31“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...
32To 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...
33Privy 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...
34To 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...
35Examination 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...
36“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...
37To 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...
38Amelia 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...
39From 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...
40To 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...
41From 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...
42From 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...
43To 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,...
44From 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...
45To 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...
46From 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...
47From 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...
48From Benjamin Franklin to [Hugh Roberts], 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I receiv’d your kind Letter of Nov. 27. You cannot conceive how much Good the cordial Salutations of an old Friend do the Heart of a Man so far from home, and hearing frequently of the Abuses thrown on him in his Absence by the Enemies that Party has rais’d against him. In the meantime I hope I have done even those Enemies some Service in our late...
49From Benjamin Franklin to Charles Thomson, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I forget whether I before acknowledg’d the Receipt of your kind Letter of Sept. 24. I gave an Extract of it to a Friend, with an Extract of mine to which it was an Answer; and he printed both in the London Chronicle, with an Introduction of his own: and I have reprinted everything from America that I thought might help our common Cause. We at length, after a long and...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 27 February 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I wrote to you by the Packet, inclosing a Copy of the Extract of a Letter from Thomas Penn Esqr. to his Nephew the Governor, which is inclosed in this Letter. This Account of the Petitions for a Change of this Government from Proprietary to Royal, has struck our Friends with the utmost Consternation. And indeed I am not a little alarmed at the Consequences....
51“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...
52From 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...
53To 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...
54From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Fox, 1 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : William Logan Fox, Philadelphia (1956) I wrote to you of the 22d past, via Maryland. Inclos’d I send a Copy of the late Votes on the Affair of the American Stamp-Act. The Repeal is now in a fair way of being compleated, on which I congratulate you and the Assembly. I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant, P.S. An Act will pass at the same time with the Repeal of the Stamp Act,...
55From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 1 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I acknowledge the Receipt of your kind Letters of Nov. 12. and Dec. 20. the latter per Mr. Williams. I condole with you on the Death of your Husband, who was I believe a truly affectionate one to you, and fully sensible of your Merit. It is not true that I have bought any Estate here. I have indeed had some thoughts of re-purchasing the little one in...
56To Benjamin Franklin from Philip Syng, 1 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received yours of the 26th of September last, with your very agreeable Present Doctor Lewis’s new Work. You judged very right that I should find in it entertaining Particulars in my Way— the Management of Gold and Silver is treated of in it better and more particularly than I have met with in any Author. The regard you have always shewn me requires my...
57To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 2 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society About a week since, I wrote thee a few Lines per Capt. Robinson via Lisbon; which Letter was principally to enclose thee an Extract of a Letter wrote by T. Penn to his Governor, respecting the assurances he had obtained that, there would be no change of Government: This account filled the minds of our Friends with great concern, as we thereby—(if it be...
58To Benjamin Franklin from David Hall, 3 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: American Philosophical Society I was in hopes of a Letter from you by the Packet, but disappointed, was glad however to know from those that had, that you was well. Inclosed have sent you a Copy of the Accounts settled by Mr. Parker with me on your Account, which I hope will be Satisfactory, as, to the best of my Knowledge I think they are right; tho’, as I suppose he told...
59To Benjamin Franklin from John Free, 4 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society The Books inclosed in these Parcels, to wit; Dr. Free’s Controversy with the Methodists His Petition to the King, His Petition to the H. of Commons, against the two Archbishops, His Speech at Oxford; and Voluntary Exile a Poem, are a Present from the Author, who lives at Newington Butts near Southwark To an old Subscriber of his Mr. Richard Dunscomb of new...
60To Benjamin Franklin from Amelia Evans, 6 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I write to beg ten thousand pardons for not having waited on you before I left town but having been excessively hurried with the necessary preparations for our embarkation I deferred seeing most of my friends till I found I was not mistress of a moment. But I hope you will pardon me Sir and allow me to intreat yours and Mrs. Stevensons wishes for success to...
61To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 7 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library This waits upon you by Dr. Grant, with whom I have had the pleasure of an acquaintance during his Residence in Newport the winter past. He was educated at Aberdeen and received the Finishings in Medical Literature at Edinburgh and Paris. Your Reputation in the learned World excites a Curiosity in Gentlemen of Taste and Erudition to be known especially to one of...
62To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Stevenson, 9 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society You will give us great pleasure if you will favour us with your company to day, our dinner shall be ready at any hour you will appoint, four o’clock will be as convenient to us as any other time; say you will come and you make us happy. My mother gave us hope that you might come to day, and thought it was the only one you could. I will flatter myself that I...
63From Benjamin Franklin to Matthew Boulton, 19 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Assay Office, Birmingham You will I trust excuse my so long omitting to answer your kind Letter per Mr. Garbet, when you consider the excessive Hurry and Anxiety I have been engag’d in with our American Affairs. I thank you for introducing me to the Acquaintance of that very sensible worthy Man, tho’ I could have but for a short Hour the Pleasure of his Company. I know not which of the...
64To Benjamin Franklin from Sarah Franklin, 23 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Our dear Friend Mrs. Smyth after an illness of 5 months and 6 days Expired Yesterday morning. In the whole time she had not been out of bed a quarter of an hour at a time, so thankfull she was for any thing her friends did for her and patient to a Miracle. Poor Mrs. Dufield and poor Mama are in great distress, it must be hard to lose a Friend of 50 Years...
65To Benjamin Franklin from [Joseph Priestley], 25 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (mutilated): American Philosophical Society I have received your letter, containing some remarks on my experiments, and a printed paper for the transactions which has given me very great satisfaction, and for which I think myself much obliged to you. I shall think myself very happy if the accounts you are pleased to permit me to send you of my imperfect experiments do but revive your...
