Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher. Among the most influential intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States; a drafter and signer of the Declaration of Independence; and the first postmaster general.
During Franklin’s first English residence he carried out numerous financial transactions for Isaac Norris. At his friend’s request he bought and sent to Philadelphia a telescope, 8 several books and…
London, Sept. 16. 1758 Dear Sir, I wrote you a few Lines on the 6th Inst. in which I omitted acknowledging the Receipt of your several Favours of April 17.…
London Sept 16 1758 Dear Sister I received your Favour of June 17. I wonder you have had no Letter from me since my being in England. I have wrote…
London, Sept. 16. 1758. Dear Sir, I received your Favours of May 17. and June 15. 5 and am glad the Books on Husbandry and Gardening got safe to hand.…
London, Sept. 16. 1758 Baskerville is printing Newton’s Milton in two Volumes, 8vo. I have inserted your Name in his List of Subscribers, as you mention your Inclination to encourage…
London, Sept. 16. 1758 Dear Friend, Your kind Letter of June 1. 4 gave me great Pleasure. I thank you for the Concern you express about my Health, which at…
Sir, I have seen in the papers lately, the following article of news, viz. “They write from Maryland, that their Assembly had passed a bill for raising 1000 men, and…
London, Jan. 19. 1759. Dear Sir, When I first began to treat with the Proprietors, they desired I would put down in Writing the principal Points of Complaint which were…
Cravenstreet, Saturday Evening past 10. [1759] 7 At length I have found an Hour, in which I think I may chat with my dear good Girl; free from Interruption. The…
[1759–62, 1764–75?] Dear Sir, I have perus’d the Parts you put into my Hands of the new Work on Commerce, &c. and must own myself extreamly pleas’d with it. It…
April 1759 To the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury. The Memorial of Benjamin Franklin Agent for the Province of Pensilvania Sheweth, That since the Beginning of…
Craven Street, Friday, May 4, 1759. My dear Child, Hearing that you was in the Park last Sunday, I hop’d for the Pleasure of seeing you yesterday at the Oratorio…
May 9, 1759. Sir, While the public attention is so much turned towards America, every letter from thence that promises new information, is pretty generally read; it seems therefore the…
[17 May 1759.] Edward Delaval M.A and Fellow of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, 5 being personally known to us, and desirous of being elected into the Royal Society, we recommend…
Thursday June 7. ’59. Dear Sir I have been so long in determining which to chuse of the two Tourmalines, that I fear you begin to think me unreasonable enough…
London June 9, 1759 Dear Sir It gives me great Pleasure to learn by yours of the 12th. of April, 7 that the Bill taxing the Proprietary Estate would pass.…
Miln Square, Friday morning, [October 5, 1759] 2 Dr. Franklin and his Son present their respectful Compliments to Sir Alexander Dick, and shall attend him to Preston-field 3 tomorrow with…
[October 15–20?, 1759] 4 Verses by Doctor Franklin to Sir Alexander and Lady Dick many years ago wrote at Coldstream on his return to England. ——October 1759 1 Joys of…
London, Pennsilva. Coffee House March 18. 1760 My dear Child, Being just told by Mr. Wickoff, 1 that he goes tomorrow for Philadelphia, I write this Line here to let…
London [March 28? 1760] 6 My dear Child, Yesterday I receiv’d your [Letter] of Feb. 10. 7 in which you mention that it was some Months since you heard from…
London, March 28. 1760 Dear Mr. Hall, I receiv’d yours of Dec. 15. with the Bill for £200 drawn by W Plumsted on Nesbit & Cheesbrook. Also yours of Feb.…
London, April 8. 1760 Dear Sir, I have ordered into your Care from Liverpool 9 Casks and a Bale, which I request you would receive and forward to my Brother…
London, April 8. 1760 Gentlemen I receiv’d yours of the 26th past, 1 with the Invoice and Bill of Lading for the Earthen Ware. 2 I am told on Enquiry…
London April 8. 1760 Dear Sir I received your Favour of the 31st of last Month, 4 the answering of which I delayed and [I] should be glad to accompany…