31To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 23 February 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Some Time ago, I wrote requesting you to send me a Fount of Pica and one of Long-Primer. If this be not too late I would counter order the Pica only for this Reason: The Low Dutch Congregation here, are about having part of their Time of Worship to be English, and so got the Psalms turn’d into Verse in English to suit their Dutch Tunes: for which purpose,...
32From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Kames, 25 February 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (marked “Copy” and dated Feb. 25, 1767); LS (dated April 11, 1767): both Scottish Record Office This letter appears in two forms and offers a puzzle that the editors are unable wholly to solve. One manuscript, dated Feb. 25, 1767, and marked at the top “Copy,” is entirely in Franklin’s hand except for two of its three endorsements on the final page. The other manuscript, dated April 11,...
33To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Pownall, [February 1767–May 1767] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Library of Congress I come to Town on tuesday if you are not Engaged in the Ev’ning I will call upon you about seven if you are Engaged or whether you arez not, be so good to give me a Line by the Penny post to my House in Portugal Street. I find some People are Determined to decide that NA is in Rebellion, and to come to an open rupture. Your Obligd and Obedient Addressed: To / Benj...
34From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 2 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library I received your kind Letter of Nov. 8. for which I thank you. It rejoices me to hear that you and your Children continue well. I thank God that I too enjoy a greater Share of Health, Strength and Activity than is common with People of my Years, being now Threescore and one. You mention my Opinion of this being a good sort of World, in which you differ from...
35To Benjamin Franklin from John Pownall, 4 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Pownall presents his respectfull Compliments to Dr. Franklyn and shall be greatly obliged to him if he can give him any Information as to the person and [ illegible ] mentioned below. One -- Dimsdale died in the Province of Pensylvania in 1764 or 1765. possessed of a Plantation there, which he left by will in general Terms to his relations in the North...
36To Benjamin Franklin from Mr. and Mrs. John Sargent, 6 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. and Mrs. Sargent present Their Compliments to Dr. Franklin, and will be glad of the Favour of his Company, if He will take a Family Dinner with Them on Sunday next. at half past Three . Addressed: To Dr. Franklin / Mrs. Stephenson’s / Craven Street / Strand John Sargent was a director of the Bank of England and at this time an M.P. for West Looe; BF had...
37To Benjamin Franklin from R[obert] A[lexander], 8 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I send my [ sic ] by the Bearer the Portfolio containing my Papers the Key to which you will find here inclosed, I shall send for them back betwixt twelve and one in order to convey them to our other Friend who is so kind as to keep himself disengaged thorough [ sic ] the day in order to give them a serious Perusal. There is a Letter I received from my...
38From Benjamin Franklin to [Robert] Willock, [9 March 1767] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from Maggs Bros., Catalogue No. 215 (November 1905), p. 17; and Goodspeed’s Book Shop, The Flying Quill. Autographs at Goodspeed’s , New Series, August, 1962, p. 8. Dr. Franklin presents his compliments to Mr. Willock, and requests he would forward the enclos’d with his respects to Dr. Lewis. Dr. F. has just received it from Germany. Robert Willock, bookseller, whose...
39Remarks and Facts Relative to the American Paper Money, 11 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AD (first two MS pages missing): American Philosophical Society; printed in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , May 25–June 1, 1767; The Pennsylvania Gazette , June 4, 1767; and [Benjamin Vaughan, ed.,] Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces;... Written by Benj. Franklin, LL.D. and F.R.S . (London, 1779), pp. 206–21; fragment of rough draft: Library of Congress. During January and early...
40From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, [14 March 1767] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The Pennsylvania Chronicle, And Universal Advertiser , May 18–May 25, 1767; and The Pennsylvania Gazette , May 28, 1767. This extract appeared in identical form in both the Chronicle and the Gazette to introduce the extended passage from the Board of Trade representation of Feb. 9, 1764, recommending a prohibition of legal-tender currency in all the colonies. The...