66To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Hutchinson, 26 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; letterbook copy: Massachusetts Archives, Office of the Secretary of State My son being bound to London I give him a letter to you that he may have a better Pretence for waiting on you and Paying his own as well as my respects to you. I expected to have gone my self some of my friends advising to it; others thought it best for me to remain here and that I...
67To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 27 March 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My last to you was from Burlington, with the Accounts from whence I was soon after Summoned here on the Occasion of my Son’s being, as was then thought, at the Point of Death: It pleased God however to spare him a little longer, and tho’ he is not yet well Yet he is Stirring about, and has some hidden Disorder lurking in his Bowels, which we cannot...
68Heads of a Bill to Authorize Paper Currency, [31 March–5 April 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; facsimile of ad: Parke-Bernet Galleries, Catalogue 223, The John Gribbel Sale, October 31, 1940, no. 252; photostat: American Philosophical Society Franklin’s belief that a viable system of paper currency was essential to the colonial economy goes back to 1729, when he published a pamphlet he called A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper-Currency . His most...
69Marginalia in Protests of the Lords against Repeal of the Stamp Act, [March 1766] (Franklin Papers)
I. ms notations in the margins of a copy of Protest against the Bill To repeal the American Stamp Act, of Last Session . A Paris, Chez J. W. Imprimeur, Rue du Colombier Fauxbourg St. Germain, à l’Hotel de Saxe. 1766, in the collections of the New York Public Library. II. ms notations in the margins of a copy of Second Protest, with a List of Voters against the Bill to Repeal the American Stamp...
70From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society As the Stamp Act is at length repeal’d, I am willing you should have a new Gown, which you may suppose I did not send sooner, as I knew you would not like to be finer than your Neighbours, unless in a Gown of your own Spinning. Had the Trade between the two Countries totally ceas’d, it was a Comfort to me to recollect that I had once been cloth’d from Head...
71To Benjamin Franklin from Ezra Stiles, 10 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
Letterbook copy: Yale University Library I should not so soon have troubled you with another Letter, before I had known your receipt of my former ones, but to oblige my Friend Capt. Fred Hamilton. Mr. Swift Attorney at Law in Bo[ston] by a Letter to Capt. Hamilton last Winter, informed him that a Gentleman in London had, in the Name and at the desire of the “Lady of the Earl of Peterborough...
72From Benjamin Franklin to the Pennsylvania Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 12 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : The Rosenbach Foundation I received your Letters of Jan. 13. and 20. and communicated them to Mr. Jackson. The Petition, praying a Repeal of the Act of Parliament prohibiting the Paper Money of the Colonies being a lawful Tender, was immediately presented according to your Directions, and referred to a Committee. We have for a long time been extreamly busy with our general American...
73Petition to the House of Commons, [12–15 April 1766] (Franklin Papers)
Draft: Library of Congress At the request of members the House of Commons ordered to be read aloud on Friday, April 11, 1766, part of an act that provided for the transportation of felons from England to the American colonies. Thereupon the House granted leave to bring in a bill extending to Scotland the system of transporting felons to America. Within a few days Franklin had drawn up a...
74From Benjamin Franklin to [Joseph Galloway], 12 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; extract printed in Pennsylvania Gazette , June 19, 1766 Our Friends here are in Pain, lest the Condescension of Parliament, in repealing the Stamp-Act, will encourage the Americans to farther Excesses; and our Enemies, who have predicted it, hope to see their Prophecies fulfilled, that they may disgrace the present Ministry; but I hope we shall behave prudently, and disappoint...
75To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Priestley, 13 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I this day received your favour of the 10th instant, and the day before yesterday another letter, with several parcels of books, containing all that are mentioned in your letters. At the same time I received a parcel from Dr. Watson, containing, among others, the same history of electricity which you have sent me. I shall immediately apply myself to the...
76To Benjamin Franklin from George Read, 14 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from William T. Read, Life and Correspondence of George Read (Philadelphia, 1870), p. 23. From your known goodness, and the knowledge you have of me and my family, I have presumed to beg the favor of you to apply to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury on my behalf, for the appointment of Collector of the Port of New Castle, made vacant by the death of Mr. William...
77From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Ronayne, 20 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from William Temple Franklin, ed., Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin, LL.D. F.R.S. &c. (Quarto edition, London, 1817–18), iii, 364–6. I received your very obliging and ingenious letter by Captain Kearney. Your observations on the Electricity of Fogs, and of the air in Ireland, and of the several circumstances attending a thunder-storm, are very...
78To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Wharton, 26 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I had the pleasure of writing thee, on the 25th. Ulto, since when We have not had the satisfaction of receiving any of thy Favours. Various have been the Reports spread through the Continent, respecting the Repeal of the Stamp-Act; and as often as they arrived sometimes in favour and other times against Us, we were acted upon, by our Fears, and different...
79From Benjamin Franklin to Jonathan Williams, 28 April 1766 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I have received several of your kind Favours since my Arrival in England, the last by your good Brother, the Subject not in the least disagreable as you apprehend, but in Truth it has not been at all in my Power to do what you desir’d; if for no other Reasons, yet for this, that there has been no Vacancy. I congratulate you on the Repeal of that Mother of...
80To Benjamin Franklin from James Johnson, [28 April 1766] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from George Everett Hastings, The Life and Works of Francis Hopkinson (Chicago, [1926]), p. 122. The Bishop of Worcester presents his Respects to Dr. Franklin and begs the favour of Him to let the Inclos’d to Mr. Hopkinson go in his Packet when He has an opportunity of sending to Philadelphia. For James Johnson, Bishop of Worcester, whose kinship to the Hopkinson family...