31“Pacificus”: Pax Quaeritur Bello, 23 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted by Verner W. Crane, ed., Benjamin Franklin’s Letters to the Press 1758–1775 (Chapel Hill, [1950]), pp. 54–7, from The Public Advertiser , January 26, 1766. While there is no certainty that Franklin wrote this piece, the probability is strong, as Verner W. Crane has pointed out in Letters to the Press , pp. 54–5. The satirical vein is characteristic of a good deal of Franklin’s...
32To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Chew, 24 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since I wrote to you last this Colony has Rather increased in the Confusion and distraction of the times then otherways. Meetings have been Called by the Populace &c. where the most Ext[raordina]ry Votes have Passed and our friend Ingersoll has been more then humbled. He has been so intimidated as to give up his Letters publick and Private —almost Every...
33James Parker: Valuation of the Printing Office, 27 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Columbia University Library The partnership agreement between Franklin and Hall provided that at its termination Hall should “have the Preference of purchasing the said Printing-Presses, Types and Materials (if he shall be so disposed . . .) at their present Value, allowing for the Wear thereof what shall be judged a reasonable Abatement, considering the Time they shall have been used”...
34“N.N.”: Reply to Vindex Patriae on American Representation in Parliament, 29 January 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , January 29, 1766 This letter was not reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle among those attributed to Franklin, but the signature “N.N.” is the same as that he had used in two earlier replies to “Vindex Patriae” on political and legal aspects of their controversy the authorship of which appears well established. The style is...
35Observations on Mr. Parker’s State of the Account, [undated] (Franklin Papers)
AD : Haverford College Library This undated document is placed here for convenience because it relates so closely to Parker’s final report on the accounts between Franklin and Hall, Feb. 1, 1766 (above, pp. 87–99), and his letter of February 3 about that report (immediately above). Franklin could hardly have received the report and letter before the middle of March 1766, but they had reached...
36“F.B.”: The Frenchman and the Poker, [February–March 1766] (Franklin Papers)
First printing not located; reprinted in The Pennsylvania Chronicle, And Universal Advertiser , March 16–23, 1767. This is the second of two letters Goddard reprinted in the Pennsylvania Chronicle , March 16–23, 1767, the authorship of which he attributed to Franklin. In a letter to his sister, Jane Mecom, many years later, Franklin acknowledged that he had “told” the story. Goddard gave no...
37From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, [February–March 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society There is a brown Paper Packet for you directed but contains chiefly a Letter and Parcel of News papers for Billy, which pray send to him directly. I mean the Newspapers. You need not indeed open the Pacquet, if it were not to take out a Letter or two for Neighbour Sumain, and the Beans. But pray send him up the Papers directly before they are...
38To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, [February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS (fragment): American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] myself so much as to think I am able to [carry to completion] this large plan. I only propose to do it [if I can leave] it to you and my other friends in Lon[don readily to sup]ply my deficiencies. In the mean time I should be glad to have your sentiment of it. [Asking your pardon for] trespassing so long upon your patience...
39To Benjamin Franklin from William Dunlap, 1 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society It is now upwards of a Twelve month since I sail’d from Philadelphia for Barbados, in order to inspect into the State of my Affairs there, and if possible procure some Kind of Subsistance on the Spot that might Support my Family: When I arriv’d, I found my little Interest on the Island badly regulated, and the Partnership Accounts in worse Order; the...
40James Parker: Final Report on the Franklin and Hall Accounts, 1 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ADS : Haverford College Library (2 copies), Historical Society of Pennsylvania (1 copy) According to the agreement between Franklin and David Hall, Jan. 1, 1748 (above, III , 263–7), their printing partnership was to commence on Jan. 21, 1748 (new style), and continue for eighteen years. The agreement provided that Franklin was to furnish the presses, type, and other printing equipment; Hall...
41[William Hall]: Account of Benjamin Franklin with the Estate of David Hall, [1 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AD : American Philosophical Society After the partnership of Franklin and Hall had come to an end and James Parker had completed his examination of the books, as reported in the document immediately above, David Hall opened an account of his financial relations with his former partner. From time to time he sent Franklin a statement of the transactions shown in his records, but neither man...
42To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 3 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (first and longer version): Columbia University Library; ALS (second and shorter version): New York Public Library After completing his examination of the Franklin and Hall accounts and drawing up a report, James Parker wrote this letter to accompany one copy of the report he planned to send to Franklin by the New York packet. He then copied the first long paragraph that deals with the...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, [5–8 February? 1766] (Franklin Papers)
AL (incomplete) : American Philosophical Society [ First part missing ] as I am a lone [ torn ] down to Chat a littel with you all thow I have not aney thing extray[ordinary to say. I] have had Parker hear for 3 weeks under a viloant fitt of the Goute in [the limbs] and the Stumack he ses his harte I say it was the stamp ackte or the illnes of his Son but be it as it will he is better and went...
44“A Lover of Britain”: Preface to Three Letters to William Shirley, [8 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , February 6–8, 1766. In the issue of Feb. 6–8, 1766, the London Chronicle printed three letters Franklin had written to Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts twelve years earlier, together with an introductory letter that Verner W. Crane has identified as being also written by Franklin. His letters to Shirley, Dec. 3, 4, 22, 1754, have been printed earlier...
45To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Crowley, 8 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Subsequent to our Conversation at or near the House of Commons, I was informd by one of the Committee that he had been informd that I was the author of the Paragraph inserted in the Gazetteer 1 feb: alledging that “by a Calculation of an Eminent American Merchant it appears that the whole Taxes in all the American Provinces, do not amount, upon an Average...