41To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Franklin, 14 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received your kind present and am very Glad to hear you and My Daughter and Mrs. Stevenson are well and give you humble thanks for your very Great favours. I have sent this Week by Mrs. Biggs the Welford Carrier that Inns att the Windmill in St: Johns Street and Will be in London on Wensday next ten pounds of Butter a Couple of Chickins a Sage Cheese...
42To Benjamin Franklin from I. M. Luther, 16 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society La Complaisance que vous avez euë à me procurer une aussi jolie Perspective me fait prendre la Liberté à vous prier derechef de m’envoyer le plutôt possible encore un pareil, de même qu’un microscope simple avec des changements usités, de cuivre jeaune dans un Etuïe. Si ce microscope peut-être arrangé de façon à en faire un composé cela me fairoit d’autant...
43To Benjamin Franklin from Heinrich Ehrenfried Luther, 16 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society L’honneur de l’agréable vôtre du 9. 7bre de l’année derniere m’est bien parvenuë le 29. 8bre d’aprez aussi bien que les Limes &ce. et la Perspective pour mon fils. Mrs. Voogd Des Cotes &Ce. vous en auront remboursé et je vous fais bien des remerciments Monsieur de la peine que vous avez euë avec ces Emplettes. Je me récommande par contre, et vous prie de...
44To Benjamin Franklin from Pomeroys & Hodgkin, 18 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We inclose You the Revd. Mr. Coopers two Sermons, Our freind Mr. Nicholas Boylston sent us, which we esteem deserving the high character he gives of Mr. Cooper, which You will please to forward to Glasgow as soon as possible to procure his degree of Doctor in Divinity, what ever charges You may be at shall be repaid You with the greatest gratitude by Sir...
45From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 19 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Pierpont Morgan Library Dining to day with Mr. Potts, I hear that Letters go by this Night’s Post to Falmouth for the Chance of reaching the Packet. Therefore I write this Line just to say, that I receiv’d yesterday a Line from the Treasury acquainting me that Mr. Kollock is appointed upon my Recommendation to be Collector of Lewes. I shall be more particular in my next. Your...
46To Benjamin Franklin from Mr. Walker, 20 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AL : American Philosophical Society Mr. Walker presents his Compliments to Dr. Franklyn and will be glad of the favour of his Company to dinner on Monday the 6th of April. This may possibly be George Walker (1734–1807), a dissenting minister and mathematician and a friend of Joseph Priestly. BF supported his nomination to the Royal Society in 1771; above, VIII , 359; DNB .
47From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, 26 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society We want to hear how our dear Polly does after the Loss of her Two great Teeth together; whether the Jaw is easy and not swell’d &c. Sir Cha. Blount call’d in Cravenstreet last Night, and we learnt with Pleasure that your Friend Dolly and all that Family were well. Dr. Hawkesworth is to spend this Evening there, and I am mortified that I cannot be with them....
48To Benjamin Franklin from David Barclay, Junior, 27 March 1767 (Franklin Papers)
AL : Historical Society of Pennsylvania D: Barclay Jun. presents his Respects to Dr. Franklin, with the inclosed Copy of his Remarks on Paper Currency: The Committee have several Times mett thereon, but have not yet fixed on their Answer to the Report of the Board of Trade, and as it has been intimated to them, that protracting the Affair a Week or two will be advantageous to the Cause, they...
49To Benjamin Franklin from Sir John Pringle, [March 1767] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I take the liberty to beg that You would come as soon as You can to the Duke of Ancaster’s in Berkeley Square, as His Grace and the Duchess are in the greatest distress about their daughter, who has been long in a most Miserable condition with spasms and convulsions. After all that we have done the distemper remains obstinate, and therefore the Parents have...
50To Benjamin Franklin from Henry Potts, 2 April 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society With this I send you your Commission signed by his Majestys Post Master General the Fees you will pay at your leisure. I am with great Truth and regard Dear Sir Your faithful Friend and most humble Servant The Post Office commission that was issued to BF and Foxcroft, Sept. 25, 1765, was to be valid “for and during the Term of three Years, or ’till they...
