Indian affairs and the royal governors on the North American continent. On July 10 drafts of the Board’s explanatory letters to these officials...
160From Benjamin Franklin to Abbot Upcher, 4 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society Since my Return from abroad I have been inform’d of your good Purpose to purchase a land[ed?] Estate in America of the Value of One Thousand Pounds and to apply the Rents and Profits thereof to the Support of Schools for the Instruction of Negro Children. And I have been desired by the Associates to consider the Matter, and give my Opinion where, and in...
161To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Owen: Bill and Receipt, 8 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : American Philosophical Society Before Franklin sailed from Pennsylvania in November 1764 his son William probably asked him to assume the immediate responsibility for the care and education of William Temple Franklin, the small son of an unidentified mother William had left in England two years before. The two men seem to have agreed that Benjamin would charge to William’s account all...
162From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 11 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind little Letter of August 26. per Packet. Scarce any one else wrote to me by that Opportunity. I suppose they imagin’d I should not be return’d from Germany. You mention writing to me by a Son of Mr. Potts’s. A Ship is come from Philadelphia, Capt. Golley. But I have only one Letter in her, and that is from Mr. Hall, to whom my Respects....
163From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [11 October 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in [Jared Sparks, ed.,] A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), p. 279. I was again with Lord Shelburne a few days since, and said a good deal to him on the affair of the Ilinois settlement. He was pleased to say he really approved of it; but intimated that every new proposed expense for America...
164From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 11 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William L. Clements Library I received your Favour of Aug. 23. almost the only one I had by that Packet. It gives me great Pleasure to learn that our Friends keep up their Spirits, and that you have little doubt of the next Election. I have occasionally had several Conferences lately with our present Secretary of State, Lord Shelbourne, and some on the Affair of the Petitions. He was...
165To Benjamin Franklin from Giambatista Beccaria, 11 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Translation from draft (in Italian and Latin): American Philosophical Society Twelve days after receiving your most gracious letter I was overtaken by blind hemorrhoids, which have tormented me fiercely for three months and a half. Hence it is only now, as I begin to feel some relief from them, that I am able to thank both the Royal Society and you for the condescension you showed towards my...
166To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Franklin, 11 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have Received all the Letters You have been so good as to Send and am not Able to Express my Self with humble thanks to you for all these great favours I and My Daughter Receive from you Likewise humbly thank Mrs. Stevenson for all her E[x]terordinary Goodness to my Daughter. It is joyfull news to me to hear my Daughter is getting better I Bless God for...
167To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 11 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Notwithstanding you have not pleasured me with one Line now three Packets, yet will I not refrain writing till forbid; though I wish I could write more agreeable Matters than I generally do: As your Friends from Philada. doubtless inform you of political Matters, I have little to say to them: In my Letters of May and June last I informed you of my coming to...
168To Benjamin Franklin from Timothy Lane, 15 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: The Royal Society Being employed in some Electrical Enquiries about the beginning of the year 1762 it occured to me, that many Experiments on this Subject might be made with a much greater degree of precision if we could determine with any tolerable accuracy the comparative quantity of Electric Fluid, with which for any given Experiment, the Coated Phial is impregnated. An In[s]trument,...
169Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence to Richard Jackson and Benjamin Franklin, 18 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Province of Pennsylvania, Met at Philadelphia [October 14, 1766] (Philadelphia, 1767), pp. 8–9. You will perceive by the inclosed Resolves, that you are appointed joint Agents of this Province for the ensuing Year, to solicit and transact the Affairs thereof in Great-Britain, and that we are the Committee of...
170To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Potts, 22 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will receive by this post several Letters in my favour from Gentlemen of your Acquaintance in Philadelphia and by the first Vessels from Pennsylvania you will receive Letters, in favour of my Good friend and Relation Mr. Rush and myself from your Son the Govenour of the Jerseys (who has honoured me with a Letter to Sir Alex: Dick of Edinburgh) and also...
171To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Ronayne, 22 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society [ Illegible ] of last July I received your kind Letter bearing date of April 20th. together with your Book of Whirlwinds, Waterspouts, &c. which I should have acknowledg’d before now but that I was in daily Expectation of having opportunities for offering these Remarks. As to what you observe how any large body electrified may cause smaller ones to be...
172To Benjamin Franklin from Benjamin Rush, 22 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As I have the Happiness of being born in the Province where you have resided many years, I was anxious to come under your Patronage, as I well knew your great Love and Partiality to the Province of Pennsylvania would readily induce You to favour any One of its Natives even though unknown to You. With this view I have procured a few Letters from some of your...
173To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 25 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Notwithstanding, I have not yet had the Pleasure of one Line from you this great while, and I have nothing worthy Notice to write, yet I must continue to scribble a little. Whether you have received any of my Letters wrote since I have been in this City, I cannot say: but suppose you have them all, therefore to them must refer for many Things: Finding no...
174To Benjamin Franklin from Sir Alexander Dick, 28 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Your Letter of the 11th. gave me and all my Family the greatest pleasure it being so long since we heard from your self of your and your familys wellfare and particularly your Son the Governor. I return you and your Son my most hearty thanks for the very great friendship you have shown to me and my friend Mr. Swinton in taking so much effectual pains to be...
175To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 28 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It was with real Concern, we received the News of a Change of Ministry, as we conclude it will Retard, and, we fear will totally prevent the Change of Government, which we have made so noble a Struggle to obtain. Our Proprietary Enemies hesitate at Nothing that tends to discourage every further Application for Relief. The C.J. is continually publishing the...
176From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Templeman, 29 October 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Royal Society of Arts I received with the enclos’d Letter an improv’d Compass for the Surveying of Land, sent me by Mr. Aaron Miller of New-Jersey, with a Request that I would lay it before the Society of Arts, which I will do whenever call’d upon for that purpose; I am, with great Respect for the Society, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant Endorsed: Octor. 29, 1766 Mr. Aaron Miller...
177From Benjamin Franklin to [Daniel Burton], [October 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: American Philosophical Society At the Request of Mr. Spencer I take the Liberty of mentioning to you, that if the venerable Society shall think fit to appoint him to Spotswood in New Jersey, a new Mission which he tells me is under Consideration, I will recommend him to the Countenance and Protection of the Governor of that Province. My Friend the Revd. Mr. Sturgeon of Philadelphia...
178To Benjamin Franklin from [Joseph] Johnson, 4 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society J. Johnson’s compliments to Dr. Francklin and sends those MSS for his inspection by order of Dr. Priestley who will esteem himself much oblig’d to the Dr. for looking over them as soon as possible. Addressed: To Dr. Francklin Joseph Johnson (1738–1809), bookseller and printer and in his later years deemed “the father of the book trade,” was one of the...
179To Benjamin Franklin from Francois Willem de Monchy, 4 November 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With no small pleasure did I recive your kind letter of the 23 Oct. where for I am much oblig’d to you. I confess, that the care you have taken of my friends commission is very great, and that I do’nt know any think to recompence it. Being come home last week from England, I have spoken with my friend and shew’d him your letter, who like wise return’d his...
180From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, [8 November 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in [Jared Sparks, ed.,] A Collection of the Familiar Letters and Miscellaneous Papers of Benjamin Franklin (Boston, 1833), pp. 279–80. Mr. Jackson is now come to town. The ministry have asked his opinion and advice on your plan of a colony in the Ilinois, and he has just sent me to peruse his answer in writing, in which he warmly recommends it, and enforces...