46Privy Council: Referral of Franklin’s Application for a Land Grant, 10 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS Minutes: Public Record Office Franklin’s interest in Nova Scotia lands has been examined in the preceding volume, where documents were printed showing that, as a member of two land speculating syndicates headed by Alexander McNutt, he acquired in 1765 claims to thousands of acres in what is now the province of New Brunswick. See above, XII , 345–50. The petition summarized here differs from...
47To Benjamin Franklin from Springett Penn, 12 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received Mr. Penningtons Letter you was so Kind to forward. I wrote to you a long time since to desire the favour of you to ask Mr. Life for somuch Money (as he had some of my Mothers in his Hands) as would purchase a Lottery Tickett since which have not had the favour of a Line from you. My Mother and myself join in Respects and good Wishes to you and...
48Examination before the Committee of the Whole of the House of Commons, 13 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Text of the Examination printed in The Examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, before an August Assembly, relating to the Repeal of the Stamp Act, &c. [Philadelphia, Hall and Sellers, 1766]; Franklin’s Notes, ad: Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Nathaniel Ryder’s Notes, transcription of shorthand ms : Harrowby Manuscript Trust, The Earl of Harrowby, Sandon Hall, Stafford. During the...
49“Pacificus”: On Chastising the Colonies, [13 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , February 11–13, 1766. The authorship of this piece has not been established with any certainty, and the editors can offer little evidence that Franklin wrote it. He often used anecdotes to support or illustrate his ideas, but he was by no means the only writer of the time to employ such a device. The London Chronicle , with which his friend William Strahan was...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Amelia Evans, [18 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This morning I have had my difinitive answer from the family I am in, and am to go with them. The Ship in which they are to sail is now ready at Portsmouth and they only wait for the Consuls Credential letters which are hourly expected. The reason therfore Sir for my troubling you in this manner is to beg you will endeavour to have some estimation put on...
51Amelia Evans: Receipt, 19 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
DS : American Philosophical Society Receiv’d Feb. 19. 1766 of Benja. Franklin Five Guineas for the Plate of the American Map made by my Father Lewis Evans and the Right to the Copy of the Book wrote by him to explain that Map. Endorsed: No 73 Amelia Evans £11. 11. 0 Note, Herein is an Order on Mrs Strettell for £6. 6 s. 0 d . Sent to Mrs Franklin Jan. 26. 1771 The entire document except the...
52From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 22 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library I am excessively hurried, being every Hour that I am awake either abroad to speak with Members of Parliament or taken up with People coming to me at home, concerning our American Affairs, so that I am much behind-hand in answering my Friends Letters. But tho’ I cannot by this Opportunity write to others, I must not omit a Line to you who kindly write me so many. I...
53To Benjamin Franklin from Matthew Boulton, [22 February 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Assay Office, Birmingham The addition you have made to my happiness in being the cause of my acquaintance with the amiable and ingenious Dr. Small deserves more than thanks and theretofore I take this opportunity, of making my acknowledgements to you in the Same Sort of Coin by introducing to you, my Good friend Mr. Samuel Garbett, who is an admirer of Mr. Francklin in particular, a...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Fox, 24 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Princeton University Library I have now the Pleasure of informing you, that on Friday last, in a Committee of the whole House, Mr. Secretary Conway mov’d that it should be recommended to the House to give leave to bring in a Bill for repealing the American Stamp Act, which Motion was seconded by Mr. Cooper: But an Amendment to the Motion being propos’d by the late Ministry, viz. instead...
55From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 24 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Salem County Historical Society, Salem, N.J. The House of Commons after a long Debate, which lasted from Friday 3 aClock to 2 the next Morning, came to a Resolution to repeal the Stamp Act, 275 to 167, the Minority being for explaining and amending . The Party of the late Ministry will give the Bill all the Obstruction and Delay possible, but there is reason now to believe it will pass...
56To Benjamin Franklin from George Croghan, 25 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Public Record Office; copy: Historical Society of Pennsylvania I did myself the Honour of writing to you, on the 12th. of December and inclosed you, a Copy of my Journal and Transactions, with the several Western Nations of Indians, that I met with, in my Tour to and from the Ilinois Country; Since which I have had the Pleasure of hearing, that his Majesty’s Troops have obtained,...
57From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 26 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Maryland Historical Society I wrote to you on the 22d Instant, via Maryland. I now congratulate you again on the Prospect of having the Stamp Act repeal’d. The Grand Committee reported on Monday. Mr. Conway mov’d that Leave should be given to bring in a Bill for repealing the American Stamp Act. The Motion being seconded and agreed to, one of the late Ministry mov’d, that a Clause should...
58To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 26 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Yale University Library Permit me to request that you would perfect the inclosed List. It is some Satisfaction to know the company into which one is associated. It would oblige me if Mr. Strahan would furnish a List of the Divines in Scotland now living and dignified with a Doctorate, I am told they are not numerous. Among the Ten Thousand Clergy of the Church of England are there 2 or...
59From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote you a few days ago by Mr. Penrose via Mary land, when I wrote also to the Speaker, to Mr. Galloway, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Hall. I have now as little time as then to enlarge, having wrote besides to day so much that I am almost blind. But by the March Packet shall fully answer your late Letters. Let the Vaults alone till my Return: As you have a Wood...
60From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Penington, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received yours of Nov. 14. with that enclos’d for Mr. Sp[ringett] Penn, which I immediately forwarded to him. He continues in Ireland I know not why. I hear from him sometimes, but to little purpose. I think it not unlikely he may suffer him self to be finally impos’d on by his Uncle in the Affair of Pensbury, but shall endeavour to stir him up...