51To Benjamin Franklin from James Parker, 5 April 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Yours of Jan. 10. I just received: am glad to hear you continue well. It is only on Account of Cheapness I would take Scotch Letter: for I confess I always gave the Preference in my Mind to Caslon’s: Last Packet I wrote that I had got a very small Fount of Caslon’s Pica by Chance, so that if Pica were not engaged, I would do without it; but if it is...
52To Benjamin Franklin from Edward Penington, 5 April 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society I received thy favour of Decr. 13th. which Inclosed a Copy of Springett Penns Will. I am very much Obliged for the same as well as the Intelligence that I was soon to receive a power of Attorney to sell the lands. The power has since come to hand and Inclosed is a letter to Ann Penn in answer to what she wrote me on the occasion which after perusing please...
53From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, [8 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Yale University Library The Bearer is Mr. Brown of whom I spoke to you formerly. I hope you can, without Inconvenience, afford him some Employment as a Compostor. He will be with me till the Beginning of next Week. I send one of the Papers, and shall send the other in the Morning. If you see any thing in them improper for Publication in your Paper, impute it to my being (as you say) too...
54Extract from a Pamphlet, [9 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , April 7–9, 1767 As the bare letter of a Governor of one of our provinces, accusing his People of rebellious intentions , is by many here thought sufficient ground for inflicting penalties on such province, unheard , without farther evidence , and without knowing what it may have to say in its justification: I wish you would give the Public the following...
55Reply to Coffee-House Orators, [9 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , April 7–9, 1767; draft (fragment): American Philosophical Society. Cinque gran nemici da pace, habitanto con esso noi; civè l’avaritia, l’ambitione, l’invidia, l’ira, et la superbia: se detti inimici si mandassero in esilio, regenerebbe senza dubio tra noi pace perpetua . Petrarch . Athens had her orators. They did her sometimes a great deal of good, at other...
56From Benjamin Franklin to ——, [11 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , June 1–8, 1767. We have been very busy about the Paper Money Affair. The Merchants are to wait on Lord Clare with their Opinion in Favour of it in a Day or two. After receiving Dr. F’s Remarks on the Report of the Board of Trade, they have drawn up a new Representation on the Subject, which they have signed, and Dr. F’s Paper...
57Report on a Debate in the House of Lords, [11 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from extract in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , June 1–8, 1767. I attended a late Debate in the House of Lords, and it gave me great Uneasiness to find much Resentment against the Colonies in the Disputants. The Word Rebellion was frequently used. Lords T—t, T—e, S—h, and others, were against you, and Lord Sh——e, the Duke of G—n, and Lord C——n, your Friends. They said what...
58“Benevolus”: On the Propriety of Taxing America, [11 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
Printed in The London Chronicle , April 9–11, 1767. This letter was reprinted in London in The Gazetteer and New Daily Advertiser , April 13, 1767, and in The Pennsylvania Chronicle , June 8, 1767. Franklin’s authorship is specifically recognized in the manuscript list of his pieces that were reprinted in the Philadelphia newspaper. The letter also appeared in Boston and Williamsburg papers...
59[To Lord Kames, 11 April 1767] (Franklin Papers)
One of two signed versions of a long letter from Franklin to Lord Kames is dated April 11, 1767, and previous editors have accepted that date without question. For reasons explained in an accompanying head-note the present editors believe the other version, dated Feb. 25, 1767, is closer to Franklin’s original and that the earlier date is the correct one. The letter is therefore printed above,...
60From Benjamin Franklin to John Ross, 11 April 1767 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I received your Favour of Dec. 8. and Feb. 22. and thank you for the particular Accounts you send me of Affairs on your side the Water, which are very agreable to me to read. Here publick Affairs are in great Disorder; a strong Opposition against the Ministry which at the same time is thought not to be well united, and daily Apprehensions of new...